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Thread: Do western americans have accents?

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    Jon Miller
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    Do western americans have accents?

    I have noticed that people fro, the south. east. and midwest all o=have deffinite accents

    but the west does not seem to

    and when I ask peopel from those areas if I have anaccent, they say no

    what is up?

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    SlowwHand
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    All people everywhere have an accent, of some type.
    Californian's talk fast.
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.
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    He also hates Texans and Australians, he does diversify." ~ Braindead

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    DuncanK
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    Californians don't have accents. Unless they come from somewhere else.
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    MRT144
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    northern californians dont have accents, but we do tend to use the word "hella" a lot.
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    Imran Siddiqui
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    ?

    Californians have a distinctive accent. You can pick it up from miles away (well, figuratively ).
    “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
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    Flubber
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    its all very subjective

    Ask an Englishman or Irishman if those western Americans have an accent. . . .

    AS to the accent not being noticeable to other Americans, well they will notice the person is not speaking like a southerner or Bostonian or whatever

    but it could be that a LOT of television and movies come form the western US (California) and the sounds people hear on TV and movies are considered to be the norm ( ie unaccented) .
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    MRT144
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    imran, describe the accent for us...
    "I hope I get to punch you in the face one day" - MRT144, Imran Siddiqui
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    Jon Miller
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    yah

    I know that everyone has accents

    I just find it strange that western american is not considered an accent (at least in america)

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    Rogan Josh
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    Of course you have accents! US West Coast accents are some of the strongest 'English' accents there are!


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    Boris Godunov
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    I don't have an accent...everyone else does.

    Everyone has an accent of some kind or another. You just don't think you do because you are used to it.
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    Dauphin
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    As Sloww said straight away, everyone has an accent (for better or worse).
    Capitalisation - The difference between helping your uncle Jack off a horse, and helping your uncle jack off a horse
    Grammar - The difference between knowing your $hit, and knowing you're $hit.
    Spelling - The difference between being literate, and being Dinner.

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    SlowwHand
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    People that don't hear accents, are just used to hearing the accent.
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.
    "Hating America is something best left to Mobius. He is an expert Yank hater.
    He also hates Texans and Australians, he does diversify." ~ Braindead

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    Imran Siddiqui
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    The California accent has the subtle *duude* in it. It isn't nearly as bad as the stereotype of the surfers, but you can definetly hear it in a Californian. One of my friends is from San Diego, and the 'surfer' is definetly in his talk, but subtly.

    And yes, I have an accent as well... of the Northeast variety.
    “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
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    KrazyHorse
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    Western seems fairly accent-free to me.

    It's also the way a lot of english Quebecers seem to speak (at least to me).

    East Coast Americans have a bunch of different accents depending where specifically they're from. Midwesterners and southwesterners have an annoying twang or something (they don't round their vowels enough).
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    Boris Godunov
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    Especially the Brits. It's soooooooo cute. G'Day! G'Day! G'Day!

    Oh wait...that's the Australians. Nevermind.
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    Jon Miller
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    still doesn't change the fact that no one thinks I talk with an accent wherever I go in the US

    the holiwood explanation is the best I ahve heard so far, but it is not great

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    Stefu
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    You all have accents. Only Finns speak English properly.
    "Spirit merges with matter to sanctify the universe. Matter transcends to return to spirit. The interchangeability of matter and spirit means the starlit magic of the outermost life of our universe becomes the soul-light magic of the innermost life of our self." - Dennis Kucinich, candidate for the U. S. presidency
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    Rogan Josh
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    I, of course, have a Scottish accent (but it's not very strong since I have lived abroad too long).

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    Imran Siddiqui
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    Yes, like ottok!
    “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    - John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

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    Boris Godunov
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    Originally posted by Frogger
    Midwesterners and southwesterners have an annoying twang or something (they don't round their vowels enough).
    In terms of the American Midwest, depends on the region. The Northern regions tend to have that Minne-SOH-tah accent like in Fargo. But further south, the accent is much more faint. Kansans and Nebraskans are very mild on the accent.

    Then there's Texas...oy!
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    DuncanK
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    The West has a lack of accent rather than an accent. It's due to migration. Duuuude
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    Imran Siddiqui
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    Then I can say that New York City has a lack of accent due to migration... of course that is false.

    California definetly has an accent... and there is no such thing as a lack of accent.
    “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    - John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

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    SlowwHand
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    HEY!





    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.
    "Hating America is something best left to Mobius. He is an expert Yank hater.
    He also hates Texans and Australians, he does diversify." ~ Braindead

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    Boris Godunov
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    Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
    Then I can say that New York City has a lack of accent due to migration... of course that is false.
    About two weeks ago I was talking with my colleagues at work and said something, don't recall what, that came out in a total Brooklyn accent. I stopped, my eyes widened and I just had to stop talking out of shame.

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    MRT144
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    imran, there is a differnce in southern and northern california accents. its like 2 different states... NCR UBER ALLES!
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    Imran Siddiqui
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    Poor Boris .
    “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    - John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

  27. #27
    Imran Siddiqui
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    imran, there is a differnce in southern and northern california accents.


    I'm glad you admit Northern California has an accent .

    It's similar to Oregon / Washington accents.
    “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    - John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

  28. #28
    DuncanK
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    Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
    Then I can say that New York City has a lack of accent due to migration... of course that is false.

    California definetly has an accent... and there is no such thing as a lack of accent.
    Talking differently than someone does not mean you have an accent. Regions have accents because of isolation from the other people who speak the language. The NE accent was created because to isolation from the South and from the rest of the English speaking world. The west did not have isolation, because people came from different places with different accents. Therefor, no one accent could establish itself. If only people from the NE would have migrated here we would have a NE accent.
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  29. #29
    DuncanK
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    Originally posted by MRT144
    imran, there is a differnce in southern and northern california accents. its like 2 different states... NCR UBER ALLES!
    Example please
    "When you ride alone, you ride with Bin Ladin"-Bill Maher
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  30. #30
    DuncanK
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    Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
    imran, there is a differnce in southern and northern california accents.


    I'm glad you admit Northern California has an accent .

    It's similar to Oregon / Washington accents.
    Imran,

    How could we all have the same accent. We developed in isolation from each other.
    "When you ride alone, you ride with Bin Ladin"-Bill Maher
    "All capital is dripping with blood."-Karl Marx
    "Of course, my response to your Marx quote is 'So?'"-Imran Siddiqui

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