How long do you have to live in England in order to pick up the accent?

Question

Lets say I move by 18-19 yrs old, how easy would it be the pick up the accent? and how many years would it take?
Just curious :)

Answer 1

I lived in England for four years and didn't pick up a London accent. (different accents in different parts of England) - I know people who've lived there for 9, 10, 11 years and haven't "picked one up" - you might have a certain inflection to some phrases that are used in the UK that are not used in your country of origin - I find that with some words that they say there, or phrases, that are not used here - I tend to inflect the words the way I've been hearing them in the UK. You'd have to live in a country for a loooong time to pick up an accent different to your native one, esp if the language is the same.

Answer 2

You don't "pick up accents" just like that. You may pick up a few chosen local words but, that's about it.

I remember a college class from the University of Minnesota, English. We keep our language or accents up to seven to nine years old. If one moved from, say Russia at nine years old and learned the English language in America, he/she would retain his/her Russian accents, enough to be recognized.

Answer 3

Which accent, there are many different ones, and usually accents are picked up as a child, adults normally retain their own except for slight overtones.

Answer 4

By the time you get over here it will be a eastern European accent you will need to speak.

The English language is dying out,just walk around east london or south london.

Answer 5

you just try to mimic the words that you hear try to listen to some people talking i dont live in uk im based in philippines however i work for 118 118 i just have 1 month - 3 months training for elocution and you'll just learn to speak and sound british however every area have different accent wales glasgow edinburgh leeds etc. good luck

Answer 6

I was born here and have lived here all my life.
I am still waiting for mine. (lol)