# Do you get irrationally irritated by accents / voice traits? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332 "2015-04-23T01:21:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/121 "2020-03-02T21:03:30Z")
> [@SuperGadger](#): > > How rare it is to hear an American of either sex speaking in a manner acceptable to most intelligent individuals raised in the UK: allied to this, I despise the average American’s continual repetitions of words such as “Like” - “Gotten” - “Aluminum” - “Nucular” and many, many more and their insistence on misspelling and making up their own words - and as for their grammar, words fail me. I’ll have you know that I say “al-yoo-min-ee-um”. I say it in a very snotty quasi-English accent as a mockery of those who feel they must impose themselves on a different culture despite never having been invited to do so. East Coast (of the USA, for those of you who can’t be bothered to live where you’re from and feel the need to advertise it at every opportunity) city accents make me itch. I can do without Southern Cracker, but it’s tolerable as long as I know I’m not within egg-throwing distance of the speaker. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/122 "2020-03-02T21:23:57Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I’ll have you know that I say “al-yoo-min-ee-um”. I say it in a very snotty quasi-English accent as a mockery of those who feel they must impose themselves on a different culture despite never having been invited to do so. I’ll bet that’s your _speciality_. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/123 "2020-03-03T01:18:50Z")
Can’t stand when people pronounce ‘ool’ as two separate vowels, like in school or pool, as if it slightly rhymed with vowel. It’s not ‘schoo-uhl’ or ‘poo-uhl’. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/124 "2020-03-03T06:01:54Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’m a teacher. And I’ll correct students if they say “I couldn’t care less” . What’s wrong there? ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/125 "2020-03-03T07:07:56Z")
> [@digs](#): > > You like the Fargo accent? You’ll love Manitowac Wisconsin… . But it’s Manitowoc. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/126 "2020-03-03T09:15:11Z")
_Aluminum_ is the more correct (in the sense of original) name. I mean, I say _aluminium_, but I don’t fault Americans or question their intelligence for saying it. Not like _Math_. Definitely judging all of y’all on that one. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/127 "2020-03-03T09:16:55Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > What’s wrong there? [Absolutely nothing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw). They’ve failed their students and should feel bad. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/128 "2020-03-03T14:30:33Z")
DAAAAAAAMMMMNn! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/129 "2020-03-03T15:01:29Z")
I live those David Mitchell rants. I’ve watched them repeatedly. And he has a lovely accent. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/130 "2020-03-03T15:05:09Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [Absolutely nothing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw). They’ve failed their students and should feel bad. Love it! Why can’t everyone sound more like him 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/131 "2020-03-03T15:13:26Z")
On “Would I Lie to You” Lee Mack is always accusing him of being “so middle class.” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/132 "2020-03-03T16:10:32Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > What’s wrong there? Sigh, sorry. I keep hearing kids say “I could care less” and quickly correcting it to _couldn’t_ in my head before my blood pressure spikes. And yes, it is Manitowoc (hope I didn’t get anyone “irrationally irritated” by… crappie spelin). By the way, when Fargo came out, all my students from Manitowoc (or _Up by Oostburg, dere)_ were delighted to hear the accent. “Hey, dat dere be just how my neighbors talk!” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/133 "2020-03-03T16:16:00Z")
I understand the people of Fargo were offended, though. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/134 "2020-03-03T16:26:47Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Sigh, sorry. I keep hearing kids say “I could care less” and quickly correcting it to _couldn’t_ in my head before my blood pressure spikes. And yes, it is Manitowoc (hope I didn’t get anyone “irrationally irritated” by… crappie spelin). By the way, when Fargo came out, all my students from Manitowoc (or _Up by Oostburg, dere)_ were delighted to hear the accent. “Hey, dat dere be just how my neighbors talk!” I’ve taken that phrase to mean “[as if] I could care less” with the “as if” dropped. At least when I say it, that’s how I mean it. But, hey, it’s an idiom – they don’t need to make literal sense. I could care less how people use it or are irrationally irritated by it. (Sorry, David Mitchell. Love you, but you’re being a pedantic prig on this point.) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/135 "2020-03-03T16:31:20Z")
I understand the people of Fargo were offended, though. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/136 "2020-03-03T16:32:28Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > (Sorry, David Mitchell. Love you, but you’re being a pedantic prig on this point.) Being a pedantic prig is part of his shtik. I don’t think he would consider this a criticism. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/137 "2020-03-03T16:33:31Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Being a pedantic prig is part of his shtik. I don’t think he would consider this a criticism. You are, indeed, correct. Which is why I was surprised he started out so sensibly with that rant. (I love the back-and-forth between him and Lee Mack on “Would I Lie to You.”) ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/138 "2020-03-03T16:50:48Z")
If your way of speaking does not make the distinction among Mary/Merry/Marry I will automatically brand you a hick and a fool. No exceptions. And it’s “I couldn’t care less”, as in “it is not possible for me to have less interest; I do not care”. Don’t try to rationalize it by imagining a dropped “as if” which no one said ever. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/139 "2020-03-03T16:55:53Z")
Yes, but I think its a combination of the two, and applies more to individuals. For example, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a New York accent. But a New York accent combined with a nasally voice is insufferable (e.g. The Nanny, Janice from Friends). Likewise Sophia Vergara’s Colombian accent combined with her Kermit the Frog voice is also grating. I have a hard time taking people with “Valley Girl” or “Surfer dude” accents seriously, but it doesn’t necessarily grate on me. I do realize that these examples are from actors and are put on or exaggerated. I’m sure there are real life people that talk like that though. Likewise, certain people can sound sexy with any accent. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332/140 "2020-03-03T17:19:49Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Yes, but I think its a combination of the two, and applies more to individuals. For example, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a New York accent. But a New York accent combined with a nasally voice is insufferable (e.g. The Nanny, Janice from Friends). Likewise Sophia Vergara’s Colombian accent combined with her Kermit the Frog voice is also grating. I have a hard time taking people with “Valley Girl” or “Surfer dude” accents seriously, but it doesn’t necessarily grate on me. > > I do realize that these examples are from actors and are put on or exaggerated. I’m sure there are real life people that talk like that though. > > Likewise, certain people can sound sexy with any accent. In real life, Maggie Wheeler (Janice) has a very normal voice – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6nGGRVepfU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6nGGRVepfU) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-irrationally-irritated-by-accents-voice-traits/718332.md?page=8)