# Do you have an accent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 25, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351 "2000-03-25T21:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/1 "2000-03-25T21:18:00Z")
I’m confused. West Coast people tell me I sound like I’m from the East Coast. East Coast people and people in my home town tell me I sound like I’m from California. but I’m from the landlocked Desert Southwest and I dont’ think I have any accent at all. Has anybody else been told weird things like that? * * * ## If you say it, mean it. If you mean it, do it. If you do it, live it. If you live it, say it. Joe Cool ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/2 "2000-03-25T21:35:00Z")
I’m from Texas. It’s all of y’all that have accents. * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/3 "2000-03-25T21:36:00Z")
People tell me I have a California accent. Since I’ve lived in California for 21/22 of my life, this is not surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/4 "2000-03-25T21:53:00Z")
I’ve managed to eliminate what used to be a very strong Irish accent. It takes a conscious effort, still. However, my funny sentence structures / grammar / style (especially when I’m tired) give me away as a native irish speaker. (Irish is a VSO language) After a pint of Guinness, it’s all moot. The accent comes out, loud n’ clear, n’ scares the living god out of friends and loved ones. Slan! E. * * * “Semper Ubi Sub Ubi.” =-) ---
**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/5 "2000-03-25T22:00:00Z")
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY… need I say more? Rose * * * I told you not to be stupid, you moron. ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/6 "2000-03-25T22:24:00Z")
We went over accent/dialect one time here. I have one of those. ---
**Author:** ![Angkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Angkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angkins)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/7 "2000-03-25T23:02:00Z")
I’ve been told that I have an accent and that the way I pronounce different words is ‘cute’. The maritimer in me does add an ‘eh?’ to the end of sentences (sometimes). There **is** something about a texan drawl… * * * Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/8 "2000-03-26T00:21:00Z")
Yeah, I do but I can’t hear it. I can’t hear those subtle sounds no more so I don’t always say them. This gives the old deaf accent a show. No ‘s’ ‘th’ etc. Sometimes people ask me where Im from cause they hear this accent. Ill give them answers from France to Swizerland & they accept them. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/9 "2000-03-26T00:26:00Z")
## I don’t think I have an accent at all but I was told by my relatives in Alabama that I did have an accent. Something about the way I enunciated my words or something, I don’t know. Since I’m from Kansas I think we’re about as un-accented as you can get. That John Denver’s full of shit man! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/10 "2000-03-26T02:40:00Z")
Well, full-blown Oxford English here, obviously. * * * **Coldfire** _Voted **Poster Most Likely To Post Drunk** _ * * * _ **"You know how complex women are"** _ - Neil Peart, **Rush** (1993) ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/11 "2000-03-26T02:43:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Elenfair: > I’ve managed to eliminate what used to be a very strong Irish accent. It takes a conscious effort, still. For heaven’s sake, why? I see you’re in Canada; were people finding you hard to understand? Catrandom in L.A., who has no regional accent at all, dude! ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/12 "2000-03-26T02:49:00Z")
I sometimes slip into a southern drawl, sometimes I’m more northern. It’s my mom’s fault, I was raised up North, but she emphasized her drawl. She gave up after a while. Then we moved down south and people told me I talked too fast, now I’m up North and people tell me I talk like a good ol’ boy. Sheesh. * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/13 "2000-03-26T03:28:00Z")
I’ve lived Georgia my entire 36 years and have never had a “Southern” accent. In fact, I get many people who will ask me (in a subtly rude tone) where I’m from. When I tell them I’m from 'round here, they say “Well, you don’t sound like it.” I always say “thank you”. They never have a comeback! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/14 "2000-03-26T04:50:00Z")
Joe Cool: Do you live in Arizona? If so, then you have an accent. In fact, I’ve found that people here (in AZ) sound noticably different than those from the Midwest. I don’t have an accent BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/15 "2000-03-26T04:59:00Z")
Originally from California, where we have no accents. I lived for a couple of years in Oklahoma and eventually found the phrase “fixin’ to” creeping into my speech. Now I’m in Minnesota and have been known to utter a Norwegian-esque “yah” now and again. What can I say? I’m highly impressionable. * * * “My hovercraft is full of eels.” ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/16 "2000-03-26T05:10:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by ARG220: > \*\*Joe Cool: Do you live in Arizona? If so, then you have an accent. In fact, I’ve found that people here (in AZ) sound noticably different than those from the Midwest. > > I don’t have an accent BTW. > \*\* Nope. I’ve been there once or twice though. I’m from New Mexico originally and I live in New Jersey now. And I’m making a very conscious effort not to pick up the accent. * * * ## If you say it, mean it. If you mean it, do it. If you do it, live it. If you live it, say it. Joe Cool ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/17 "2000-03-26T06:11:00Z")
I’m midwesterner, born and raised. Of all of you, I’m probably the only one who truly DOESN’T have an accent. I do, however, have a knack for picking them up. If someone is speaking to me with an accent, gimme 30 seconds, and I can do a (near) perfect imitation. Happened just today. Found out a friend is from Canada. When I thought about it, she did have a slight french-canadian accent. I made her say a few sentences, then she got mad at me when I started doing a dead on impression of her. What can I say? It’s a knack. –Tim * * * We are the children of the Eighties. We are not the first “lost generation” nor today’s lost generation; in fact, we think we know just where we stand - or are discovering it as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![mega\_the\_roo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mega\_the\_roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mega_the_roo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/18 "2000-03-26T06:21:00Z")
some crazy trout used to think that i had an accent, but i’m pretty sure that i just talk funny. but in france, i certainly did. 🙂 * * * if wishes were fishes, we could walk on the ocean. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/19 "2000-03-26T06:23:00Z")
[quote] I’m from Texas. It’s all of y’all that have accents.{/quote] I’ve met and conversed with **Sealemon** several times and can attest that, down here in Texas, we do _not_ have that midwesterner accent. ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351/20 "2000-03-26T06:31:00Z")
The two main places I’ve lived over the past 20 years or so have been Texas and Nebraska. While in Texas, I was told I sounded like a cornhusker, and then, while in Nebraska, I was told I sounded like a Texan. 😕 Go figure. I personally think I just sound like ME. I can mimic other accents, often do, just to mess with people, I like to keep people guessing about me. * * * You sing in my consciousness like a counterpoint to my life. L.L. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-accent/15351.md?page=2)