I would not survive a day trying to get these accents!!!

[nooby]

Whoah or what to say. I don't get a word of what he talks about.

Cute little thing in his hand some kind of UAV.

But his accents kill me. Where do they talk like that?

British Army's Black Hornet Nano UAV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gQSkppYviw

Seems I am not alone having trouble someone ask from where he is
and another suggests "Someone from Newcastle, England."

Do they talk like that there?

[Sylvander]

He's a "Geordie" [native of Newcastle] speaking proper English.
I have little trouble understanding him.

If he was speaking broad "Geordie" you'd have no chance of understnding him.

See "Geordie Speak".

Here's the real thing; modern TV version.

[starhawk]

nooby, try this --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvnvoe-jVQ4

The song is "Cam Ye O'er Frae France" and has lots of the same words apparently Newcastle stole a lot of their lingual tendencies from the Scots. (To do a bit of, er, translating -- "You, come over [to Scotland] from France" or something very close to it...) It's a satirical folk song -- look it up on Wikipedia.

Steeleye Span is one of my favorite bands, and that song is in my top ten (possibly top five) when done well by them, but that performance in the video is a bit ...lacking... compared to the version on their "Parcel of Rogues" album (I have the CD). That said, I know well better than to link to an MP3, and of the live performances available on YouTube that's sadly one of the better videos.

You really only need to watch the first half or so of the video -- once the tempo picks up and Maddy Prior starts dancing, there's not much point as the song's over. Maddy Prior -- you have a voice like an angel, just about, but you are not nearly as pretty as you used to be. Age, it seems, does a nasty thing to dang near everyone...

[Ted Dog]

LOL, sounds like the way me GrandMa misspoke, she called it Queens English...

[nooby]

Ah a Geordie accent. I have heard about it some year ago
and forgotten all about it. I have problem with most English accents
so it is me not well versed in the many ways the use their native tongue.

American English is either censored or they only allow those with standard
accents to be on TV. I even had no trouble when Charles Ramsey
got interviewed and that guy really is himself. Maybe most people try to be
standard American when on TV and and speak less standard at home?

DEAD GIVEAWAY!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZcRU0Op5P4

[linuxbear]

Your accent is often the way your family speaks. I was raised in the South, but since I sound "American" most people in the US have no idea of that. Only Southerners will ask me if I am southern. This is not because of my accent, I don't have a southern accent, but because I often use use expressions that are only heard in the SE United States.
My mother's family accent is that generic middle-class English that Americans tend to think is "The Queens English" Her best friend has a very broad Wiltshire accent. They have been close friends for about 70 years, both of them are from Swindon and both went to the same schools. .........Sometimes we speak what we hear the most.

[Bruce B]

Your accent is often the way your family speaks. I was raised in the South, but since I sound "American" most people in the US have no idea of that. Only Southerners will ask me if I am southern. This is not because of my accent, I don't have a southern accent, but because I often use use expressions that are only heard in the SE United States.

Also, I suppose you don't talk fast, unlike those damn Yankees.

Southern Expression samples for readers not acquainted with them: "A wet dog in the house ain't the only way to tell it's raining", "Your druthers is my ruthers", “He’s about as useful as a tit on a boar hog.

[Bruce B]

got interviewed and that guy really is himself. Maybe most people try to be standard American when on TV and and speak less standard at home?

I suppose standard American in this context is Western American accents, especially California. If so, I think the "standard" was set largely as a result of Hollywood's long term world wide influence on the language.

[tlchost]

I suppose standard American in this context is Western American accents, especially California. If so, I think the "standard" was set largely as a result of Hollywood's long term world wide influence on the language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_American

[linuxbear]

Your accent is often the way your family speaks. I was raised in the South, but since I sound "American" most people in the US have no idea of that. Only Southerners will ask me if I am southern. This is not because of my accent, I don't have a southern accent, but because I often use use expressions that are only heard in the SE United States.

Also, I suppose you don't talk fast, unlike those damn Yankees.

Southern Expression samples for readers not acquainted with them: "A wet dog in the house ain't the only way to tell it's raining", "Your druthers is my ruthers", “He’s about as useful as a tit on a boar hog.

[linuxbear]

got interviewed and that guy really is himself. Maybe most people try to be standard American when on TV and and speak less standard at home?

I suppose standard American in this context is Western American accents, especially California. If so, I think the "standard" was set largely as a result of Hollywood's long term world wide influence on the language.

Like, doo-ood, that's like, ya-know, so, not tubular. Most Americans doan do no damn steenkin valley-girl talk! -- Nor do we end all of our statements on an up-note which makes them sound like a question. I have heard that from both males and females in CA.

[nooby]

Nor do we end all of our statements on an up-note
which makes them sound like a question

I have a wild idea about such habits. Could it be
a milder variant of the "east European" habit to
actually make almost every sentence into a question.

IIRC they almost always add a "No?" to each statement.

As if they say. "I have this personal view,
Do you agree with me or not? No?"

I maybe have misunderstood the purpose of it though?

[don570]

When I listened to video it sounded like he came from a poor section
of London.

[nooby]

Don I think we should trust Sylvander on this.

the Guy comes from around NewCastle the accent named Geordi
and they all talk like that from that region of England.

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 840#732840

I don't trust somebody from a poor section of London
would talk like that other than if them too where from NewCastle.

As Sylvander point our or as I understand him
if one know Geordi accent then one have no trouble
getting what he says while if he

If he was speaking broad "Geordie" you'd have no chance of understnding him.

I met a guy from a suburb of Glasgow who did speak in a broad way
and I even failed to get when he mention famous groups from England
and Scotland. The accent so broad that my brain gave up on getting
what he talked about. Ironically he complemented me on my "English"
which I know is much worse than what Sylvander tells me.

I can read a lot of latinized English words but have no clue on
how to pronounce them. I have to wild guess each time and makes
huge mistakes all the time.

this guy knew his accent and where very consistent in how to say things
so I trust Sylvander on this.

But the video surprised me but now when I know the background
it makes much more sense. we have such in Sweden too
Accents that are so different that even native Swedes have to
do inner translation for to get what people say.

sometimes one have to ask them to retake what they say several times
if they refuse to speak Standard Swedish Embarrassing indeed

[Sylvander]

Things that help identify the accent as "Geordie".

"Soldier" was being pronounced as...
Soul-jah, rather than soul-jer.
Here pronounced as hee-ah rather than hee-er or hee-r.
However becomes how-eh-vah rather than how-ever.
Automatically becomes au-toh-mah-ih-lee rather than au-toh-mat-ic-ly.

[linuxbear]

When I listened to video it sounded like he came from a poor section
of London.

I didn't listen, but Geordie is nothing like London. Accents can be difficult for some. Most Americans think the Gecko in the American Geico insurance ads is Australian. Wrong. The little green guy is definitely a mild Cockney. Americans tend to think that New Zealanders, Cockneys and South Africans are all Australians. Europeans are a lot more attuned to differences in accents because there are a lot more of them. I used to live in a Bavarian town which had two distinct and very different Oberbayerisch (Alpine Bavarian) accents Also, it is not just accent, Regional dialects in Britain and in the German speaking Alpine areas often use words are different or sound different. ---- For those who speak German "Altbairisch für Anfänger" on youtube is often hilarious

[linuxbear]

Nor do we end all of our statements on an up-note
which makes them sound like a question

I have a wild idea about such habits. Could it be
a milder variant of the "east European" habit to
actually make almost every sentence into a question.

nope, the tendency to end every sentence on an up-note so it sounds like a question is caused by adolescent females trying to sound cute, perky and positive.

[nooby]

Nor do we end all of our statements on an up-note
which makes them sound like a question

I have a wild idea about such habits. Could it be
a milder variant of the "east European" habit to
actually make almost every sentence into a question.

nope, the tendency to end every sentence on an up-note so it sounds like a question is caused by adolescent females trying to sound cute, perky and positive.

I am no expert on such so I have to bow to your long experience