Posted by QVGA
Dont take this as racist, but who has the better accent in your opinion?
I've noticed on quite a few occasions, that English people dont pronounce the alphabet "T" whenever it comes at the end of a word. I think British accent is very formal and proper, but seriously, i have a really hard time understanding it
Posted by Sammy_boy
It has to be us Brits, as we 'invented' the language!
Posted by Kryptik
Oddly enough, i was discussing this very phenomenon with a colleague on Friday. Different nationalities exhibit different peculiarities in their speech patterns. It largely depends on geographic position, as well as where somebody's been schooled. I've heard really ghastly English being spoken by native English speakers, as well as the most impeccable English spoken by those to whom it is a second or third language. I suppose it's largely a matter of being assimilated into a particular community, although there are those instances where people retain their original pronunciation despite having lived in foreign climes for years. The most beautiful English i've ever heard was spoken by youngsters who'd been educated at a mission school in Nairobi, Kenya. Also, as much as i loathe the man, Robert *spit* Mugabe speaks well-modulated English, although there's some incorrect inflection in his speech.
EDIT- to answer your original question, QVGA, i'd say the Brits, although that would be a broad generalisation.
[ This Message was edited by: Kryptik on 2007-07-29 10:20 ]
Posted by Leks
I think Australians speaks the most beautiful English.
Posted by Evil Eye
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Posted by QVGA
On 2007-07-29 11:29:00, EviL EyE wrote:
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yep, we subcontinent people are the best arnt we?
Posted by Evil Eye
@Qvga thats what i was trying to say
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K550i [ This Message was edited by: EviL EyE on 2007-07-29 10:37 ]
Posted by SE4NICK
Well out of QVGA's choices i'd go with brits.....
However they have nothing on us australians......
Also does any one else here massuers footsteps cause i think hes on his way to lock this
Posted by Kryptik
Well, Boston English certainly isn't bad either...
Posted by belialwafu
uhm...americans? although the brits (anglo saxons) invented it...the accent of speaking the language is more familiar with the americans....no hard feelings.
Posted by scotsboyuk
There are a multitude of regional accents and colloquialisms in both the UK and the U.S. so I think it's hard to generalise and say one nation speaks English better than the other. Being British I do prefer the way English is spoken in Britain myself. I'm not overly fond of words like 'aluminum' rather than 'aluminium' and I find some American expressions to be somewhat vulgar, but then I also find some British expressions to be vulgar too.
I am a great fan of received pronunciation (a very posh British accent); I think it sounds marvellous. It doesn't bandy around vulgarities and one often hears some wonderful expressions e.g. I'm so happy I could bite a grape. I think it's also a way of speaking that commands respect for what one is saying; one naturally listens to someone who speaks well. Interestingly it can be the case that someone using received pronunciation can be somewhat amusing when using a swear word because of the contrast, but at the same time it can also make the use of a swear word very powerful. Of course swearing does suggest a lack of vocabulary, but one is permitted to use such words in time of war, natural disaster or whilst in the bedroom.
Posted by MWEB
I'm not a big fan of "BBC" English, it does come across as being rather pompous and twee nowadays.
However some regional accents are somewhat difficult to understand, Glaswegian for Eg, however only 40 miles away, in Edinburgh their scottish brogue is easy on the ear and comes across as being quite cultured.
Posted by goldenface
Received pronunciation (RP for short) is the best standard English and is very easy on the ear. HM the Queen speaks an even posher English; apparently she a great fan of local English accents and it has been said she does a mean Scouse accent too.
Surprisingly, one of the best English accents I have heard was from a German speaker. I think this was because in Germany they are taught textbook English and so speak it without an accent, unlike someone from say Yorkshire, Lancashire or Dorset.
Americans speak their own version and I wouldn't say one was 'better' than the other as the English language is forever evolving however, I like hearing the Queen speak, she sounds nice.
Posted by BobaFett
this is really interesting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/[....]nd_British_English_differences
ps axr would love the "numbers"
Posted by goldenface
Just found this 'Jolly Well Spoken' translator.
It also translates in to Geordie, Scottie, Ali G, Irish, Scouse, Yorkshire and Brummie.
whoohoo.co.uk
Well I say - its can be absolutely hilaaaarrious!!!!
Posted by Kryptik
Which actor/actress, British or otherwise, would you say personifies the perfect accent (i.e. correct pronunciation, diction, etc)?
Posted by Cycovision
Joanna Lumley (speaking naturally or as a 'posh' character)...
Roger Moore...
Anybody other than Hugh Grant, my missus loves him for his ' Well spoken English accent' but he sounds like a poof to me
Posted by QVGA
Daniel Craig was excellent in Casino ROyale
Posted by Kryptik
I agree, Roger Moore has a beautifully modulated voice. Anthony Hopkins is another who fits the bill, amongst others. It largely depends on the role which they are playing, one supposes... Another notable voice would be that of James Earl Jones for its very proper pronunciation.
Posted by LesleyAnn
i agree! the actors mentioned above have lovely accents.
what irks me is the way the english language can degenerate. aside from 't' dropping, i've noticed how ppl insist on saying 'somethink' when they mean 'something'!
Posted by BobaFett
"dont underestimate the power of the dark side" - darth vader ( james earl jones )
what a brilliant actor and as mentioend above, his voice is superb. and as to sir hopkins, he is really the "kinf of the actors" imo.
well, its cleraly shows, that actors, who started their carriers in threatres, are the real ones who offer quality, not those mickey mouse hollywood "stars"...
Posted by Kryptik
That's so true, there seems to have been a general decline in the correct use of English over the past few years. Normally i'd chalk it up to a general apathy towards reading, but the intrusion of technology in the form of television, films, multi-media, etc has probably been the biggest factor responsible for it. One would think that it's only youngsters who exhibit this lowered standard, but judging from the language used in many posts here it's far more widespread than that.
Posted by LesleyAnn
in that case, is this true of other languages?
Posted by MWEB
Anthony Hopkins is Welsh BTW, david Attenborough or Oliver Reed (deceased) have very strong but neutral accents.
Posted by Kwiksta
On 2007-07-29 19:05:17, Cycovision wrote:
Anybody other than Hugh Grant, my missus loves him for his ' Well spoken English accent' but he sounds like a poof to me
Hahah
Posted by Kryptik
Yes it is Lesley, it would appear to be a world-wide problem. In S.Africa there are 11 official languages, of which i teach two, and it's certainly a problem with which we battle.
Posted by Adz21
there is no such thing as a "english" accent, it depends on the area of the country you come from and your dialect.Some are common others aren't, just like in america . Ive heard americans talking on xbox live that i have been completely unable to understand some sound just like boomhower off king of the hill.
Posted by LesleyAnn
@ Kryptik
somewhat relieved... live a slightly insular life in se england and sometimes i'm almost embarrased about how ppl around me abuse the english language...
Posted by Kryptik
Something which has always irritated me is the proliferation of poor spelling all around us. The names of stores, e.g. KwikSpar, Shoprite, etc. The incidence of the phonetic spelling being used as opposed to the grammatically correct spelling is becoming more common, and resultantly children are thinking that it's acceptable to write in a similar fashion. Hehehe it seems that no matter where one goes the situation is the same.
Posted by scotsboyuk
On 2007-07-29 13:31:03, mweb6161 wrote:
I'm not a big fan of "BBC" English, it does come across as being rather pompous and twee nowadays.
However some regional accents are somewhat difficult to understand, Glaswegian for Eg, however only 40 miles away, in Edinburgh their scottish brogue is easy on the ear and comes across as being quite cultured.
I have a Glaswegian accent and I would like to think that I am easy to understand. There are different types of Glaswegian accent; you are probably referring to the Rab C. Nesbitt brogue rather than something like a North Kelvenside accent i.e. a pan loaf accent.
Some people from Edinburgh can be rather well spoken, but of course one would have more fun at a Glasgow stabbing than at an Edinburgh wedding.
I am rather fond of a Cornish accent myself, it has a rather nice lilt to it. I also like a nice Highland accent, very natural and has an understated hint of beauty to it.
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[ This Message was edited by: scotsboyuk on 2007-07-30 00:50 ]
Posted by LesleyAnn
imo GB dialects are a pleasure to hear...
Posted by QVGA
I like Cate Blanchette aswell.
Posted by Adi23
Americans dont speak English they speak American. So really its unfair to include them in this comparison. They dont know the first thing about English.
Posted by max_wedge
Australian is the best form of English mate! Throw another shrimp on the barbie cobber! Funny, I'm Australian but I've never heard anyone call a prawn a "shrimp"
And cobber is a caramel lolly as far as I know!
Posted by QVGA
why do aussies say "mate" a lot
Posted by masseur
'coz we're a friendly bunch!
Posted by max_wedge
'oath mate!