US Regional Accents

Does anybody find that since being in the UK (those of you who haven't been here long enough to start developing a British accent) your regional US accent has become stronger?

For example, I have a friend who is an expat from the southeastern US. Before he moved to England, he had a standard American English accent, with just a hint of southern. As he's lived in England, he's started to sound more and more like a character from Gone with the Wind.

I am from Brooklyn, and find myself tempted to say things like ex-cape (escape) and si'in (sitting).  I think it could be because there is no pressure to speak standard American English, since it's not standard here anyway, so we revert to the accents we learned from our parents when we were babies.

In terms of English people understanding me, I find that it doesn't make a difference whether I speak in a Brooklyn accent or a standard American TV-announcer accent. It's all foreign to them, either way.

My accent gets much thicker when I'm on the phone w/ family.  I spoke to my brother and grandparents last night and was very conscious that I was sounding more and more like a Steel Magnolia as the convo went on.   

While I'm just out and about, though, my accent is much more neutral.  I think I made a real effort to adopt a "broadcast" accent when speaking to new people to minimise the chances that they'll misunderstand me.

I just try to speak slowly and clearly and pronounce all my letters  (thir-tee, not thirdy).

Don't have a regional accent (THANK GOD) as I was raised in northeastern PA but went to a multicultural private school...people never can guess where I'm from due to that.  If I had the local accent, it would be BAD...if anyone knows Scranton and that area, you'll understand!

 My boyfriend actually says that my accent (whatever it is that I do have) is becoming more muted...not close to English accent, but morphing a bit.

oh lord, I have a reasonable sounding southern accent (navy brat & my accent is a weird combination of things) but I had been in london about 4 months when "Sweet Home Alabama" came out.  I took my (then) bf out to see it and when I came out of that theater I sounded like Dixie Carter.

My b/f could NOT stop laughing at me.     but he loves my southern accent!

I don't think I have a regional US accent, but the other day when a person from Oregon found out that I grew up in New Jersey, she told me that I had a strong NJ accent.  A few minutes later, a person from California told me that my accent sounded like a mix of English/American.  Go figure....

bvamin

The whole accent thing is a concern of my husband, as we are from Texas.  My husband's is pure Texas hick (redneck as some call it).  He is about as country and country can get minus the hat and boots.   

On the other hand, we also know how some folks feel about our current President, and him being from Texas.  We are a little concerned that alot of the folks across the pond may or may not feel resentment about Bush and take out the hatred on us.  Is anyone else from the south or deep south have this problem with accents and politics (typically associating the south with being an extreme Conservative)...

Sheila

Well most the Brits think we all sound Southern no matter what part of the US we come from. 

Yes, I don't think most Brits can distinguish one American accent from another.  If they are anti-American, they will hate us all equally.

Yes, I don't think most Brits can distinguish one American accent from another.

Sometimes when Im in a goofy mood Ill ask Frank to do an American accent. He always sounds southern. Like really bad, Jerry Springer show Southern!

I can't tell you the amount of times I get asked if I'm Canadian (or it's just assumed that I am).  I even had a Canadian - who came into the shop -  tell me that I sounded Canadian!  I don't have a regional accent, it's a very neutral accent.  I wish it would go ahead and soften up already, but the thing is my DH and I watch all these American tv shows, and I hear the American accent on a regular basis.  The thing I find frustrating is, when I am at work, the more I hear - on a continual basis - an English accent, the sound of my own voice (except when I am singing) is really starting to annoy me!

Sometimes when Im in a goofy mood Ill ask Frank to do an American accent. He always sounds southern. Like really bad, Jerry Springer show Southern!

Same with Guy! Only his American accent is more like Boss Hog. Although that could have something to do with his Dukes of Hazzard obsession. 

After 6 years here, I don't think I sound any different, but my family back in NC does....  it's the little things, like saying goodbye in a high voice, or picking up the slang....

I made the mistake last year when I was home visiting, standing in the queue at WalMart, saying "I could murder a fag right about now"....  had to explain to the cashier what I meant, I think she was about to call the cops on me!  LOL

I had a very funny thing happen yesterday.  I had called my husband from work and got his answer-phone; he called the shop right back and I answered the phone, "Good morning, Healthy Living".  He asked if he could speak to Autumn (me).  I laughed and said, "IT IS ME!"  He thought it was Angie (the manageress of the shop, and she's English).  I said, "It is me!  You know, the one with the American accent!"  He said it didn't sound like me.  I thought it was soooooo funny.

I've picked up quite a bit of the slang and certain ways of saying things.  I know I am going to end up with an amalgamation: here it will still sound American and to people in the States it will sound British.    ~~sigh~~

re: the Southern accent

I never encountered anyone who could tell what region of the US I was from.  Just that I was "not as loud as the others."

DH's parents didn't notice I had an accent for 30 minutes.  They have v. strong northern accents and I guess the whole world sounds different to them