Adam's Rants & Ramblings

Problems With My Accent

Posted on

I take a lot of heat from Jenny about my ever-changing accent. I mutate to mimic whatever accent I am hearing back….

Even when I lived in Dublin I got stick over it – when I talk to my brothers and family I sound one way, when talking to my TCD classmates I sound another. I do not make an effort to do this, it is effortless. In fact, if I try to keep one accent regardless of my surroundings that is what feels forced and “put on”. However, from Jen’s perspective, she hears my accent shift all over the place so I can understand why she gets worked up but most people neve notice.

In some ways it has been an advantage for work – for many years I have been working with people from across the US, Europe, Japan, India etc. and I have never had a problem being understood. I think it makes it easier to understand people too – I have acted as translator several times, particularly for the stronger Scottish accent :)

In any case, the reaons this came to mind was Joe’s blog entry regarding his interview on No One’s Listening and his accent. I was so disappointed that he didn’t have a strong Jersey accent, but I agree that he doesn’t sound like he’s from Philly. So, I tried the quiz he linked to in that entry. Apparently I am from the Northeast:

What American accent do you have?

  <div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 4px">
    Your Result: <strong>The Northeast</strong>
  </div>
  
  <div style="border: 1px solid black; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; width: 380px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial">
    <p style="border: medium none ; margin: 10px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: black">
      Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
    </p>
  </div>
</td>
What American accent do you have?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Given the amount of Irish that have poured into the Northeast over the last couple of hundred years that is probably the closest you can get to an Irish accent in the US, but still I don’t think Joe has anything to worry about.

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,