I grew up in the bottom end of Essex, far too near the orange coloured people of Romford! Fortunately I never picked up the accent and have even been called well spoken on many occasions . Think that has came from spending most of my working years with people from overseas and having to worry about pronunciation so that they can actually understand me.
My wife was born in Somerset, then moved to rural Suffolk before living in North-East Essex (daughter of a civil servant, so moved around) - she hasn't got any accent and difficult to place where she's from.
KungFooBob wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:08 pm
I'm from Doncaster, but live in Barnsley (a whole 10 miles away) and I think all Barnsley people sound like simpletons.
One's particular accent only becomes noticeable if you move from your own area.
A lot of N.Irish folk cringe when they hear their own recorded accent.
I'm at peace with it all.
There was a time in the 70s and maybe later when folk gave you more room when they heard the accent. Probably the equivalent now of someone dark skinned wearing a rucksack.....
gremlin wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:47 pm
How's yours impacted your life?
Buggered if I know.
Apparently I do have a phone / zoom / teams voice which is proper posh n polite, well according to those that know me outside of work anyway, outside of work my accent is all over the place, and I tend to use sayings / phrases from several different geographical locations dependant on who I'm talking to
Taipan wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:51 pm
I'm very well spoken, proper post war BBC type speech and I often exclaim with things like, "Great Scott"! I don't think its held me back?
Northern Enflish accent here (not one of them south of Shap but pretending to be Northern ones) and I can't say I've noticed it being an issue.
I do a manual job though so I guess an accent is kind of expected?
My wife has a homogenized non specific accent and my mother got shot of her Bratfud accent as fast as she could.
The Vicky Pollard character didn't help us with any accent cred...
My accent isn't that broad though as i have lived all over the city. The really broad Bristolian accent is more associated with south of the city next to the sumeeerset borders!
I was born and bred in South Wales, spent 30 years in the Midlands and I've ended up in North East England. A couple of years ago a Scotttish taxi driver told me he thought I was a Brummie, I was mortified but I suppose I ought to be grateful I haven't picked up the Geordie/Makkem accent. When I go back to South Wales, or even when I speak to my sister on the phone I can hear my accent reverting. I don't think it's held me back but I've never had that sort of job
Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:38 pm
After living with me for more than 10 years Mrs D now says "baaaath" despite being from Licolnshire.
My wife is from Sarf London, and still says "baaath" and "glaaass" even after 40 years. She still thinks there's a meal called "lunch" too
West Country accent (Devon/Cornwall) that was fairly well controlled in the London office, but reverted pretty promptly if I was talking to my oppo in the Bristol office. Never aware of any issues, some mild piss-taking but I am proof against that.
Asian Boss wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:52 pm
As well you know, as well you know, oft will I turn up the Home Counties accent and threaten to have people thrown out of their cottages.
Bowman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:44 pm
South Wales valleys here and whilst it hasn't held me back I still get blank looks from my southern English friends when I'm drunk and go full taff.
I was down the south when first lockdown hit (Maesteg) Understood everyone even the drunks but some old guy at the petrol garage was having difficulty with my accent when he told me "we dont take Scottish notes." Tough shit mate im not sooking the fucking diesel back out.
Bowman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:44 pm
South Wales valleys here and whilst it hasn't held me back I still get blank looks from my southern English friends when I'm drunk and go full taff.
I was down the south when first lockdown hit (Maesteg) Understood everyone even the drunks but some old guy at the petrol garage was having difficulty with my accent when he told me "we dont take Scottish notes." Tough shit mate im not sooking the fucking diesel back out.
Reminds me of some argy bargy between a customer in the Offa's Duke pub in a village in Clwyd when a customer tried to pay with Manx pounds. 'Don't take 'em' says the landlord. 'Why have you got a triskelion proudly displayed over the bar then?' says the punter.
(Landlord was quite right, Manx £ is same value but only valid on the IoM. Never did find out why he had the old 3 legs over the bar though).
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
. Think that has came from spending most of my working years with people from overseas and having to worry about pronunciation so that they can actually understand me.
