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Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:58 am
by v8-powered
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.
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:46 am
by slowsider
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.
Have you told them that?
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 11:03 am
by Skub
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.....
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:51 pm
by Taipan
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?
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 3:03 pm
by MrLongbeard
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
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 3:04 pm
by MrLongbeard
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?

Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:27 pm
by demographic
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.
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:38 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
After living with me for more than 10 years Mrs D now says "baaaath" despite being from Licolnshire.
I didn't even try and change her, it just happened..
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:48 pm
by Greenman
I'm a born and bred Bristolian!!!
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!
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:51 pm
by Greenman
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:07 pm
Anyone who likes the sound of their own recorded voice is a complete and total psychopath.
What about singers?
MC's?
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 7:27 pm
by Mr Moofo
TBH, I don't have one - other than RP
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 7:28 pm
by Count Steer
Greenman wrote: Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:51 pm
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:07 pm
Anyone who likes the sound of their own recorded voice is a complete and total psychopath.
What about singers?
MC's?
Point proven!

Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 7:37 pm
by Druid
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

Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:03 pm
by Cousin Jack
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.
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:32 pm
by Vereor
I only sound mancunian now when I'm pissed, but I have started calling everyone duck after spending a few years in the Midlands
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:53 pm
by JackyJoll
If sounding like Ian Paisley is a help, something is wrong.
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:16 pm
by Rockburner
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.
Yet I have amounted to nothing. Nothing.
Ditto.
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:44 pm
by Bowman
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.
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:59 pm
by Felix
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.
Re: Your accent - help or a hindrance?
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2022 7:40 am
by Count Steer
Felix wrote: Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:59 pm
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).