Do you like when people speak with foreign accents?

Question

Can you always understand them?

Answer 1

YES

Answer 2

I have foreign accent. I have no choice, as I my first language is not English and it's so hard to get rid of it. I am sure that the same goes for everyone who's got foreign accents. But it was a lot of hard work to be able to speak in English. As for understanding of it, it depends on individuals. Sometimes I don't, sometimes I do, depending on how strong the accent is, and if I am used to it or not.
But hey, everyone has put so much effort into learning the language, and doing so much hard work to speak every time. You'll understand if you speak another language that you had to learn to speak. You should give some credit for that.

Answer 3

do you know what? i love foreign accents but i am from England and there are people here i can not understand a word of? i am originally from the north east but if i hear a Geordie especially if they have had a drink or two then its "you what? i am rubbish at understanding regional accents my partner is from the black country i dread seeing his family its all "how am ya?" mind blowing
then you have that dreadful Jerry hall (mick Jagger's ex) that Texan drawl vile but i would love to speak with a new york accent or french would be lovely or Spanish i think Italian is too harsh and the person who said the Chinese teacher story i loved it that was hilarious

Answer 4

My wife has a lovely foreign accent when speaking in English (but I'm biased!), but we also have other foreign nationals working for us and they too sound good when they speak... but when I speak to my wives family in her native land, I have a foreign accent (which they claim to like!)... Do I always understand them... Not always, but the fact that they are trying to speak a language that is not their native one is encouraging and hopefully I try harder to understand and help them.

Answer 5

Usually they can be understood, but the people with accents that annoy me most are those Italians who've been in England for most of their life but still INSIST on retaining their accent. The worst ones in this respect are the chefs on TV. DaCampo is one of the worst offenders, making out he doesn't understand some of the English words, and that older one that Jamie Oliver thinks is so wonderful is another one. Always on TV, years in the UK, yet still trying to make out they've just arrived! Who are they kidding I want to know ! ! !

Answer 6

Sometimes, but it is difficult to listen to most of the time , I live in Switzerland so I have to speak French, but I never lost my strong midlands accent, they say it is nice but when I hear myself on a recording I feel sorry for them having to try and understand that,

Answer 7

If they can be understood clearly, I have no problem whatsoever.
Anyway, what is a 'foreign' accent?
Is it one from outside this country, or do you mean a regional accent other than your own?
We have some highly successful tv/radio personalities with 'regional' accents
Cilla
Adrian Chiles
Billy Connolly
Alan Hansen
Alan Shearer
Rhod Sharp (scottish)
Dotun Adebayo (African)
And they can all be understood clearly.

Answer 8

Yeah, I love it! Especially 'romantic' accents like Spanish or Italian. I like different English accents too, like Australian, New Zealand, English, Scottish, Irish. I used to date an Irish guy... when my parents came to visit me and to meet him, I had to act as the 'translator' because they didn't understand a word he said haha! I don't think there are any accents that really bother me, especially not if the person is a friend because the more you get to know them, the easier it will be to understand them.

Answer 9

i don't mind when people speak with foreign accents and i can normally understand them though not always.

Answer 10

Some accents are really nice and some are just horrible and no I cant understand a word they are saying if their accent is really strong.

Answer 11

Depends on which type of accent. I LOVE British erudite English, I LOVE:
Russian accents, German accents, Swedish-Norwegian accent,s Korean, japanese - Greek accents - and NEW YORK educated English - Yiddish accents. &eastern European accents.

I DESPISE Hispanic accents, French & italian acccents. Indian - Pakistani - Bengali accents - Arabic accents.

I don't always understand them - but even if I DO understand - they are annoying & aggravating to listen to.

If I could change my accent _ I'd want to speak upper-class British English - (BBC style)

Next to that I love my New York style of speech, clear, crisp & direct. No nonsense or drawl. Very forceful & sharp.