English Accent II

[cmo]

Spoken English by various countries may be easy or difficult to understand. I find British clearer than the American accent.

What do you think?

:D

[lasher]

Jolly good old chap...

I agree with you - to a certain point. It seems the British accents we have on the telly are clear, concise and almost lyrical. "PBS'S" and "GBH'S" Masterpiece theater, Mysteries and most definitely their comedies are understandable as much as entertaining. However, there are certain dialects (Cockney, for instance) that I have enormous trouble understanding what they say and what they mean. In America, I do understand all the different dialects abounding - even though a few may grate like fingernails down the chalkboard..

Now, the Irish brogue - a dialect as musical and beautiful as Ireland itself got my vote of most difficult to understand. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the Irish, their Island and their speech, but whether on tv, sittin' on a bus, across the table from - and it doesn't matter which county - wherever - this is the accent I have the most trouble with.

[cmo]

Jolly good old chap...

I agree with you - to a certain point. It seems the British accents we have on the telly are clear, concise and almost lyrical. "PBS'S" and "GBH'S" Masterpiece theater, Mysteries and most definitely their comedies are understandable as much as entertaining. However, there are certain dialects (Cockney, for instance) that I have enormous trouble understanding what they say and what they mean. In America, I do understand all the different dialects abounding - even though a few may grate like fingernails down the chalkboard..

Now, the Irish brogue - a dialect as musical and beautiful as Ireland itself got my vote of most difficult to understand. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the Irish, their Island and their speech, but whether on tv, sittin' on a bus, across the table from - and it doesn't matter which county - wherever - this is the accent I have the most trouble with.

Thanks for the info about the Irish brogue!


:cheers:

[ctivnan]

Jolly good old chap...

I agree with you - to a certain point. It seems the British accents we have on the telly are clear, concise and almost lyrical. "PBS'S" and "GBH'S" Masterpiece theater, Mysteries and most definitely their comedies are understandable as much as entertaining. However, there are certain dialects (Cockney, for instance) that I have enormous trouble understanding what they say and what they mean. In America, I do understand all the different dialects abounding - even though a few may grate like fingernails down the chalkboard..

Now, the Irish brogue - a dialect as musical and beautiful as Ireland itself got my vote of most difficult to understand. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the Irish, their Island and their speech, but whether on tv, sittin' on a bus, across the table from - and it doesn't matter which county - wherever - this is the accent I have the most trouble with.

Lasher, I agree with you about the Irish brogue. It took me me quite some time to understand what the people around me were saying. I was like, is this English or Gaelic? ^^
But then time did help me and my galpal realized that I had been lost and she was most wonderful and kind to speak with a little less accent. She even told me that those from C. Mayo speak with such heavy accents that she herself sometimes have a hard time understanding. She's from County Clare, by the way.

[dokerik]

My vote goes for the Australians! Hehehe
I remember the first time that our ship sailed to Australia and we had this Australian crew on board, I introduced myself to them and try to mingle with the group...the only word that i understood was " hello mate mate"! hehehehe It took me a while to adjust to them and it helps if you ask them to repeat what they're saying more slowly.

[tangkaruray]

Well, since our country was once an America colony, I'm more comfortable with American English. ^^ I've worked as a business transcriptionist and the work involved creating subtitles for some American, British and Australian TV shows. I would say I had a terrible time understanding Australians.

[Maria_maria]

I don't find any of the above listed accents hard to understand. But there are two accents that I DO find hard to understand that aren't listed:

1. Kiwi
2. Scottish

Ay, ay, ay! Very difficult for me, indeed! :yayks::yayks::yayks:

[fairybelle]

Thanks for the info about the Irish brogue!


:cheers:

yep..the irish brogue..been here in this beautiful island for three years now..and i still have to stretch my ear out to understand them, irish brogues. feck..

[neyx]

I find Australian accent hard to understand.

[sbenosa]

Australian!

[ronzam2002]

For me i never heard a british ang irish language.

[imevinodh]

Yes, British English is far better than US

[euqinimod]

Irish English is hardest to understand..
British English is the easiest to understand but hardest to imitate..
American accent is the easiest to develop..
Australian.. well, my uncle is an Australian.. and his English is easy to understand..

[Mentor_4u200]

Have you talked with a friend who is from the middle part of England? I don't think it would be easier for you to understand. How about with a friend who is from the southern part of the US? I bet you'll ask him to do a lot of 'splainin' then. Or with a friend from Brisbane who likes to say AI for A and bee er for beer, and who likes to talk like a Waltzing Matilda? I think you'll be a lost swagman without a thorough-bred then.

The worst for me? Indian English....can't stand how they use it.

[euqinimod]

my uncle is from brisbane.. :)

southern americans have a certain drawl when they speak..