For Americans, English, understanding other dialects?

Question

Do you ever have difficulties understanding other dialects (e.g. Scotland, New Zealand or whatever), to the point you have no idea what is being said?

Answer 1

Sometimes, if it's very unfamiliar. If I have the chance to listen to it for a while, I can usually figure it out. One exception: Edinburgh. I had a hard time in Edinburgh. The rest of Scotland was okay.

English is a tricky mistress, after all. I'm a Texan, and sometimes even other Americans act like they don't know what I'm saying.

Answer 2

I am from the United States and I often have trouble for a short time when I am getting used to the way that someone speaks. For example, it will usually take me a day or two when I go to countries with very different accents like Trinidad and Tobago, India, Irish cities, etc. I usually understand when people speak to me directly but it takes a little while to be able to follow conversations that other people are having. I wouldn't say that I have no idea what is being said, but I do miss maybe half of what people say my first day.

Answer 3

Not everyone can be a linguist nor is it necessary in most cases. I understand alot of stuff from other countries but to carry on a fluant conversation as in my own language I cannot do because it hasn't been necessary. I do not come in contact with people that speak other than English. Even the English can't follow their own rules of the English language and accuse Americans of destroying their hoidy toidy language that has been out moded.

Answer 4

Sometimes, if the person is a speaker of a dialect of English that I don't hear much. I have particularly had this happen with Irish English, although my brain usually "tunes in" after a while and then I can understand.

Answer 5

there are various distinct dialects and accents with American English on my own that some will be considered distinct languages in and of themselves... ever considered us of a Talks, i imagine is what's changed into called. This guy traveled everywhere in the U. S. studying distinct kinds of american English, it changed into extraordinarily exciting.

Answer 6

My best friend lives in Scotland and we have spoken on the telephone several times. Sometimes we haev to repeat ourselves but for the most part we understand each other. But that might be because we "talk" in IM all day every day so we are familiar with each others thought processes and phrases in speech.

Answer 7

I have more trouble understanding southerners from the States speak than I do with people from Scotland, New Zealand, or whatever and I've lived in the U.S.A. for most of my life.

Answer 8

have you ever thought about what they thought of your "dialect". Maybe they can't understand you!