Do people really "pick up" accents or is Madonna faking it?

Question

Do Americans who have lived in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Africa, Mississippi or other foreign lands "pick up" the accent osmotically? Does a Londoner who moves to Australia start spontaneously speaking differently after a while? Would a Dubliner necessarily lose his brogue if transplanted to New Orleans? Or is it a put-on affectation? If it's a legit phenomenon, why does Madonna get so thoroughly bashed for it?

Answer 1

i think a lot of people make a concious decision to not loose their accent (kelly osborne), or to pick up the new one(madonna). but also, alot of people dont really think about it and end up just pronouncing things differently, or using the dialect, but i dont think speaking like a native after a few years is just 'picking it up', she definatly did it deliberatly, and her english accent is sh!t anyway, i dont know anyone who speaks like that, and i'm english! i know its random, but there i know this set of twins who originally came from ireland, theyve had exactly the same exposure to english and irish accents, as theyve always lived together, but one of the sounds really irish, and one of them sounds really english.

Answer 2

When I was on my honeymoon with my ex-husband many years ago, we went camping in the mountains of New Mexico. I had never realized that people in New Mexico often have a slight southern drawl. After only a week there, among people who talked with a drawl, I found myself doing the same thing. I didn't try to talk that way - it just happened. When you are around a person who has certain expressions or affectations, it is easy to pick up those same expressions or mannerisms after awhile. Same goes with accents. When one hears it a lot, it kind of rubs off. Within a week of returning home to Southern California, my southern accent was gone.

Answer 3

I lived in Germany, all my German friends spoke English in sort of an English accent. They are taught proper English, not American English. I picked up a faux English Accent from listening to my friends speak English. People thought I was German speaking English. It only lasted until I moved away and moved to America.

Answer 4

Most people do pick up accents. However, by her own admission, Madonna wants to speak with any accent she chooses. I think now that she is a mother and she is older she's trying to gain respectability and thinks by speaking with a British accent she sounds more sophisticated and proper. Her raunchy past still haunts her because people remember how she used to behave and that's why they think she is a fake.

Answer 5

I was in Vancouver BC for about 3 mos. back in the late 70's.
Everyone there ends every sentence with eh!
Like, How are you today ? eh! I will have a cheeseburger and fries. eh!
After 2 weeks there I was doing the same thing. eh! It took 3 or 4 mos. after I got back to the states before I was not doing it anymore.

Answer 6

When I moved a little south I consciously tried to fake a slight Southern accent instead of my nasal, northeast Ohio whine.

I liked it, but my friends said it was stupid and to cut it out.

Maybe Madonna's friends should have a talk with her.

Answer 7

somtimes though when i lived in texas i went out of my way not to pu that accent.

Answer 8

Beacuse she sounds ridiculous.