What is your native language?

[sinime]

Non-specific English

 

[a5cent]

I rest my case. :winktongue:

 

[tgp]

I've been pretty much everywhere in the U.S. except the south east, and have yet to meet someone I can't understand

Yes I agree with your observation. I don't think US English really has dialects; its variations are more in accents. I have a strong Midwestern accent, but I've never had trouble understand people in the Northeast such as Boston, or the deep South such as Mississippi.

I just took a trip down memory lane to the first time I visited London, many years ago. I was unprepared for the British accent. I did struggle a bit at first! However, I've gained a bit of experience since then. Now, I can sometimes tell a foreign speaker's first language by their accent when speaking English.

 

[mtf1380]

I speak poor English, would rather laugh, and love listening to ALL accents: Irish; English; Swedish; German; Scottish are among my favorites, and I will not lie, very often, I have to say: "I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" One of my very best friends is from the Czech Republic, and he too is a delight to listen to.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Yes I agree with your observation. I don't think US English really has dialects; its variations are more in accents. I have a strong Midwestern accent, but I've never had trouble understand people in the Northeast such as Boston, or the deep South such as Mississippi.

I just took a trip down memory lane to the first time I visited London, many years ago. I was unprepared for the British accent. I did struggle a bit at first! However, I've gained a bit of experience since then. Now, I can sometimes tell a foreign speaker's first language by their accent when speaking English.

I had to watch JFK's inauguration speech when I was in high school. I couldn't understand a word of it.

I typically don't have any issues with the London accent. It is the Cockney accent that is hard for me to understand.

 

[fatclue_98]

I had to watch JFK's inauguration speech when I was in high school. I couldn't understand a word of it.

I typically don't have any issues with the London accent. It is the Cockney accent that is hard for me to understand.

Don't pahk the cah in the yahd!

 

[mtf1380]

Don't pahk the cah in the yahd!

Heard it all my life

 

[mtf1380]

I had to watch JFK's inauguration speech when I was in high school. I couldn't understand a word of it.

Funny you should mention JFK, my Mother was a Bostonian through and through; we move to Southern California when I was 2, but she NEVER lost her STRONG Boston dialect.

 

[fatclue_98]

Funny you should mention JFK, my Mother was a Bostonian through and through; we move to Southern California when I was 2, but she NEVER lost her STRONG Boston dialect.

Funny how that happens. My wife lived in N. Jersey until she was in high school yet she doesn't talk like your typical New Yorker. Went to New York about 2 years ago and after a day there I didn't recognize her speech anymore. It was like I was married to Rosie Perez. It all came back and I had to de-program her when we got home.

 

[a5cent]

Don't pahk the cah in the yahd!

I have no idea what the Cockney accent is, but this sounds like "The Sopranos" to me. Am I at least close?

 

[Guytronic]

A number of years ago I stopped over in Kansai outside of Osaka after working down in Okinawa.

Wandering around seeing people with cans of beer out in the terminal I asked a Japanese guy (with difficulty using a language primer) if people were carrying brews in their luggage.
He told me no that you can buy booze and sit wherever and enjoy.

I zipped into one of the airport shops found the cooler grabbed a bottle of Grolsch.
With primer in hand I approached the counter to pay up.

As I was about to read from the primer the Japanese gal at the counter said:
"You won't need that I was born and raised in Los Angeles"

I'll never forget that

 

[raycpl]

I'm fluent in English and Malay, but my native tongue is Cantonese. Though I've been observed to swear and curse in several other Chinese dialects, and Tamil too for good measure!!

.... !!!

 

[mtf1380]

I have no idea what the Cockney accent is, but this sounds like "The Sopranos" to me. Am I at least close?

No, "The Sopranos" is a totally different accent....if you want a great representation of a Cockney accent, AND have access to Netflix, watch an episode of "Pinky Blinders":^)

 

[libra89]

Funny how that happens. My wife lived in N. Jersey until she was in high school yet she doesn't talk like your typical New Yorker. Went to New York about 2 years ago and after a day there I didn't recognize her speech anymore. It was like I was married to Rosie Perez. It all came back and I had to de-program her when we got home.

Okay, I am laughing at deprogramming your wife

 

[fatclue_98]

Okay, I am laughing at deprogramming your wife

After 22 years of wedded bliss it's not the easiest thing in the world.

 

[TheDarkSide1]

My Native language is French, but I eventually learned decent English over the years.