Accents from around the world

[reed]

Hey Captain... you're quite a linguist. Love the mishmash. Don't overdo the BBC part though. Stick with the Sheffield tint if you can. Nicer.
Sorry about the Deneuve deal. Goes to show you. Ya gotta be yourself. When I was in the UK I hitched with a gal from Toulon. Her family were nudists. Need I say anymore?
Santé

[Esquilinho]

Originally Posted by CaptainQuark

When I was living in Rhodesia, I fooled a French girl into believing I was Belgian. She was gorgeous, like a young Catherine Deneuve, but she dumped me when she found out I was "un Rosbif".

Aha! I didn't know there were other people other than the Portuguese calling something like "steak" to people from the UK!

We call them "bifes" = steaks

[Rhisiart]

Originally Posted by CaptainQuark

I speak Swedish with a broad Gothenburg accent (by choice), although I do perfect Rikssvenska and Stockholm, and a passable Skåne too.

I knew next to nothing about Sweden (apart from Freddie Ljungberg) until I started reading Henning Mankell's books. Now I seem to know Skåne like the back of my hand (well at least Mankell's version). I also now know that Sweden's regional accents are particularly diverse.

Move over Inspector Morse, Hercule Poirot and Le Commissaire Maigret: Kurt Wallender is definitely the best fictional detective ever invented (see new thead I have just started).

[CaptainQuark]

Originally Posted by reed

Stick with the Sheffield tint if you can. Nicer.

Taking into account the heavy-metal appearance (long hair, beard, black leather, etc) I find it prudent to keep to a BBC-ish accent, Too localised an accent would lead to problems at work, As it, clients know that I am not a thick sh1t Sheffielder (more than I can say about one or two of my colleagues), and that, in spite of the appearance, I am a fairly eductaed kinda feller that will do 'em a good job.

Originally Posted by Esquilinho

Aha! I didn't know there were other people other than the Portuguese calling something like "steak" to people from the UK!

We call them "bifes" = steaks

They call us "Rosbifs" (roast beef) and we call 'em "Frogs" (for the frogs legs). I like the banter, but don't take it seriously.

Originally Posted by rhisiart

I knew next to nothing about Sweden (apart from Freddie Ljungberg) until I started reading Henning Mankell's books. Now I seem to know Skåne like the back of my hand (well at least Mankell's version). I also now know that Sweden's regional accents are particularly diverse.

Move over Inspector Morse, Hercule Poirot and Le Commissaire Maigret: Kurt Wallender is definitely the best fictional detective ever invented (see new thead I have just started).

Not a great deal to know about Skåne. I'll keep my opinion to myself, though, lest I offend any Skåningar on the board. Heja Götet!

I forgot to mention that, when I lived in Spain, I got into the habit of speaking Spanish with the accent of a Malagueño. Problem is, I've forgotten nearly all of my Spanish!

[reed]

There is (or was) a school in New York for lawyers, businessmen and other professionals (with very heavy Brooklyn, Queens or Bronx accents) to learn how to lose their accents. "skuz me ya ahnor but my client iz innocent. No kidd'en" Just doesn't go over well before a jury.