Accent and Way of Speaking - Are You Losing It?

This may not be the right place to post this but here it is. I'm just wondering how many of you have lost your accents and the way in which you say things now that you're in the UK? Have you caught yourself saying Nappy instead of Diaper, Boot instead of Trunk, Bonnet instead of Hood and felt a little sad? Or perhaps you're happy about it??

Or are you fighting to retain your American way of speaking and saying things? Do you find yourself forcing yourself to write the date the American way just to annoy the snobby buggers at the office!

I'm just a Brit in the US who's curious....

Been here over seven years.

People tell me my accent is "Funny" (not American, not Scottish). But it all depends on who I'm talking to and in what context. 

I have actually forgotten American words to things... I struggled one day to figure out what an aubergine was called, for example. And my sister used the word 'faucet' in a sentence the other day and I realised I hadn't used that word in years. 

I write in British English  - I was totally crucified on my American English when I wrote something when I first moved here (not fully realising words like centre were spelled differently). So to fit into the expected business and social norms, British English became my normal mode. And again, I don't even realise I'm doing that anymore either. 

For me, dates should always be written "DD MMM YYYY",  regardless of where in the world a person is.  This way, there is never confusion.  (This is from years and years and years of working in medical regulated industries where you have to do this).

I write in British English  - I was totally crucified on my American English when I wrote something when I first moved here (not fully realising words like centre were spelled differently). So to fit into the expected business and social norms, British English became my normal mode.

But this can be used. I have used, "Oh darn it that's the American spelling" to cover mistakes many times.

I refuse to say "vit-a-min" as opposed to "vite-a-min".  For some reason it just doesn't sound right.

My accent (New England) may have been closer to British anyway.  Spelling is something else.

In my three years in the UK. I kept my American accent, but was already using some words, since hubs had been here 4 1/2 years, and I just got used to translating for him, or using them at home. People were surprised when we moved back here and I still sounded the same. Hubby became a bit Americanized his first go round of living here, and even more so this time around, in the 2 1/2 years we have been back.

I use British slang.  I think most people use their local slang. Yes, my daughter wears nappies.  I pronounce things the American way because otherwise I would sound fake.  My dad raised me to always write the date day, month, year.

When I lived in England for nine years, I made sure to speak to my children in American English and Spanish (my mother tongue) but no one ever spoke in either! They understood what I was saying but still used English words. I didn't deliberately say any English words because it sounded odd to me but every time I visited Texas, people remarked that I had a slight English "way of speaking". I am not entirely sure what that means.
My family has been in the USA for nearly 11 years and everyone mentions that my middle son has a "delightful English accent". I do notice that he sounds American until he pronounces "strawberry", "garage", "secretary". My husband is from a town near Wigan and was recently working in Cambridge. Everyone told him that they knew he was English but had a strong "American twang" (I don't know what that means either) but definitely would not believe he was from the north west. Someone told me that I phrase things differently and use English expressions. In our home, we call it "expat talk".

I have actually forgotten American words to things... I struggled one day to figure out what an aubergine was called, for example.
 

Yeah, somehow "aubergine" seems a better word -- "eggplant"    Have difficulty getting on board with "courgette" though; guess I just prefer the Italian word!

I totally mystified my friends with 'rutabaga'.

I have been here since the summer of 1999, so a LONG time.. lol

I haven't intentionally lost/changed words or accent but I like others that have been here long term changed usage of words etc..
I'm in the medical field so had to change to fit in however it now seems natural..
I have also occasionally forgotten the american term for something.. Most folks can tell I am not from Fife region of  Scotland but can't quite figure out where I am from.. Over the years I've gotten everything from Canada(early days..) to the scottish islands ( apparently i've got a soft accent lol ) and even ireland.. ( never ever thought i sounded irish but hey ho lol )

When i visit family and friends back in Massachusetts,where i was born,bred and lived until coming to Scotland in 1999 I often get.. " I love your accent" . I don't think I have one but apparently I do .lol

Hi.  I've been here 4 1/2 years. My husband insists that my accent has very slightly modified but only on certain words and really, it's more a case of intonation, emphasis (as in syllables), better enunciation, and the adoption of British words. I do, like many, cater my language to my audience but sometimes misplace the American word for something.  For all of that, I find that my American accent and intonation strengthens when speaking to family 'back home'!

Hi.  I've been here 4 1/2 years. My husband insists that my accent has very slightly modified but only on certain words and really, it's more a case of intonation, emphasis (as in syllables), better enunciation, and the adoption of British words. I do, like many, cater my language to my audience but sometimes misplace the American word for something.  For all of that, I find that my American accent and intonation strengthens when speaking to family 'back home'!

This is pretty much exactly how I am over here in Texas. I cater my language and have begun to roll my 'R's more because I find people are still going "What's that?" when I say a word that they're not used to hearing in another accent. But yes, when talking to friends and family back home, the accent comes back in full force!

I don't think that I have an accent.  My parents say that I speak in a British manner but not with an accent.  I tend to write the date DD/MM/YY but don't always read it that way which can cause some confusion since I work in a library!  I find myself using British phrases rather than British words.  I do say 'crisps' now but still use cross walks.  I think that the car will always have a hood and a trunk because bonnet and boot sound so odd to me.  I still say pants and sweaters which has provided a laugh or two at work.  I'm not sure that I'll ever lose my American accent but I may develop an 'English lilt,' as a friend would say.   

I love this! I'm originally from Texas, born and raised however was educated with Irish nuns so don't have a strong twang at all, much more of a slight southern accent but use Texas words such as Y'all and reckon or anything ending in ING sound with EN.

 I've been here a year and worked the past 9 months and it is a hoot going out to lunch and asking for things the Texas way: "What kinda Coke do you have? "ooh Candy Bars" or the favourite they all love " The food truck is here". I do have to spell the British way, my laptop is set up for it btw and of course my dates but I refuse to loose my accent! I go home and put on my country music even though I didn't listen to it much in Texas and I embrace being different. Like someone said before, I would look and feel silly trying to sound British.

 I did forget Rocket was called Arugula the other day and do prefer to say Zucchini etc. but I love living here and it does feel like the US 30 years ago in a way. Life is slow and the air, food and water are still clean in my neck of the woods (North West England). My 3 year old now sounds completely British like his dad and family but will say Garage the way I do, not sure for how long.

I'm definitely, let's say, adjusting my accent the longer I live in the UK.  I'm originally from Vermont so most Brits say I have a very soft American accent (and I'm sometimes mistaken for being Canadian) but as I live in Manchester with a partner from Widnes, my accent has become a real mish-mash of influences.  I find myself saying things like 'sun' almost like 'soon' and 'month' like 'moonth' the Mancunian way.  Then there's just the dialect.  I almost entirely use British forms of words instead of their American equivalent, and British phrases as well like 'that's not on'.  However, I pepper most of my sentences with way too many uses of the word 'like' and 'awesome'.  God knows what my future children will sound like