# He Thinks All Short Men Rest On Their Laurels: An Accents Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171 "2008-09-11T22:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/61 "2008-09-13T04:50:09Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > Here’s mine [http://www.box.net/shared/no1vm1uq9g](http://www.box.net/shared/no1vm1uq9g). I grew up in a number of countries including the US, UK, Germany and New Zealand, but have been in Australia the past 2 years - I think it’s pretty much gone Aussie, perhaps only my intonation is still slightly English? Actually this is probably a better link - won’t require download I don’t think: [http://www.box.net/shared/y4cyrv5lqy](http://www.box.net/shared/y4cyrv5lqy) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/62 "2008-09-13T06:13:57Z")
I like talking. I’m from Texas more than anywhere else, but I’ve lived all over the United States so my accent is kind of a muddle. Kids in my middle school asked if I was English. 😕 I added in something extra that might be fun: I grabbed the nearest book to me and read out the first paragraph. So, without further ado… [Reading it straight.](http://www.box.net/shared/ivsii8dmtt) [Letting the accent out to play, which I don’t do much except when I’m really tired or frustrated.](http://www.box.net/shared/z1sc1lqp1d) [Gettysburg Address.](http://www.box.net/shared/ibzd3d6yir) [The nearest book.](http://www.box.net/shared/itr7gx7igl) ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/63 "2008-09-13T09:27:18Z")
> [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](#): > > Do you have a cellphone? That’s how I do my samples. I use the audio recorder on it and then send the file to my computer via e-mail or Bluetooth. All for your (and others’) delight: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FS3pZrI9jXc/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/FS3pZrI9jXc?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque And yes, I get ma’amed on the phone fairly regularly. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/64 "2008-09-13T12:29:17Z")
OK- technical question-- how do you do this??? 😕:smack: ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/65 "2008-09-13T12:31:27Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > My Gettysburg address. I, um, have a feeling I don’t sound like Lincoln. 😃 You have a beautiful voice. (I’m so jealous) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/66 "2008-09-13T19:25:00Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > OK- technical question-- how do you do this??? > > 😕:smack: It took me a while to figure out. You need a microphone, or a headset, or a webcam thingy will work too. Look for “Sound Recorder” on your computer. It will easily record your voice, then save it on your computer. Then you can upload it to the thing everyone else is using. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/67 "2008-09-13T22:13:27Z")
> [@ShakWave](#): > > My voice file is at the link below, try to guess where I’m from. > > [http://www.box.net/shared/7caztnxs8n](http://www.box.net/shared/7caztnxs8n) Deutschland? ---
**Author:** ![ShakWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@ShakWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShakWave)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/68 "2008-09-14T06:27:29Z")
So far, my accent has been guessed as being: 1. Belgian by Ellen Cherry 2. Indian / Pakistani / Middle Eastern (with American influence) by Oy! 3. Irish by nd\_n8 4. German by An Gadaí And the winner is… (drum roll) “Oy!” I’m from Pakistan, however Ive never been to the US, although I have been living in Australia for the past 7 months and one of my friends here is an American. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/69 "2008-09-14T11:31:25Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m [here](http://www.juliecarter.net/laurels.mp3). > > I’m from Ohio, USA. Do you take requests? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/70 "2008-09-14T13:55:10Z")
> [@ShakWave](#): > > So far, my accent has been guessed as being: > > 1. Belgian by Ellen Cherry > 2. Indian / Pakistani / Middle Eastern (with American influence) by Oy! > 3. Irish by nd\_n8 > 4. German by An Gadaí > > And the winner is… (drum roll) > > “Oy!” > > I’m from Pakistan, however Ive never been to the US, although I have been living in Australia for the past 7 months and one of my friends here is an American. Thank you, thank you! I’m here 'til Thursday. Don’t forget to tip your waitresses. ETA: You must have worked very hard to shake your speech origins (or you’re very young) if you have only been out of the country for seven months, **Shak**! I wouldn’t be able to do that, and I doubt I could have done so at any time out of my teens. It’s puzzling that you sound so American rather than Ozzie. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/71 "2008-09-14T14:50:58Z")
> [@nd\_n8](#): > > **Mangetout** - Your recording sounds different from when I’ve heard your voice on your website, almost like a narrative from a children’s story. That’s probably a fair assessment. When I’m reading printed text out loud, I do find myself trying to enunciate more precisely - I can’t help doing this though - I think it’s because the real-world situations where I commonly find myself reading out loud to others are in the dictation of technical instructions (where precision is important), in formal situations such as conferences or church services and indeed, reading stories to children - where repetition, if necessary, spoils the flow. The Kiwifruit video on my site was ad-libbed as I did the task, the inkjet printer one was scripted and recorded separately - I think there’s actually a noticeable difference between these two. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/72 "2008-09-14T19:59:53Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Do you take requests? 😃 [I do](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10195743)! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PoorWarblingOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4491bb/32.png) [@PoorWarblingOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorWarblingOne)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/73 "2008-09-15T18:08:39Z")
Hope this works: here’s my version: [Box](http://www.box.net/shared/f1cj6k8d73) (pretty posh Scottish) ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/74 "2008-09-15T18:23:37Z")
[http://www.box.net/shared/y787a40k3b](http://www.box.net/shared/y787a40k3b) Minnesota born and raised. Not too Fargo, eh? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/75 "2008-09-15T18:38:16Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > [I do](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10195743)! 😃 You’ll need to do an audition first. Can you just say, **“Good morning, Mr Greengrocer. Is that a cucumber in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me.”** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/76 "2008-09-16T03:26:20Z")
For those of us with ADD who don’t have time to do all the pointing and clicking, I proudly present all Laurel quotes up to this point in order. [The Accent Thread Remix](http://www.box.net/shared/17kk7e1k85) Set to a light MIDI and Didgeridoo accompanyment for your listening pleasure. Let me know what you think. Note - This mp3 file is a 3.5Mb download but I believe it will stream from [box.net](http://box.net) Other note - All material used in this recording is the property of all who participated, if you wish this recording removed please let me know. Mods, if remixing these samples violates any rule in any way please let me know and I will destroy this file immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/77 "2008-09-16T14:11:24Z")
Well, I can’t speak to anyone else, but I think that’s just about the coolest thing I’ve ever heard! But I want MORE. I don’t have recording equipment. But I want more Dopers, especially those who don’t speak “Newscaster American” to record their versions and post them! Also, I _love_ the background music! Perfect! ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/78 "2008-09-16T15:07:06Z")
Thank you. I still need quite a bit of work on my circular breathing before I start trying to incorporate Didgeri-bird calls and animal noises. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/79 "2008-09-16T15:11:47Z")
I’ll listen to it when I get home, but I have no issues. I want more, too. I wish more Dopers had done it. Also I wish there had been more, different quotes. Maybe next time. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171/80 "2008-09-16T15:39:36Z")
[Here I am](http://www.box.net/shared/j3uqjirl77) from Lower Alabama! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-thinks-all-short-men-rest-on-their-laurels-an-accents-thread/463171.md?page=5)