My advice: Don't listen to this guy...

**BBNC** · 21st May 13, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by John_Carrick

RP I think was an imposition of broadcasters like the BBC many years ago, and regional accents (with the exception of Scottish) were not permitted. That has all gone and good thing too.

I think accents are largely formed in one's early childhood and one should be not trying to change them in my view. You are trying to deny who you are and where you came from, and why should you want to, unless you are an actor preparing for a role.
In fact RP actors seem to make a good living as Hollywood baddies (Rickman, McGoohan, Hurt, Oldman, Cumberbatch etc etc)

Speaking of accents...I know a German woman whose parents immigrated to New Hampshire when she was 10 or 11. Her accent is pure New England. According to her, early teen age is the make or break point. On a somewhat humorous note, I know a German gentleman who settled in New York City (Brooklyn) as a teenager, early enough to have entered the US Army some months before the end of WWII. He speaks Brooklyn English, with a thick German accent, which was almost unintelligible. I would have to say for him to slow down and speak American!

**Nathan** · 21st May 13, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by BBNC

speak American!

I always found that to be such a funny expression...

**TheOfficialBren** · 22nd May 13, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

I always found that to be such a funny expression...

Post Removed.

MODS, I have a question that I will ask via private message. I believe that my account has been hacked.

Littrog and others, I apologise. I was making a joke but it was clearly in bad taste.

**LitTrog** · 22nd May 13, 08:57 AM

Whoa! Throttle back on that throttling, TOB--it greatly eases our social interactions if we calibrate our English.

If I'm yammering away in AmE and my buddy suddenly decides to slip into his BrE and asks to borrow a rubber, it would be nice to know if he's looking to remove a mistake or prevent one. Now imagine that same buddy loudly proclaiming his desire for an after-dinner cigarette...

We should all be as dedicated to mutual understanding and specify whether or not we're talkin uhmercun.

**Downunder Kilt** · 22nd May 13, 02:59 PM

I always fondly remember visiting some friends of friends in rural Oklahoma. Had a great afternnon, but by the time I had returned to where I was staying, the host of the aftenoons visit had called my friends, saying Mike was a great guy and welcome back anytime but could he learn to speak english properly.

**LitTrog** · 22nd May 13, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by TheOfficialBren

Post Removed.

MODS, I have a question that I will ask via private message. I believe that my account has been hacked.

Littrog and others, I apologise. I was making a joke but it was clearly in bad taste.

Please don't feel obligated to apologize to me! I knew you were joking (those smiley face thingies do wonders). Besides, I have a very poor filter--I'm forced to be proper and serious during my work week and the unfortunate members of X-marks are often subject to the brain sludge that seeps through. Carry on.