Why do Americans attribute having a British accent to being more intelligent?

[Dolemite510]

They automatically add 10 IQ points to how smart they think a person is if they have a British accent 😂

[Texaskid1]

Mehh... the Britsih accent is overrated. Although if they are posh ( rich) it does have a nice ring to it. But keep in mind that most Americans are only exposed to the British accent thanks to Hollywood movies which presents the accents of the upper crust. In reality the accent of the average working class Brit is ugly as fuck.

[Anonymous]

Because you are prone to exageration?

https://www.worlddata.info/iq-by-country.php

[Nicolette777]

As a British person myself, I can tell you will absolute certainty that most of England doesn’t sound how you think. If they talk like the queen, then yes. If they have a Gordie or Birmingham UK accent, deduct 10 points

[CaptainSmartass]

I fully agree.

[Dolemite510]

Lmao love this answer lol

[InfobotsMom]

Racist 😮

[Nicolette777]

@infobotsMom, Gordie and Birmingham isn’t a race by the way

[InfobotsMom]

Lol, yeah, but it just felt right to say that 🤓

[Guffrus]

@InfobotsMom Is it still racist if its true? =P

[InfobotsMom]

I guess then it's truecist 🤔

[Texaskid1]

True

[Texaskid1]

@InfobotsMom is it really trucist?

[CarrieBlossum]

Americans attribute intelligence to high class British accents because high class people are generally better educated. In the same way people attribute intelligence to high class American accents like FDR's.

[CarrieBlossum]

But some americans can't tell different British accents apart so they will say cockney accents are classy when they're clearly not.

[Dolemite510]

Is cockney a reference to a certain region? 😂 someone else said Birmingham accents are rough too lol

[CarrieBlossum]

cockney comes from east london. it's a very thick working class accent. The only really high class accent in britain is 'received pronunciation', which is what prince charles and the queen use. it is completely non-regional and is strictly associated with class status.

[Dolemite510]

Gotcha, r u from the Uk?

[Dolemite510]

Gotcha lol u should pm me I promise I’m not a creep 😅

[NorthShoreCalling]

People often confuse the Birmingham accent with the Black Country accent - they’re actually fairly different. But yes, dialects are not seen as so intelligent. That’s why the BBC at one point wouldn’t put anyone on tv or radio who had one.

[NorthShoreCalling]

I don’t know why everyone is running down the British people here. Yes there are those that aren’t too bright (like anywhere), but it’s only fair to say I know quite a few fairly intelligent people too.

[NorthShoreCalling]

I must admit that after travelling around and hearing different languages and accents, I melt at the sound of my boyfriends British accent.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Well, europeans substract 20-30 points from the IQ because of someone has a British accent.

Maybe Americans have never seen brits on Mallorca or anywhere else during their vacation

[Guffrus]

Do you really?

Thats interesting.

[Guffrus]

Im not sure if thats true or if you are just trying to pick a fight? Seems like something the Germans would do ;)

[Astarlessnightsky]

www.google.com/imgres

Not my idea 🤷‍♂️

[Guffrus]

lols

[Historylover18]

Because when you mention British people, people think of the standard British accent which was an upper class posh accent. I think that one sounds intelligent but also a bit snobbish. If you hear the Birmingham or Cockney accents you'll have a different view of how intelligent British accents sound

[Flower7]

Because most of their experiences with people who have British accents were just from seeing them on TV, not actual real life experiences with them.

[andreasderjuengere]

The added points are justified:
they are generated from 'language intelligence' - which articulates in 'proper', 'traditional' spelling and solid grammar :D
The British 'accent' is the acoustic indication for this.

[razzamatazzp01]

I personally don't think that, and I don't know anyone who does. if there is someone who thinks that way, it's because they've never actually met an English person, and see them exclusively on television using big words.

[beebella]

I've never thought that. 😂

But maybe it's the accent coupled with some of the language they use that makes them seem more intelligent. 🤔

[Nikki1989]

Because a lot of Americans have this idea that most British people have an upper-class posh accent, so they must be well-educated.

[broken_heart_at_48]

Not true. Your question implies all Americans think that way. Well me personally I think the majority are pompous self absorbed condesinding jerks. Which any one with a higher IQ would know how to get along in life without behaving in such a manner.

[Guffrus]

Americans never did grasp irony, i wonder why? ;)

[jennifer_bloom]

I don't really care - I just compliment people for it cause I like saying good things about others - it fosters friendship

[NorthShoreCalling]

I rather like different accents too.

[alice55]

Maybe cause British accent sound posh? (I always hear American saying this).
While to me as a French British accents sound extremely arrogant and like an accents of a pretentious old woman.

[ZackBan]

It's kinda like how Brits remove a 100 iq points to American guys

[Ally247]

There's hundreds of accents within Britain but they're not wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Meatunnel69]

I can't explain why but as an American it’s true unless its an aussie accident then they sound like America’s equal or even irish who sound like dum fuks

[themomo84]

I enjoy hearing a decent accent, but I don't attribute intelligence to it.

[Corerue]

Because an accent is exotic and it gets cool/attractive points. But smarter? Lol never heard that before.

[IsenhowerJ]

Because the British accent sounds cool and intelligent. Why we think, I don't know, but the British accent does sound better than ours.

[locoloco68]

I don't think of them being more intelligent remind me of Benny Hill

[goaded]

They're also the bad guys in American movies, though.

[joethemoe912]

Lmao when I was like 10 I thought brits were evil because I thought they were like all the imperials from star wars.