Comments on: Please call Stella. Ask her to bring these things with her from the store… http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:27:19 +1000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: blues http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-13353 blues Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:48:57 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-13353 Interesting post. I think a lot about accents. Mainly because my speech is very adaptable and it's something I've often been self-conscious about, feeling like I must have very little personality if my speech can be changed by spending time with a person that speaks differently. On the other hand, I think this weakness has allowed me to have a knack at languages. My accent in Spanish has always been quite good, most people can tell I'm not a native Spanish speaker, they can't place my accent. It's never been a difficult aspect of learning the language for me. Now I'm learning french and the pronunciation doesn't seem to present a very big problem for me. I listened to your and you sound American to me although it's not distinctive enough for me to be able to place it to any regional part of North America. .-= blues´s last blog ..<a href="http://bluesofawaxwing.blogspot.com/2009/10/gum-and-madge.html" rel="nofollow">Gum and Madge</a> =-. Interesting post. I think a lot about accents. Mainly because my speech is very adaptable and it’s something I’ve often been self-conscious about, feeling like I must have very little personality if my speech can be changed by spending time with a person that speaks differently. On the other hand, I think this weakness has allowed me to have a knack at languages. My accent in Spanish has always been quite good, most people can tell I’m not a native Spanish speaker, they can’t place my accent. It’s never been a difficult aspect of learning the language for me. Now I’m learning french and the pronunciation doesn’t seem to present a very big problem for me.

I listened to your and you sound American to me although it’s not distinctive enough for me to be able to place it to any regional part of North America.
blues´s last blog ..Gum and Madge My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Gypsy http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-13268 Gypsy Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:08:32 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-13268 My brother and I are both mimics, but my parents sound just like where they're from: Texas and North Florida. My brother has lived in Ireland for several years and I always tease him about his acquired accent. Once when I came down home for a visit from DC, my great aunt asked me, Scarlett O'Hara in her voice, "Gyyypsy, wheah hayve you bee-in that you saound lahk a Yankee?" .-= Gypsy´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Strangedarkgypsygirl/~3/0f_t79yzgcg/" rel="nofollow">When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble, give a whistle</a> =-. My brother and I are both mimics, but my parents sound just like where they’re from: Texas and North Florida. My brother has lived in Ireland for several years and I always tease him about his acquired accent. Once when I came down home for a visit from DC, my great aunt asked me, Scarlett O’Hara in her voice, “Gyyypsy, wheah hayve you bee-in that you saound lahk a Yankee?”
Gypsy´s last blog ..When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble, give a whistle My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Jill/Twipply Skwood http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12873 Jill/Twipply Skwood Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:24:14 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12873 On Arizaphale's comment - that coincides pretty well with the age past which you're not supposed to be able to learn a language without an accent (12-14 I think it is). So those two things are probably related, but I imagine that there's not so much an exact age as there is a range. Some people are probably able to pick up accents/new sounds until later than others. When I speak Spanish, anyone can tell that I'm not a native speaker because I'm groping around for basic vocabulary. But if I'm merely reading out loud, I've fooled native speakers into thinking I grew up speaking Spanish even though I didn't start studying it until I was 18. I didn't hear much of an accent on your reading - sounds American to me. I'm not great at recognizing accents though. But I think I do the mimic thing too. I wonder if it's because of having moved a lot as a child (and teen and young adult)? .-= Jill/Twipply Skwood´s last blog ..<a href="http://mightaswelltry.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-survive-parenting-teen.html" rel="nofollow">Death by Teenager, Part 4,752</a> =-. On Arizaphale’s comment – that coincides pretty well with the age past which you’re not supposed to be able to learn a language without an accent (12-14 I think it is). So those two things are probably related, but I imagine that there’s not so much an exact age as there is a range. Some people are probably able to pick up accents/new sounds until later than others.

When I speak Spanish, anyone can tell that I’m not a native speaker because I’m groping around for basic vocabulary. But if I’m merely reading out loud, I’ve fooled native speakers into thinking I grew up speaking Spanish even though I didn’t start studying it until I was 18.

I didn’t hear much of an accent on your reading – sounds American to me. I’m not great at recognizing accents though. But I think I do the mimic thing too. I wonder if it’s because of having moved a lot as a child (and teen and young adult)?
Jill/Twipply Skwood´s last blog ..Death by Teenager, Part 4,752 My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: zayzayem http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12838 zayzayem Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:56:50 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12838 I still picked up slight Americanisms (particularly "can't") just by having a dad from Ontario (but in Australia since the 60's). The amount of American TV these days probably helps a bit too these days. I find some kids in the classroom slip into American accents on certain words/phrases. .-= zayzayem´s last blog ..<a href="http://zayzayem.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/its-alive-in-brisbane-junior-dragon/" rel="nofollow">It’s Alive in Brisbane: Junior Dragon</a> =-. I still picked up slight Americanisms (particularly “can’t”) just by having a dad from Ontario (but in Australia since the 60’s). The amount of American TV these days probably helps a bit too these days. I find some kids in the classroom slip into American accents on certain words/phrases.
zayzayem´s last blog ..It’s Alive in Brisbane: Junior Dragon My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: admin http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12828 admin Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:46:49 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12828 Zay - I think you pick up accents quicker when you're young, probably why you sounded like a Yank after a short time in the States. Allie - I always get confused about Downstate and Upstate. Like I get that NYC would be Downstate right? And Albany Upstate? But why is Ithaca Upstate when it's actually west. And what the hell is Buffalo? Brad - I think you're probably largely right, but I would argue that SA definitely has a distinct accent when compared to NSW or Vic. But there's definitely a major class component as well. Zay – I think you pick up accents quicker when you’re young, probably why you sounded like a Yank after a short time in the States.

Allie – I always get confused about Downstate and Upstate. Like I get that NYC would be Downstate right? And Albany Upstate? But why is Ithaca Upstate when it’s actually west. And what the hell is Buffalo?

Brad – I think you’re probably largely right, but I would argue that SA definitely has a distinct accent when compared to NSW or Vic. But there’s definitely a major class component as well.

]]> By: Brad D. http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12799 Brad D. Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:43:37 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12799 I don't know - I'm not sure that either of those 2 Australian accent samples should be regarded as definitively "South Australian" or definitively "Sydney". There may be broad regional tendencies, but it seems to me that you can hear Aussies speaking with accents similar to either of those samples in any Australian city. Here in Perth, when I think about the different accents my (Perth-born) friends speak with, the most important determinants would be age and class, rather than region. I don’t know – I’m not sure that either of those 2 Australian accent samples should be regarded as definitively “South Australian” or definitively “Sydney”. There may be broad regional tendencies, but it seems to me that you can hear Aussies speaking with accents similar to either of those samples in any Australian city. Here in Perth, when I think about the different accents my (Perth-born) friends speak with, the most important determinants would be age and class, rather than region.

]]> By: Allie http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12782 Allie Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:41:38 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12782 One of my best friends never picked up a Southern accent b/c her parents were from NY. Maybe your kids will have a very mild Aussie accent? I used to have a pretty thick downstate NY accent, apparently. I never thought I did, but I got made fun of frequently when I moved upstate. I still say a few words "funny." The hubs never fails to make fun of me when I say orange. .-= Allie´s last blog ..<a href="http://allielarkin.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-spent-hour-stuck-in-dress-how-was.html" rel="nofollow">I spent an hour stuck in a dress. How was your day?</a> =-. One of my best friends never picked up a Southern accent b/c her parents were from NY. Maybe your kids will have a very mild Aussie accent?

I used to have a pretty thick downstate NY accent, apparently. I never thought I did, but I got made fun of frequently when I moved upstate. I still say a few words “funny.” The hubs never fails to make fun of me when I say orange.
Allie´s last blog ..I spent an hour stuck in a dress. How was your day? My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: zayzayem http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12779 zayzayem Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:51:40 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12779 Three word phrases, eh? "Chk Chk Boom" Your accent still has a northern North American sound to it, but sounds ex-pat to me. It actually sounds a bit like how my brother and I sounded after we came back from a year in America as teens. .-= zayzayem´s last blog ..<a href="http://zayzayem.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/its-alive-in-brisbane-junior-dragon/" rel="nofollow">It’s Alive in Brisbane: Junior Dragon</a> =-. Three word phrases, eh?
“Chk Chk Boom”

Your accent still has a northern North American sound to it, but sounds ex-pat to me. It actually sounds a bit like how my brother and I sounded after we came back from a year in America as teens.
zayzayem´s last blog ..It’s Alive in Brisbane: Junior Dragon My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: admin http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12772 admin Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:36:46 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12772 Barbara - Cool, another Adelaidean. Adelite? Danielle - A lot of my students have the Pommy lite accent, but again it depends on where they come from. My uni tries to offer opportunities to kids from the northern and southern suburbs and a lot of them have a much stronger 'Australian' accent. SSG - You certainly spell worse than one would think an Oxford graduate student would do. Mongola - People in Boone County sounded like Southerners to me. I still think Missouri fits in better with the South than the Midwest. Andrea - Yeah, I'm curious to see what accent my boys end up with. Hopefully a milder version of standard Aussie. Prefers - I love your basis for your favorite accents. I don't know who the third guy is, though. Ellie - I like all of those accents to. Also liked most of the ones I ran across in the UK except a strong Cockney. Seattle Dad - Seattle-ites definitely have an accent. You all sound like Swedes. I thought it was really funny when I lived up there. Barbara – Cool, another Adelaidean. Adelite?

Danielle – A lot of my students have the Pommy lite accent, but again it depends on where they come from. My uni tries to offer opportunities to kids from the northern and southern suburbs and a lot of them have a much stronger ‘Australian’ accent.

SSG – You certainly spell worse than one would think an Oxford graduate student would do.

Mongola – People in Boone County sounded like Southerners to me. I still think Missouri fits in better with the South than the Midwest.

Andrea – Yeah, I’m curious to see what accent my boys end up with. Hopefully a milder version of standard Aussie.

Prefers – I love your basis for your favorite accents. I don’t know who the third guy is, though.

Ellie – I like all of those accents to. Also liked most of the ones I ran across in the UK except a strong Cockney.

Seattle Dad – Seattle-ites definitely have an accent. You all sound like Swedes. I thought it was really funny when I lived up there.

]]> By: SeattleDad http://www.afreeman.org/2009/09/21/please-call-stella-ask-her-to-bring-these-things-with-her-from-the-store/comment-page-1/#comment-12771 SeattleDad Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:59:51 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/?p=3471#comment-12771 You definitely had an accent to me. Sounded Forn. lol. I don't like the Texan accent either, but the Irish accent is probably my favorite. Of course, we here in the Pacific NW have absolutely no accent. At least that is the way we see it. .-= SeattleDad´s last blog ..<a href="http://liayf.blogspot.com/2009/09/scare-tactics.html" rel="nofollow">Scare Tactics</a> =-. You definitely had an accent to me. Sounded Forn. lol. I don’t like the Texan accent either, but the Irish accent is probably my favorite. Of course, we here in the Pacific NW have absolutely no accent. At least that is the way we see it.
SeattleDad´s last blog ..Scare Tactics My ComLuv Profile

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