Strange Question

[ThreadBbdr]

Colin, a young Irish lad that is a regular at my 'local' pub, has a delightful brogue that is quite understandable. Until he's had his third pint. Then it gets so thick that I can't understand but about one word in five.

[sharpdressedscot]

I'm also a born & bred Aussie, and when I stopped for lunch in a tiny village in Tipperary, the owner of the pub asked me what part of America I was from!


Troy

That's funny and unexpected... oh the irony!

[fluter]

I'm also a born & bred Aussie, and when I stopped for lunch in a tiny village in Tipperary, the owner of the pub asked me what part of America I was from!

When in Britain, I have usually been wearing a khaki photographer's vest (my briefcase), khaki troosers, and a Tilley hat. People have been known to assume I'm an Aussie, until I open my mouth. "Oh! You're a Yank!?!"

[fluter]

... when one of the girls that worked there came up to me and asked "Um, this may sound strange but, do you have an accent?"

Perfect time to have said "Whiii, yes mayeeumm, Iiii do."

[Jack Daw]

I also had an attractive woman approach me and ask from where in Scotland I came and I could see her expression darken when I replied with my American accent. I didn't say, 'Texan accent', because I have traveled so much for business over the years that I have been told that they cannot place where I live.

BTW, my grandfather was from the absolute southern tip of IL. IOW, Grand Chain, which used to be called New Grand Chain after (old) Grand Chain was moved back away from the river.

[beowulf67]

An accent from Illinois is considered 'southern'? That's interesting.

Of course I'm from Alabama and sound like Gomer Pyle. Suprise, surprise, surprise!!!

[davedove]

An accent from Illinois is considered 'southern'? That's interesting.

Actually, I would call it more of a "country" accent. It's just the Chicago people who call it southern, which of course we were to them.

Often the folks in the rural areas speak slightly different from their city-slicker neighbors.

[Jake_S]

Often the folks in the rural areas speak slightly different from their city-slicker neighbors.

That's the same in the true south also. Some farmers that I grew up with have accents so thick that it's like they're speaking a different language

Jake

[beowulf67]

Oh I understand the regional differences. People that live "on the mountain" in the same county where I live "in the valley" have different accents.

And I've always found that interesting. I can understand how the differences would have developed years ago when travelling across the county was a multi-day trip, but it's amazing that they have remained even after people have been much more exposed to others for years.

[davedove]

And I've always found that interesting. I can understand how the differences would have developed years ago when travelling across the county was a multi-day trip, but it's amazing that they have remained even after people have been much more exposed to others for years.

I do think that accents will lessen as the years pass. With mass communications and greater travel, people will be exposed to other accents more and will naturally begin to blend together into a single form. The world is losing its isolated populations.

Those accents took a long time to develop; they will take a long time to blend.