Words you never use?

[Patine]

I knew this Canadian guy and he would swear up and down he didn’t have a Canadian accent. He did, and it was very pronounced.

I wasn’t even making fun of him, but he did say aboot and hewse when he would talk about his house.

There is no such thing as a "Canadian," accent. Like in the U.S., UK, and Australia, accent is noticeably regional.

 

[Zardnaar]

There is no such thing as a "Canadian," accent. Like in the U.S., UK, and Australia, accent is noticeably regional.

Kinda is.

There's a definite USA and Aussie one. I can sometimes pick the US one as well as the region at least in East/west coast and north/ south. Rarely I can get the state.

It's funny when you call someone from Alabama or whatever a yank. "I'm not a Yankee" didn't call you that called you a yank. Yank being any American.

 

[Patine]

Kinda is.

There's a definite USA and Aussie one. I can sometimes pick the US one as well as the region at least in East/west coast and north/ south. Rarely I can get the state.

It's funny when you call someone from Alabama or whatever a yank. "I'm not a Yankee" didn't call you that called you a yank. Yank being any American.

How many Newfoundlandlers and Quebecois have you spoken with or listened to lately? Most First Nations, and definitely Inuit, have a distinct accent, too. Even the three Acadian Provinces have noticeable difference in the way they speak.

 

[Zardnaar]

How many Newfoundlandlers and Quebecois have you spoken with or listened to lately?

None recently. I'm crap at Canadian regional accents. Can often pick up a Canadian one.

Grew up next to American family, worked with them, had plenty of friends and online gaming over the last 20 years. Had a heap stay at mum's hostel.

Some Americans are harder to pick vs UK or Aussie they tend to stand out more.

Apparently to Americans ours sound British or at least mine does.

 

[Patine]

None recently. I'm crap at Canadian regional accents.

Grew up next to American family, worked with them, had plenty of friends and online gaming over the last 20 years. Had a heap stay at mum's hostel.

Some Americans are harder to pick vs UK or Aussie they tend to stand out more.

Of course, in the U.S., the Deep South, African-American, New York City (one for each Borough), Boston, Hispanic, and their Native Americans all have distinct accents from the "mainstream," one.

None recently. I'm crap at Canadian regional accents. Can often pick up a Canadian one.

Grew up next to American family, worked with them, had plenty of friends and online gaming over the last 20 years. Had a heap stay at mum's hostel.

Some Americans are harder to pick vs UK or Aussie they tend to stand out more.

Apparently to Americans ours sound British or at least mine does.

The British have FAR more regional variance in accents, altogether.

 

[Zardnaar]

Of course, in the U.S., the Deep South, African-American, New York City (one for each Borough), Boston, Hispanic, and their Native Americans all have distinct accents from the "mainstream," one.

Yep Boston, Texas, Utah, Alabama seem to be strong sub accents.

 

[Patine]

Yep Boston, Texas, Utah, Alabama seem to be strong sub accents.

And don't forget the African-Americans. Though I believe they first got the reference of comradery, "bro," from the Maoris, were using it when the African-Americans were still using the full word, "brother," (or "brothuh,"), if I'm not mistaken.

 

[amadeus]

There is no such thing as a "Canadian," accent. Like in the U.S., UK, and Australia, accent is noticeably regional.

Okay, Professor Specific, that really added a lot of insight to my face-value humorous anecdote.

 

[Patine]

Okay, Professor Specific, that really added a lot of insight to my face-value humorous anecdote.

That's because it wasn't funny to start with. Don't give up your day job. The improv audiences are merciless to comedians just starting, with no name recognition.

 

[amadeus]

Dang, and I was just growing out my hair to out-80’s Dennis Miller.

 

[Zardnaar]

And don't forget the African-Americans. Though I believe they first got the reference of comradery, "bro," from the Maoris, were using it when the African-Americans were still using the full word, "brother," (or "brothuh,"), if I'm not mistaken.

I still remember a Maori fella calling a Maori drill sergeant bro. Didn't go well.

 

[AdamCrock]

What's a Chesterfield?

Hey ! In Poland Chesterfield is a tobacco brand ! So it's very common to smoke Chesterfield's here

 

[amadeus]

Endorsed by none other than the President of the United States:

 

[Truthy]

Yep Boston, Texas, Utah, Alabama seem to be strong sub accents.

A Utah accent is pretty much just General American English.

The other ones you listed are distinctive. But there are a lot more, like the Deep South in general (especially Louisiana), NYC, Midwest (especially Minnesota), Southern California, Maine, ...

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Utah? A Utah accent is pretty much just General American English.

minus cursing

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

 

[hobbsyoyo]

It almost sounds Irish or Scottish

 

[Truthy]

"Shut up will ya! I'm on the phone lookin fer a Jesus job"

 

[EgonSpengler]

My sense is that few Americans have a strong, regional accent. I can pick up occasional things in individual words, sometimes. One guy I used to know said 'Warshington' instead of 'Washington', for example. Another guy over-enunciated the 'L' in words like calm and palm. Most of the time you wouldn't notice an accent, though. I imagine there might have been little tells they could hear in my pronunciation of a word, here and there. Some of it could be deliberate 'code-switching', and some is probably just unconsciously sounding like the people around you.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Some of it could be deliberate 'code-switching', and some is probably just unconsciously sounding like the people around you.

After binging Tiger King, I caught myself starting to drop back into a southern drawl and had to make an effort to not do that. (I grew up in NC)