Question especially for those of you from the UK

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Chill Out Room
-- Question especially for those of you from the UK
Pages (2): [1] 2 »

Posted by ali92 on Mar-26-2009 07:44:

Question especially for those of you from the UK

I believe I have become obsessed with your dialect of English and would like to know if it makes sense for me to continue trying to complete convert to using that form of English. Since 2001, I have altered my spellings and grammar (I am still learning) to reflect what is common practise in the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is quite tricky considering I was raised in the US (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and still live there.

I have also adopted an RP accent and went 3 full years of university as well as a job I had for a summer before that speaking in that form. I seem to have gotten so good at it that some words naturally come out as RP now and not 'Philly', like the names Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren ( ;-) ).

As to how I am learning this, I just read Wikipedia's pages on differences as well as the many other sites on-line that talk about what seems like thousands of differences (so many that I think if we never had the Internet, the US & UK would have their own unique languages by 2100 or so). As for speech, I get that from various radio broadcasts of our favourite music and some programmes I watch from time to time.

I wonder myself for the last 8 years why I am basically trying to be viewed as something I am not. Maybe I sub-consciously think it's cool to be seen (at least initially, as I do not lie about my origin) as not from around here? The thing that has me wondering about it is because I seem to also speak like this around people that haven't seen me since before 2003 or so.

What do the others here think and has anyone else tried such a thing before and if so, how is/did it going/went?

PS: I wish I put all this energy into actually learning a new language rather than just a dialect of the one I already know!

PPS: I'm looking for a real answer here. I truly do not know why I do this and if I like it or whatnot. I'm looking to find out why I have and am still going through all this effort to change something that doesn't mean much (I mean c'mon - studying word difference lists?).

Posted by Sunsnail on Mar-26-2009 07:46:

People who speak in a different accent to improve their image make me laugh

Posted by Kinezi on Mar-26-2009 07:46:

quote:
Originally posted by ali92
I believe I have become obsessed with your dialect of English and would like to know if it makes sense for me to continue trying to complete convert to using that form of English. Since 2001, I have altered my spellings and grammar (I am still learning) to reflect what is common practise in the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is quite tricky considering I was raised in the US (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and still live there.

I have also adopted an RP accent and went 3 full years of university as well as a job I had for a summer before that speaking in that form. I seem to have gotten so good at it that some words naturally come out as RP now and not 'Philly', like the names Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren ( ;-) ).

As to how I am learning this, I just read Wikipedia's pages on differences as well as the many other sites on-line that talk about what seems like thousands of differences (so many that I think if we never had the Internet, the US & UK would have their own unique languages by 2100 or so). As for speech, I get that from various radio broadcasts of our favourite music and some programmes I watch from time to time.

I wonder myself for the last 8 years why I am basically trying to be viewed as something I am not. Maybe I sub-consciously think it's cool to be seen (at least initially, as I do not lie about my origin) as not from around here? The thing that has me wondering about it is because I seem to also speak like this around people that haven't seen me since before 2003 or so.

What do the others here think and has anyone else tried such a thing before and if so, how is/did it going/went?

PS: I wish I put all this energy into actually learning a new language rather than just a dialect of the one I already know!

too long penis.

Posted by winston on Mar-26-2009 08:14:

I'd say it would be optimal for you to live in the UK for a while in order to adopt the culture and dialect as you pointed out, specially If you haven't been exposed to said culture in the past.

Posted by Sushipunk on Mar-26-2009 08:22:

You say you want to talk like an English person, yet you're referring to 'dialects' that are 'common practice' in the UK. Are you aware just how many dialects there are in the UK, even disregarding the Scots and the (northern) Irish?

I'm curious as to which English dialect you've been teaching yourself to speak in. Souf Lundener? Brommie? Scouse? A westerner (cider/soyderrr)?

Please clarify. Also, if possible, please record your (accented/pretend) voice and post it up for us to listen to.

Posted by winston on Mar-26-2009 08:23:

quote:
Originally posted by Sushipunk

Please clarify. Also, if possible, please record your (accented/pretend) voice and post it up for us to listen to.

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Mar-26-2009 09:21:

Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

quote:
Originally posted by ali92

I truly do not know why I do this and if I like it or whatnot. I'm looking to find out why I have and am still going through all this effort to change something that doesn't mean much (I mean c'mon - studying word difference lists?).

To be pretentious?

Posted by kr00t0n on Mar-26-2009 09:24:

I speak all posh like, in fact, Lam is the only UK mate of mine who speaks more posh

Posted by Ian on Mar-26-2009 09:27:

quote:
Originally posted by kr00t0n
I speak all posh like, in fact, Lam is the only UK mate of mine who speaks more posh

yeah but lam uses �50 notes as toilet paper!

Posted by kr00t0n on Mar-26-2009 09:52:

quote:
Originally posted by Ian
yeah but lam uses �50 notes as toilet paper!

And that's why I bumlove him, tips are easy to come (s******) by

Posted by Trance Nutter on Mar-26-2009 10:08:

Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
To be pretentious?

definitely.

Posted by zag2me on Mar-26-2009 12:20:

I suggest you live in Newcastle for 6 months. It will be a great learning experience.

Posted by Capitalizt on Mar-26-2009 12:33:

Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

Wow, why the hell are you doing that? American English is so much more evolved and (largely) universal.. You are reverting back to a primitive form of english my man. There are dozens of weird dialects in Europe..none commonly embraced. If you speak with the basic American accent (no hillbilly, new york, or cajun intonations) you will be understood and respected worldwide. People in China and India aren't studying how to speak like the British.. They are studying how to speak like Americans. The world is moving away from from the old english style.. Even British singers sing like Americans these days. You've really been wasting your time.

Posted by _Ocean_Drive_ on Mar-26-2009 12:36:

quote:
Originally posted by zag2me
I suggest you live in Newcastle for 6 months. It will be a great learning experience.

!

What dialect of English are you trying to pick up?

But yeah, I teach the British spelling of words to my students; they love it.

In fact, I attended a speech contest, and this girl (about 17 or 18) delievered a speech in a pure, broad Scottish accent!! She'd studied there for 10 months. I couldn't believe my ears and I had to ask her if she was 100% Japanese, and she was! Point being, if she could pick up on an accent, I'm sure you could.

Posted by Acton on Mar-26-2009 12:49:

quote:
Originally posted by zag2me
I suggest you live in Newcastle for 6 months. It will be a great drinking experience.

Fixed

Posted by PETRAN on Mar-26-2009 12:58:

Re: Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
Wow, why the hell are you doing that? American English is so much more evolved and (largely) universal.. You are reverting back to a primitive form of english my man. There are dozens of weird dialects in Europe..none commonly embraced. If you speak with the basic American accent (no hillbilly, new york, or cajun intonations) you will be understood and respected worldwide. People in China and India aren't studying how to speak like the British.. They are studying how to speak like Americans. The world is moving away from from the old english style.. Even British singers sing like Americans these days. You've really been wasting your time.

This is one of those TA posts that almost every sentence has something wrong.

why is it that you are brain-dead child? Was it the drugs or your genes?

Posted by kr00t0n on Mar-26-2009 13:04:

Re: Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
People in China and India aren't studying how to speak like the British.. They are studying how to speak like Americans.

Lol wrong

Even Mohinder Suresh in Heroes speaks British English foo

Posted by DJ Mikey Mike on Mar-26-2009 13:28:

Re: Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

Posted by smellyblack on Mar-26-2009 13:31:

why the fuck would you purposely adopt a phony accent?

you aren't fucking merryl streep and i am pretty sure a dingo didn't eat your baby cockburglar.

this kind of shit is worse than italians who go from normal to hey bro guido when they are in packs.

Posted by Krypton on Mar-26-2009 15:25:

Posted by ali92 on Mar-26-2009 18:47:

quote:
Originally posted by Sushipunk
You say you want to talk like an English person, yet you're referring to 'dialects' that are 'common practice' in the UK. Are you aware just how many dialects there are in the UK, even disregarding the Scots and the (northern) Irish?

I'm curious as to which English dialect you've been teaching yourself to speak in. Souf Lundener? Brommie? Scouse? A westerner (cider/soyderrr)?

Please clarify. Also, if possible, please record your (accented/pretend) voice and post it up for us to listen to.

Received Pronunciation. I mentioned this in the middle of the original post. Also, perhaps adding that 'common' part made no sense as of course there are some 50 dialects/accents spoken in that land. But RP is indeed the one I am learning...

Posted by nchs09 on Mar-26-2009 18:55:

Re: Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
To be pretentious?
That implies that the way the people from england speak is better....

is that what you think?

Posted by UmmiE on Mar-26-2009 19:01:

quote:
Originally posted by Kinezi
too long penis.

Posted by winston on Mar-26-2009 19:03:

what's wrong with philly english?

Posted by Domesticated on Mar-26-2009 19:45:

Re: Re: Re: Question especially for those of you from the UK

quote:
Originally posted by PETRAN
This is one of those TA posts that almost every sentence has something wrong.

why is it that you are brain-dead child? Was it the drugs or your genes?

quote:
Originally posted by DJ Mikey Mike
Jesus Christ, what a fucking ballbag.

Glad someone was able to say it for me. That post was the biggest load of horse shit I've ever had the displeasure of reading.

To the original poster; good for you. It's nice to see someone making a conscious effort to stop speaking like a complete retard. Only 299,999,999 people to go...

Pages (2): [1] 2 »