Nobody sounds like James Mason or Richard Burton nor the "cockney" sound of Michael Caine or the cast in "My Fair Lady." Why visit London if you are only going to speak like New Yorkers or losers in LA LA land? Only the Geico lizard sounds British these days? Have things all changed? Is it the unification with Europe? You just don't sound right.
2007-08-09 18:49:01 · 16 answers · asked by JIM 4 in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ London
Well YOU write like Americans. Your newscasters sound like Americans. People interviewed like when the Pakis set off another bomb or you are fleeing the floods all sound like they might be in Trenton, N.J. or Miami, Fla. Strange.
2007-08-09 19:15:00 · update #1
Ay astna lawst me accent. Dunno bout dine sarf !
Regional accents and dialects still exist although they have been watered down by ease of travel to other areas and the advent of TV. At one time it would have been very rare for people to travel outside their own county.
Richard Burton etc had speech lessons to get that sound as no one could ever work in broadcasting or whatever if they had a strong regional accent because people in other areas would find it so difficult to understand them. Therefore it was coached away to become the generic "BBC English. As TV became more popular people began to speak more and more like the people they saw on it. Also schools discourage the use of dialect and regional pronunciation because it can be a definate disadvantage when it come to job interviews.
I don't seem to notice many accents when I watch American films either.
2007-08-09 19:20:24 · answer #1 · answered by Debi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There was a time when "common" accents were not acceptable on British TV - everybody had to have "BBC accents" (sounding like The Queen). Things have lightened up now and regional accents are acceptable. It is nothing to do with Europe as European countries each have their own national language. Michael Caine is a natural born cockney whereas the script/storyline of My Fair Lady requires cockney accents whether natural or fake
2007-08-09 20:31:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Accents change over the years. I.e. they change in time as well as place. The "received English" pronunciation when I was young in London half a century ago is nothing like it is today. Films (movies) reflect these changes.
This is not just an English language phenomenon. Old French films have different accents from today's France. Doubtless the same in other countries too.
2007-08-09 18:57:47 · answer #3 · answered by sotires 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ummmm...not sure what kind of shows/news you've been watching, but I can't say I have ever heard any "modern Brits" that sounded like they could be from Jersey lmao. Not to mention that "British" isn't an accent to begin with lol. But that's a whole other rant. ;)
*sigh*....though I am proud to be American, people like you are perpetuating the misconception that Americans are stupid... Can't wait to move across the pond and and get away from all the LOONS!
2007-08-10 21:31:16 · answer #4 · answered by Clovie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Modern Brits speak like Modern Brits. Just like Americans don't speak like Americans of 100 years ago.
If you want to hear the Cockney accent, go to Royston north of London and south of Cambridge. I know lots of Cockneys who moved there and you can still hear the accent.
London is full of Foreigners.. Americans, Africans, Europeans, Russians, Japanese, Australians, etc. Most of them learnt their 'English' via American English lessons. So of course they sound like 'americans'. What did you expect? the world to stand still for you?
2007-08-09 21:00:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uhm ... of course. Languages develop over time. Do Americans still speak like Clark Gable ... or like buster Keaton?
If your knowledge of the "outside world" is purely based on watching CNN, then I bet you think all Germans speaks like Martin Luther did.
2007-08-09 22:00:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We don't write like Americans we can spell, most of us are not racist or ignorant enough to use the word pakis, I don't know anyone who has an American accent other than Americans. But by all means don't bother coming over.
2007-08-09 21:32:42 · answer #7 · answered by susie03 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ohh I think we do!! We may not speak with the plum in the mouth accent any longer, but there is still a very distinctive British accent!
2007-08-09 18:52:10 · answer #8 · answered by Sal*UK 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go and flush your ignorant little Yank brain down the toilet. And add some strong bleach.
That "English" enough for you, old thing?
And what on Earth is the "geico lizard" ?
2007-08-10 06:03:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I suppose it depends where in the UK you are from. I'm from Lancashire and we haven't changed the way we have spoken for around 200 years.
In fact, if I wrote exactly like I speak you wouldn't understand it at all.
2007-08-09 18:54:12 · answer #10 · answered by Nexus6 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋