Do you have an unusual accent and end up having to repeat yourself all the time?

Question

Im from Aberdeen, scotland, currently im working abroad in Asia.
I'm constantly having to repeat myself, to the locals cos they don't understand what i am saying.
They understand english, but just not me.
I can't help the way i speak, and don't particularly want to start speaking like an english toff.
It's really doing my head in actually.
What would you do?
How do i hide my secret rage?

Answer 1

I've to repeat myself
I have to repeat myself
I HAVE TO REPEAT MYSELF

however I do not want to end up speaking like the people around me in the wouth east of England
so if I have to repeat myself
I will do so
and not change my accent

Answer 2

My Husband has lived in the UK for 36years and people still have problems with his accent. He is from Mauritius and only speaks creole occasionally, he sounded French when we met 33years ago. His name is Michael but people often ask for or call him Marco.
I think you probably have two problems, in so far as you are speaking to the locals in English, with a regional accent.

My husband tells this true story. He came to England to train as a Nurse. In his class were 2 Scots, I Welshman, plus others from all over the UK and 1 other Mauritian.
The 2 Mauritians were talking to each other in Creole, one of the Scots said to them that it was rude to speak in a foreign language in company.
To which my Husband replied" but you are". It was explained that the 2 Scots were speaking English, but it sounded to him like a foreign language!

Like you say you can't help the way you speak and getting angry won't help. I am sure it's frustrating. But maybe you are missing home and this is making you feel more of an outsider.
I am sure things will improve soon.

Answer 3

No, I don't have an accent because I'm from the Midwest US! Just kidding; I know that other people may think that I'm the one with the accent. However, I do end up repeating myself a lot because I speak so quickly that some people's small minds can't process it all quick enough.

Answer 4

I'd consider speaking a little slower when in such situations as a sign of respect to show that you want to be understood. But I agree with the comment that you should be yourself. Accents are great. The world would be much poorer without them. I wonder about your 'secret rage,' what's that all about? Haven't you been in the same type of situation? It happens to us all from time to time. Maybe you should learn to be thicker skinned, chill!
I love a Scottish accent, you should be proud of it. I've got an accent too, but not prepared to say where from. I don't like to give too much away on here. I from time to time talk slower to give people a chance. It usually works.

Answer 5

The only remotely odd thing I roll my 'or's, so instead of d-oor, its d-oar. That makes people laugh more than anything.

I don't really have much of an accent, though - its not from where I grew up and its not from where I live now. It seems stuck somewhere in the middle.

Try ennunciating your words, sounding every syllable. Don't worry about speaking like and English toff (people call me that because of sentences such as "I am familiar with the concept of condensation" as opposed to "Yeah, I know about that") - they won't know the difference except they'll be able to understand.

Answer 6

I happen to speak the very same accent as do those around me. It's only when I go away and visit another part of the world (or another part of my country, even) where a difference in accent becomes important.
You are the visitor where you are. Speak slowly, pronounce your words carefully. Up to you to make yourself clear. Not the locals' fault that your speech is hard to understand.

Answer 7

Laugh. Try to understand their language a bit. Figure out which sounds/letters in your pronunciation are the most problematic; enunciate more.
Skip the rage.
(I enjoy Scottish accents. Still, some city Scotchmen have a hard time understanding their own countrymen from the provinces.)

Answer 8

Hi I sometimes have the same problem and its not people in other countries its people in the same one as me. They think im from somewhere different when I am not.

The only think I can suggest is not to sound posh but talk slower. People say I talk too fast to understand so thats maybe where your going wrong. I dont know, just write everything down that will be a lot easier.

Answer 9

I live in the South in the U.S- my accent is VERY thick- actually much more thick than anyone around me. I rarely have to repeat myself but my accent is pointed out and commented on almost daily. I have had people tell me that I can "try to change it" but actually I cannot. This is the way I speak. And I happen to like it. But it hurts my feelings quite often that other people think it's so odd.

Answer 10

Mate, I've a Derry accent and have the same trouble - in the US! Not much to be done - except to repeat ourselves. And whatever you do - don't start speaking like an English toff!

And save your rage for something more important.