Accent inferiority complex?

Ok how do I explain this, I'm now here in Scotland with my DF. I love it here, I love the food, my future inlaws, the gorgeous scenery around me, the shops and chippys and the people. The problem is I really want to get out and meet people and hopefully make friends but I'm self conscious about my American accent. I know it sounds silly but when I'm out and about and I listen to all the beautiful Scottish accents all around me I feel like the odd one out so to speak, I feel if I open my mouth and talk I'll draw attention to myself. (I'm a bit shy when I first meet people and I hope others won't intrepet this as rudeness) My fiance tells me he loves my accent and everyone else will love it as well, and that everyone's used to the American accent from watching shows on the telly and movies. Have any of you ever felt this way when you first came to the UK to live? I'm sure after I settle in I'll feel more comfortable and confident and I won't feel so much like the new kid in town. I imagine right now I don't have much to worry about but after we're married and I start working I'll definatly have to get over these feelings. I guess it's just I never concidered myself to have any kind of accent. I come from the midwest close to Chicago and I've always thought midwest people don't really have an accent. I think back and remember all the immigrants I've met or worked with in America and now I see things in a whole different light. I wonder if they felt the same way I do, if they too were a bit insecure about what others thought of the way they talked. None of this should really matter should it? It's not about how we talk or where we're from but how we treat people right? Does anyone have any advice on this subject?

I wouldn't say I was self-conscious about my accent, but I was reticent to speak too loudly because Americans are stereotyped as loud.  I also didn't want to be drawn into the "Hey!  You're American!" conversation 32 times a day.     And, as a Southerner, I didn't want to be drawn into the Beverly Hillbillies soundalike contest that so many English people find to be a real gas!   

Now, after nearly 1 1/2 years here, I don't care anymore.  I think of my accent as my USP -- there aren't lots of Americans walking around here, so some people do a double-take when I talk, but since I'm focused on something other than my Americanicity (!?), they don't remark on it so much.  I have had a lot of compliments on my accent, though, and that's been very nice.   

You mentioned meeting people/making friends -- I think the accent will help in that....I mean, it's a built-in topic of conversation!

I guess I never think about it.  I'm state side for a bit now, but when living in Edinburgh, I never had any problems with my accent, or with people pointing it out to me all the time.  Of course, Edinburgh is a pretty cosmopolitan city, so there are people from all over the world, living and working there.  I was most certainly not the "token" American.  If you are in a small villiage or somewhere that few American's live (or visit) people may get a kick out of it, but as long as you are not loud/brash/obnoxious, you will be just fine.

I know you are getting married, so it may not matter to you, but many people (including guys) will think your "exotic" accent is quite sexy.

I live in a small town and my accent causes all sorts of double-takes and 'oh my God what are you doing here when you're from Wonderland' type remarks.

But I kinda like that!

Actually, when television was in its infancy, the powers that be deliberately chose the midwest "accent" as the default for announcers, anchormen, etc.  That's why nobody really thinks of it as an accent, because it's what we're all used to hearing on tv.

My British fiance lived in the US for several years and found that he became more British as a defense mechanism.  I found that when I was in the UK, I started subconsciously assimilating and adopting British pronunciations of words, which amuses my fiance greatly. 

Just be yourself.  Remember, they don't t hink of themselves as having accents, they just think of it as their normal speaking voice.  So they'll be as charmed by your "accent" as you are by theirs.  And anyone who holds it against you isn't worth knowing.   

i get people being really nice to me in the shops and restraunts, thinking i'm a tourist and will spend a lot of ££ and tip. 

sometimes i get the head turn when they hear me speak....and i live in central london!

when i bring DH back to the states, my god, i have to beat them off with sticks all the women love his voice.  expecially the older ones. and my mom.  she loves when he says her name.  it's Sher, and he pronounces it Shuur.

My fiance said pretty much the same thing to me you just said Lola, that people would be interested and even ask alot of questions but yeh there's going to be some stereotyping I'm sure especially with shows here like Sally Jesse Raphael. I was sitting watching a few shows with my fiance's sister the other night while he was at work and we watched Malcolm in the Middle and The Simpsons and she jokingly asked me if that's how families in America acted!   I just said that no family is normal and what exactly is concidered normal? My future inlaws are a gas when they cut loose. Would I concider them mad? Disfunctional? Nah, just your average down to earth family.  ;)I have no problem understanding them and I haven't had a problem with understanding anyone else I've talked to either so far. Lola I noticed you live in Newcastle? Have you had any problems with the Geordie dialect? To me it's English with a touch of Scottish. Oh and I don't think I'll have to worry about being called a loud American, in fact most people tell me I speak too softly half the time!

Oh by the way, I do live in a rural town/village, not exactly a tourist attraction so I'm sure I'll be the "token American" for awhile but after reading everyone's posts here I feel a bit better and could even use it to my advantage with making friends. I can't keep thinking of myself as just another Yank in the UK anymore though,I'm not a tourist.. this is my home now too and everyone will soon realize I'm here to stay

Lola I noticed you live in Newcastle? Have you had any problems with the Geordie dialect? To me it's English with a touch of Scottish.

We didn't live in Newcastle for the first six months I was here, but when we moved up here, MAN!  I had the hardest time understanding people (and I still do sometimes -- especially over the phone).  It's getting better though, and I really have developed an appreciation of the Geordie accent.  I like to pretend I'm a Geordie from time to time...but only in the privacy of my own home, like!   

We didn't live in Newcastle for the first six months I was here, but when we moved up here, MAN!  I had the hardest time understanding people (and I still do sometimes -- especially over the phone).  It's getting better though, and I really have developed an appreciation of the Geordie accent.  I like to pretend I'm a Geordie from time to time...but only in the privacy of my own home, like!   

Oh, my the Geordie accent is really strong, isn't it?  I've been here six months now and am pretty used to it, though as you say, the telephone can be a problem still.  At first I found it a little hard to understand, but after a month or two I could follow most conversations no problem.  However, when two Geordies are talking to each other around me, with not only the accent but the full-on dialec going, I still can't follow it!

And now our little boys are beginning to pick up the accent.  We're wondering if the baby, who is one and just learning his words, will come to have a Geordie accent of his own! 

~ Mark

I can relate, and I've seen other people say it too. I avoided speaking if at all possible so that I wouldn't draw attention to myself. Yes/no, and get the heck out of there. I got over it, but I'm sure I did it for a couple of years.

Kay, my first language is German so I'm pretty much found out quickly, too. I know exactly how you feel because I'm rather self-conscious about my accent, too. In my case, it's because, I can't stand listening to other Germans speaking English - it sounds terrible and I hate it! Logically, I am concerned that I might sound the same and that's where my insecurity comes from. I'm curious if you think the same about your American accent, do you actually like listening to other American speakers or not? Perhaps you've seen the "ugly American" (such as I see the "ugly Germans" everywhere!) somewhere and you're afraid you might appear like that to others?

On another note, I personally LOVE the American accent, since I've come back to the UK, I can hardly bear the British pronounciation any more. It also reflects on my TV watching habits, the more US entertainment, the better!  

I can relate, and I've seen other people say it too. I avoided speaking if at all possible so that I wouldn't draw attention to myself. Yes/no, and get the heck out of there. I got over it, but I'm sure I did it for a couple of years.

Me too when I was out in public but only lasted for a couple of weeks, then I  got over it.  On the flip side of accents my husband and I were watching  the movie Gosford Park the other night and all were British actors except one guy and I said wow, I know I hear myself speak everyday but hearing that American guy in the film next to all of the Brits...actually sounded weird to me. Like it was a foreign accent to my ears....I think that is because I must be so tuned in on the Brit accent now.

Julie

Hi Kay! When you relax and get settle and comfortable here things will get easier. It took me nearly two years to open my big mouth in public!
Ricki

Since I was born in the UK and brought up by British parents, I have always considered my accent to be British. But since moving here, I've discovered that it's not so! Everyone knows I'm American immediately! I guess all those years of living in the US did have an effect! But, oddly, if I run into Americans over here, they assume I'm British. I worked in the gift shop of a castle last summer and was amused at how I fooled every American tourist who came in! I guess my accent is a mix of the two.

I wouldn't worry about speaking, though. Everyone I've met has been happy to meet someone from another country. The US gov't may not be popular in the UK, but luckily it's not held against American citizens! Besides which, isn't it nice to stand out in a crowd?

When I visit, it usually takes me a few days to "speak up".  I do feel a bit self concious, but I'm sure I'll get over that eventually.