British Accents

[OutThere]

Fargo accents (and character portrayals) are spot-on. I've been to Minnesota many times, and know many people who live there, and, in complete truth, it's SO much like Fargo it scares me. Don't believe any of the people in denial, strong Minnesota accents are strong!

 

[840quadra]

I had moved to Brainerd, Minnesota right when the movie Fargo opened up. The movie is supposed to take place here. You can't imagine how many people here said that their accent didn't sound a bit like the one in the movie. Of course to me, who had never heard that accent before, it sounded right on.

Possibly, however even in Minnesota, there are unique accents within this state. People from near the Twin Cities (were I live) tend to have less pronounced accents then the further north rural populations. However, even the people in Brainerd, Bemidji or other small towns cannot compare to the strange sound from Fargo (well to my ears).

 

[Chundles]

Is that the "oh yah, dontchya know?" accent?

 

[mikebatho]

I only watched the first Hazza Potta movie, because he sucks, but the accents in that film are mostly public school, so have a tone of class & wealth about them (many brit films that are to be pushed heavily abroad stick to very crisp, stereotypical upper-class accents).

I guess it's the same as anywhere else here. There are an endless number of accents and sub-accents, just in smaller territories.

I have a Cumbrian accent, and people around Manchester often assume I'm from up Bolton or Wigan way....

Some are lyrical & friendly sounding, and some irritating and hard edged. We all must have accents that annoy us. Some of those around Manchester can grate on my like crazy. I've met a number of Americans over the years, and while finding them to be agreeable on the whole, the accent does set my nerves on edge a little. That'll annoy some people who think it isn't just 'one' accent, but while they can't tell the difference between a Bolton and Wakefield accentover here, it's exactly the same for us.

We know the obvious 'stand-out' accents, like the New York drawl, or the southern, sister-marrying (joke) twang, but would still generalize on an overall 'American' accent.....

 

[barneygumble]

Melbourne, Helen, Castlemaine

Sydney: "Melbun, Helen, Carslemayne"
Melbourne: "Malbun, Halan, Casslemayne"

There are a number of regional accents here, people from Albury/Wodonga sound different from people from the south coast.

Surely being from Newcastle you'd be able to recognise a few accents of your own.

Sydney: "Would you like another lahr-tay?"
Newcastle: "Do youse wannaother cuppa tea?"

Don't start with me, I'm a Novocastrian by birth.

That has nothing to do with accent, merely vocabulary. Of course they are differant but my point is the accent is the same

and FYI in newcastle it is where the f**k is centrelink

 

[Chundles]

heh, nice one.

The Sydney/Melbourne accent difference is very real though. South Australians definitely sound different to us on the East Coast. I didn't notice it here but when I went overseas for a year I really noticed the number of different Aussie accents. Mine is relatively mild, with a slight british overtone and the odd american twang coming from being schooled at three different and formative stages in my life as a young man in three different countries, but others are very harsh, the okker accent is very easy to pick up on but mine is not quite so easy.

 

[barneygumble]

heh, nice one.

The Sydney/Melbourne accent difference is very real though. South Australians definitely sound different to us on the East Coast. I didn't notice it here but when I went overseas for a year I really noticed the number of different Aussie accents. Mine is relatively mild, with a slight british overtone and the odd american twang coming from being schooled at three different and formative stages in my life as a young man in three different countries, but others are very harsh, the okker accent is very easy to pick up on but mine is not quite so easy.

I don't notice it, must be because i am as ocka as they come

 

[nomad01]

Huh? So often I've been chatting with someone about movies and the subject of how *good* Gwyneth's accent is in Sliding Doors comes up. It's flawless.

I thought she was good too. I also thought Rene did pretty well in Bridget Jones. A bit affected maybe but I dn't think I'd have twigged if I didn't know she was American already.

I also remember being amazed to find out that Nancy Travis was American. After seeing her in the Three Men and Baby/Little Lady films, I actually was tempted to accuse her of doing a bad American accent when I saw her using her own voice. It just seemed wrong.

Not seen these films for ages so I may be remembering wrong but did anyone else think her accent was good?

 

[nomad01]

Fred & George Weazley have a Brummoy accent (Birmingham)

And amazingly, they actually picked Brummies to play most of the Weasley family rather than the bl00dy awful fake Brummie accents you usually hear on TV.

 

[mikebatho]

Americans aren't good at regional accents.

That's why you only get a fairly generic, plumy voice goming from those who try. Either that or an over-the-top Cockerney apples & pears monstrosity like Daphne's brother in Frasier......

Paltrow, Depp, Zweglieregerreer (?), Lithgow.....no regional dialects....

And don't get me started at TLJ in 'Blown Away'...that was learned at the Dick Van Dyke school of accents (just not the campus in Ireland!)

Ha....

But then we always talk about how good Gary Oldman is at the American accent, but to me it's only usually a generic New Yorker, I couldn't tell you if he can do US regional....

 

[Kobushi]

It's Scottish (a friend who just got back from it confirmed it for me).

Goundskeeper Willy doesn't count

I suppose you're American, though.

If that's inclusive of all Americas between N and S poles, "yes". Although, I fail to see what that has to do with anything.

Are you guys crazy???

Only clinically. The voices tell me not to believe them, though.

She is quite obviously Glaswegian.

Well, thanks for clearing that up. It really did sound kinda mumbled and fake to me. "Cho Chang".....clearly Scottish born

 

[Kobushi]

Is that the "oh yah, dontchya know?" accent?

Yeah, although I've never heard them say that unless it's in jest. They do use the "aboot" that I hear from Canadians and hang onto their 'o's for quite some time. My study buddy is from Minnesota and went to undergrad in North "Da-kooooh-tah", she's funny to listen to.

 

[greatdevourer]

If that's inclusive of all Americas between N and S poles, "yes". Although, I fail to see what that has to do with anything...

...Well, thanks for clearing that up. It really did sound kinda mumbled and fake to me. "Cho Chang".....clearly Scottish born

Think about what you said in my quote, then you might understand why I said what I did.