How often do you notice your own accent?

Question

I know I like to joke about how we Californians don't have an accent, but ngl, there are times when I definitely hear my accent. 😂 What about you? Do you like your accent?

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

A lot. I have a pretty heavy Boston accent. It makes me self-conscious sometimes, like people will think I’m dumb, lmao. I’m back around Boston now, so it’s not as big of a thing, but I went to college on the other side of the state and lived out there for like 20 years, plus my last job would take me all over New England and New York, so I’d get treated like a circus act.

I remember going to a place in the NYC suburbs, and I had to talk to a manager at one place named Mark. “Mark” is a KILLER for me to say properly, lmao. It comes out as “Mahhhhk”😅

So I found the guy in an aisle, and I was like “excuse me, sir…. you must be ‘Mahhhhk’, I assume?” Big smile, friendly energy, hand out for a handshake. And this dude just looks at me deadpan, and, way more pissed off sounding than it reasonably needed to be, he says “No, I’m MaRk”, emphasizing the ‘R.’ And he definitely wasn’t joking, I was waiting for him to break into a smile, and it never came.

And then I just had to professionally roll with it, lmao. I wanted to tell him to step outside with me for a hot minute, like just because it was SO unnecessary. Like why are you THIS mad? If he had a lisp and had to call me “Thteve”, I’m not gonna be “It’s STEVE, you moron! SssssssssssssSTEVE🙄😒” I just rolled with it but it was wicked disrespectful, and one of the weirdest things I’ve encountered professionally.

On the flip side…the ladies loved it at college. It was right at the peak of all those Boston crime movies with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and Mark Wahlberg and whatnot. It definitely got me a lot of positive attention, which was surprising, because it was UMass, I certainly wasn’t the only person with an accent. But Western Mass has a very different accent, maybe closer to Western New York (think Rob Gronkowski, when he talks about “Tahhm” Brady, haha…in Boston it’s more like “Tawm Brady.” So out there, I stood out.

Anyway…yes, when others aren’t pointing it out for me, I still notice it. Obviously it kind of flows naturally as it should, but there are certain words where I know I’m butchering them as compared to “TV-English.”

And then maybe the biggest thing is “fuckiiiinnnn’….” It’s more of a dialectical characteristic than purely accent, but many of us throw a gratuitous “fuckin’ “ at any given place in a sentence, and it’s my default pause word, over “ummm….”

So I might say to you today, “kid, I went to a fuckin’ Supah Bowl pahhhty last night, and thehh was fuckin’ SO much good food! I made this fuckin’ kielbasa with bahhhbahcue sauce and pineapple preserves, it was so fuckin’ good, kid. And my boy Tawmmy is a fuckin’ all-stahhh meat smokahh —YO, PAUSE! No Diddy, kid!😅😂— but yah, fuckin’…. so Tawmmy came through with smoked roast beef in an au jus, and he brought fuckin’ hot and mild jahhhdinara [giardinera😝], and we made those Italian beef sandwiches they make in fuckin’ Chicago. SO fuckin’ good, kid…”

Like this guy, but way less drunk, way less fat, and with all my teeth still in my mouth, lmao…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oVZACDtwmh4

R. I. P., Big Daddy Smooth😞😭🙏

Orion84 · Accepted Answer

I don't even know what my accent  IS . This has bugged me for a while, actually. I know that  everyone  has an accent, but I've never been able to identify mine, and nobody can ever guess where I'm from. I live in the Midwest, near Chicago, and yet both the stereotypical Midwest & Chicago accents are extremely noticeable to be, because I don't have either one of them. People from my area (myself included) recognize mine as being from what we call "The Region" which is literally only three counties, but that just seems like an awfully tiny demographic to have our own accent.

Amy10223 · Accepted Answer

I've been told by people here in the midwest that they like my "accent". What accent? I have been told, "We know you aren't from around here". I think some people here in Ohio talk like they are from the south. One person told me he was from "Appalachia". Wow, how different was his accent.

I was once in a hospital waiting room and there was no one yet at the front desk. I noticed a coffee machine and proceeded to make myself a cup as it was an early appt and I hadn't had any yet. Finally someone arrived 15 minutes later, and she told me she was sorry for my waiting, and I told her no worries, I had time for coffee. And she said, "You said "coffee" I like your accent." I forget what I said but I was not knowing what she was talking about. Coffee is coffee. Then I asked her how she said it, and she said, COHFEE. Rhymes with COPY. I guess I say it like CAWFEE.

TheRealPepperPotts · Accepted Answer

When I leave messages and hear someone play them back. I hate hearing myself talk.

When I remember, I drop my voice into the back of my throat more and speak in a lower register, but when I'm excited about something, my inner twelve year old springs out. My accent is way-stern, kind of a flat drawl. It's very different from Texas or the deep South, though. I have actively worked to change my voice and be more neutral American English. One of my favorite voices is Alicia Vikander's voice. It's so elegant, in my opinion, and she isn't even American or English.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Most often, I never notice it but, quite often, I slip into other accents just to goof around. I've done various British accent's for a few people from England and they said I'm really good a them. One guy told me that, if he didn't know any better, he would've swore I WAS from England!
My first fiance was from India so, sometimes, I would speak a phrase or two to her mixing French, English and her language in one sentence with a strong French accent. she thought it was hilarious but hated it!

Shiprex · Answer

I've very conscious of my accent as I was "instructed" after commissioning into the army that I "should" adjust my accent in order to be respected. It's because I have a strong brogue and the majority of British army are from the southern part and they struggle with us northern Celts English annunciation.

I also went to work internationally so realised that people there have to be able to understand someone speaking their second or third language and it's better if it comes from someone who is easy to understand.

Lynx122 · Answer

Never lol XD An American told me a long time ago I should go study in the U. S. cause girls would love my accent and I was like wut? I have an accent? XD It makes sense because my dad is Canadian but I didn't grow up in a native English speaking country but I just never thought about it and I still can't really notice it.

TadCurious · Answer

Bella first of all I hope you and your family and friends came through the SoCal fires okay. I thought about you while all that was going on.

I don't really notice my accent if I even have one. I'm from the south and of course a southern accent is very common. (There are actually more than one.) But I don't think I really even have one. If you can even call it an accent, I think however I speak is just neutral like a lot of people from the midwest.

🙏

adventurous-1 · Answer

as its my speech from birth I don't see that I have an accent but other may. in other countries or even other parts of your own country you are seen as having an accent but turn it around and they are seen as having the accent. its true in all cases.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

I don't notice it because I don't really have an accent, my regional accent is considered a flat one, compared to all the others. However I do notice it when I use another language, such as English.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

I don't know about an accent (contrary to most, I speak like most Southwestern Ontarians and not with a "blaccent" or using AAVE), but someone wanted to know if I hold my nose when I speak and someone else said I have a robotic cadence.

expfireworks · Answer

The vast majority seldom notice their own pronunciation in regular discussions on the grounds that our cerebrums are normally tuned to our own discourse designs, making it hard to impartially hear the subtleties of our pronunciation; in any case, you could turn out to be more mindful of it while paying attention to a recording of your voice or while collaborating with individuals who have an essentially unique complement

AyChingao · Answer

Oh, I'm a Texan who's moved around a lot and it becomes more pronounced when I'm back home. Course I've been known to thicken that sucker up if I think it'll get a laugh.

IslaTheWitch · Answer

I have this melodic Eastern European accent, and it doesn't go well with English :D

AnonAndrew · Answer

I don't have an accent. "Akshually, everybody has an accent!" "No, we don't. Shut up."

Levin · Answer

Yes, I do. I'm from the north in England and my accent is very dry and a little proper. I pronounce all the T's mid word...

Dargil · Answer

I live in the South. I sound like Brooklyn when I get angry. I try to enunciate slowly and carefully. I barely fool them.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Sadly, I notice it every day. Having an American accent is a curse.

7Phoenix7 · Answer

i would say i don't have an accent... lol  but i was told i have a Cali accent... or whatever

sage2021 · Answer

California lady here🙂 Sometimes my Valley Girl accent comes out 🤷🏼‍♀️

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Only when talking in a foreign language. My German is 99% neutral.

DrPepper12 · Answer

As a teacher hearing myself speak forever it's just background noise but occasionally in convos I'll notice MINE if someone else has a different one.

MemeSupreme · Answer

i don't have a noticeable accent for like an American, but i notice speak incorrectly sometimes

Valdemort · Answer

Especially when people point it out, but definitely have an accent.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

I’m close to Appalachia, so the accent does come out when I get worked up or excited

Babygirl_S · Answer

I always do because I like adopting British, American and a somewhat Italian accent (my top three). It’s fun because I love languages.

Still-alive · Answer

Sometimes ill say ‘y’all’ or like ‘howdy’ but i probably sound like how people in the media talk.

Likes2drive · Answer

I don’t really think about it, but I guess I have a Long Island accent

GODBODY954 · Answer

If I'm talking to someone that speak the same language I automatically start speaking the same without paying it attention

Anonymous · Answer

It depends on where you live in Cali. Valley girl was def a thing for a while.

PrettyCrumblBb · Answer

I really can't hear my California dialect tbh

Rena90 · Answer

Never notice i’m told especially when in Greece I got a Cali girl accent.

sodomanie · Answer

i am french, but in English, i notice my accent all the time :)

UknowJT93 · Answer

I really don't know even I have no idea about my accent

Fireguy17 · Answer

I do not have an accent, everyone else does.

lilBigPotato · Answer

Always aware of it when speaking English

SimpleGirl07 · Answer

never notice it.

eagle1951 · Answer

never notice it

Dongie · Answer

Yep, sometimes.

LiamJHayden · Answer

sometimes.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't have it.

How often do you notice your own accent?

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