How long does it take for an accent to develop?

Question

Im really curious. Im moving from the UK to South Africa soon, and was wondering how long it will take for me to develop a South African accent?

I forgot to mention, I'm 16.

Answer 1

It very much varies from individual to individual, it counts very much on language abilities, how good you are at catching a language, in your case, you are very young, the language is the same so I should think that catching an accent will take as long as you really wish,depending also on the efforts you are going to give to catch the accent. You just need to understand it and it will just come automatically. GOOD LUCK! It will be a piece of cake young man!

Answer 2

Hmmm - it depends on a lot. I am South African, and tend to find that accents similar to mine are easier to pick up. I lived in America for 8 months and went home with a twange. I have lived in the UK for 3 years and have picked up a strange mixture of accents that sound anything but South African. However, when I was travelling around Australia and New Zealand, I picked up a very strong accent. Because South Africa has a few very different accents, but also 2 main (white) languages, it may be harder to pick up. Although you can count on picking up some of the "slang" we use - which will more than likely make you sound quite South African. It is a really strong accent though, so I wouldn't worry too much about it!

Answer 3

I doubt you'll get too much of a south african accent. You'll pick up a lot of the slang but will retain most of your uk accent as it doesnt really differ all that much. Kids on the other hand will just change theirs really quickly.
I was born in scotland, moved to south africa when I was 7. My accent changed almost immediately but there was still a little bit there until I started working in the SA Police at 18 when it disappeared totally. Strangely enough it came back a bit some years later after I left the police. I have moved back to scotland and am waiting to see how long it will take to come back.

Answer 4

I left Southport when I was about three and had a Southport accent until I started junior school. it was not lost completely until I started work although now I sppeak with a slight Liverpool accent. However I find that if I go to South Wales I start to pick up a Welsh accent fairly quickly and in Ireland I start with a slight Irish accent. This may be because when I was little i heard Welsh being spoken in the street as often as I heard English and there is and was an Irish influence in Liverpool

Answer 5

it really depends on the person and sometimes the age but not always. Some people develop an accent rather quickly but for others, it takes very long, like years. Some people have it in them,some don't. But if you want to develop the south african accent, I suggest that you "socialise" with them, hear the language, watch tv,movies etc and little by little you will have it :)

Hope everything's clear ;)

Answer 6

Probably because you are still young not too long. I take it you are going with your parents so that you will still have their influence on you regarding speech and accent...they still have a home grown accent is what I mean.

My grandson who has an English Mother a Scottish Father and live in Shetland but speaks with an English accent and that is what I mean about your parents having an influence on you especially your mother.

So all in all don't expect to develop a Afrikan accent just straigh away in fact you may never but you might develop a slight twange to your voice.


I hope you enjoy South Africa it is a place that I would love to go to and if I have a win on the lottery I still will get the chance.

PS It won't take you llong to make news friends so mixing with them ought to help towards the accent.

Bye x

Answer 7

I am originally from England but left when I was 7 to go to Brunei. I went to an International School and got a weird accent, kind of lots of accents mixed together. I left when i was 15 to go to Australia I am 16 now and have the same accent as i had before. I don't think mine will change much but my little sister already has a full Australian accent. I think it depends on the age and the person.

Answer 8

That depends entirely on the kind of person you are and how you adapt to new surroundings. I was in South Africa for 8 months and, although i didn't pick up the accent, i did start to use south african phrases/words and said them with the accent. I still do now.
enjoy SA it is fabulous, we are moving out their in 4 years ourselves.

Answer 9

I agree with everyone who said that it "depends on the individual". I'm not an expert,but I know for myself that I pick up accents very easily.Other people I know have lived in other regions[of the USA] and over seas and never picked up an accent. I do think there is a connection in the brain with auditory perception and speech that is more pronounced in some people. They repeat what they hear almost subconsciously. You may or may not develop one,but you will know fairly soon after you arrive.

Answer 10

My mother moved from England to Scotland at the end of the war and she still has the English accent, my friends moved to Australia 20 years ago and still have Scottish accent except the younger members who were only 5/7 have now Aussie accents.