Foreign accents are exotic and attractive but Asian accents don't count

Most people who like foreign accents tend to exclude Asian ones as being interesting or attractive. Why is that? And how can I get rid of the last traces of my Hongkong/sometimes weird British accent? I really don't like the way I talk... It sounds really immature and makes it seem as though I have bad English. Which I don't. At least I don't think I do.

 

Most Western ears are accustomed to certain kinds of accents, primarily European. So, if you have an accent derived from a Romantic or Germanic language, then Western listeners will be more accustomed to it and, therefore, it will sound more appealling. Other accents, however, take some getting used to, at least to English speakers; most people don't hear Asian, African, or other languages so it's harder for them to get used to its accents. So it's not as appealing.

At least that's my theory.

 

Ummm, it's more personal taste than what Westerners really are accustomed to.

 

Yeah, I think most Westerners like European accents because they flow smoother than Asian accents, at least it sounsd like that to me.

 

Well I am an American and I dig Asian accents, most specifically far east Asian.

 

Accents indeed are weird.

I am living proof. I was born in England but I am also Indian (as in from India). Now I live in America - Oklahoma of all places.

The funny thing is that my accent is misplaced anywhere I go! When I speak "american-english", my accent sounds british to american ears. When I speak "british-english", my accent sounds american to british ears. And when I speak hindi (language of india), my accent sounds...well, just plain weird to other indians.

However...my accent seems to be settling (thank god!). Evidently, to a LOT of people I sound like Ewan McGregor. So I guess I will be stuck with a scottish-english accent for the rest of my life!

 

Most people who like foreign accents tend to exclude Asian ones

I'd exclude the American accent in that as well, to be honest. For me anyway.

 

I like American accents the best, simply because I think it sounds "tough", lol. I dunno, I just like them.

 

It sounds weird to hear the term "american accent"... being an American, I normally think of myself having lack of accent. Sometimes I forget this is an international board, and that everyone has a different view.

I have a question. Are accents inherited genetically, or is it something that grows on you when you're surrounded by it? I've always wanted to know that...

 

Accents are a product of environmental pressures. Basically, whatever place you grow up in, that's the accent you have.

 

However...my accent seems to be settling (thank god!). Evidently, to a LOT of people I sound like Ewan McGregor. So I guess I will be stuck with a scottish-english accent for the rest of my life!

I wish I could hear it. I love Ewan McGregor, and his accent is one of one of the things I like about him the most. He has such a sexy voice!

 

Out of all the accents I heard while I was in Europe, I like the Scottish accent the most. I think the reason I don't like Asian accents is because they make the words harder to understand to my ears, while most European accents don't that much.

 

Basically, whatever place you grow up in, that's the accent you have.

Not true. I was born in the Phillipines and I lived there until I was 8 and I have NO traces of an accent.

I think the reason I don't like Asian accents is because they make the words harder to understand to my ears, while most European accents don't that much.

Yep, just like I said in my first post. It's all about familiarity.

 

There is no such thing as an American accent.

I'm not sure how it is elsewhere, but Americans have an amazingly varied range of accents.

I can't imagine anyone confusing the New England accent with the Southern accent.

I live in Indiana, and always assumed I was pretty much accent-free....then someone visiting from Pennsylvania complimented my accent. It's a region to region thing.

 

There is no such thing as an American accent.

No, there is, at least to foreigners.

It's a region to region thing.

In England, Liverpudlians have different accents than Londoners do, but both are considered English accents by Americans. And, yes, Southern accents do differ from say Boston or Mid-Western accents, but they are still considered American accents.

American accents exist.

 

Apparently other Americans think I have a jersey accent...





Idiots.

 

Australia = Asia

 

Its becoming that way Astro

 

Australia = Asia

Huh? Australia and New Zealand together is considered a seperate continent.

So Australia does not equal Asia.

 

I kind of like Asian accents. There's something kind of cute about Vietnamese people trying to make our words fit into the style of speaking they're used to. Everything tends to sound like a little song.

 

Astroblue's just trying to confuse the issue, ignore him.






Mate.

 

I love Irish/Scottish accents. . . they're great!


Can't stand Asian accents . . . maybe thats just because my dad never could stand my uncle and aunts' accents.

 

Everyone knows Aussie accents are the ones everyone digs.

 

OK, so it has to do with what your original language and accent was based on. So how the hell can I get rid of it? If I hear somebody else, I can imitate their accent by saying the same words they do, but when I speak myself, it just doesn't come out right.

 

You can't do it straight away, or easily. People only pick up accents over time because they are constantly hearing the slight differences in tone, inflection and vocalisation, and they start to mimick by habit. But unless you are in an atmosphere where you are totally bombarded with it, you have little to no chance.

For some people it's easier, others have no chance. Personally I can pick up an accent just having a conversation with a person, but it's gone 5 minutes after I say goodbye. I kept a British one longer after holidays, but that was only after spending 2 months there, being half British, and I still lost it after 3 weeks.