Originally Posted by
Box5
When in a foreign country where the local language is not English, if you don't speak the local language, do you speak English with a foreign accent? Many years ago, I had the tendency to do that but quickly stopped. Now, I speak with an American accent but speak slower, repeat the idea of the sentence often but using different words, and occasionally use add British terminology or a British type accent, depending on the place. The British accent is only used for a few words, like "schedule", not the full sentence.
For example, I might say "Do you know which junction or exit goes to the city center?". In the U.S., I might say "Which exit do I take to Chinatown?" even though I am not stealing
or taking the highway exit.
I used to play along with others and refer to the U.S. as "the States", but since when have you heard that term used? Never. U.S. or United States is what I use.
I've never been outside the US, so I can't address that part of your question directly.
Some years ago, though, I had a group of Aussie friends visit me in Baltimore, and at one point during the visit, I found myself imitating their accents, just joking around. They were surprised, but impressed that I was able to master their accent with only a little practice. They all tried to master an American accent, with various degrees of success. I hope to be able to visit them in Geelong one day, and I often wonder whether I'll begin to unconsciously lose my American accent, as many Aussies, Brits, or Scotts do when they live in the US.
Originally Posted by
Cassie55
Originally Posted by emma6923902841
In the UK, I think America and USA are both far more commonly used than US or United States. The States falls somewhere in the middle I think.
As a Brit, I wouldn't say "double one double two" for an address, I would use eleven twenty two or one one two two. Phone numbers on the other hand, I would use the doubles.
Absolutely.
Saying double one double two in an address just sounds strange and not British at all.
Odd. I have never heard anyone say double-one-double-two, I've always heard eleven-twenty-two. Maybe it's a regional thing from a region other than my own, like soda vs pop.
Originally Posted by
FTRox87
so you're saying soundin more aussie helped ya out eh
doesnt seem right but oh well
an experience nonetheless.
fwiw, americans say 'whatur.'
That varies wildly among regions. In central Maryland, you'd hear WOOD-er (which you get from the zinc, hon). In the deep South, it's more like WAD-ug or even WAWD-uh. In New England, it's something like WAT-ah. I've also heard WAT-errrrrr, which I think comes from southern California.
Originally Posted by
darthbimmer
Indeed. Foreign colleagues of mine who've become fluent in spoken English have said that the hardest part to learn was how to separate words when listening to a native speaker. (Reading proper English is much easier than hearing it conversationally.) Because of this I slow down my rate of speech, enunciate carefully, and structure my cadence around key phrases. Several colleagues have said they find my English easier to understand than anyone else's.
I do the same thing. I find myself unconsciously adopting the speech pattern of whomever is talking to me. It seems to make it easier for most people to understand me, particularly those whose English is very limited.
I do have to pay extra attention so as to not unconsciously emulate their accents, though, because that could easily be interpreted as insulting mockery.