# Non-regional dialects/accents/etc **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375 "2024-11-17T20:59:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375/21 "2024-11-18T18:38:42Z")
In Britain you can often distinguish a person’s broad socio-economic class (working class versus middle-upper class) from their speech. And the working class accents are viewed more negatively, sadly. [British employers still judge candidates based on their accents](https://qz.com/work/1756325/british-employers-still-judge-candidates-based-on-their-accents) ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375/22 "2024-11-18T18:49:56Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > In Britain you can often distinguish a person’s broad socio-economic class (working class versus middle-upper class) from their speech. Very true. My ability to sound like an upper-middle-class person has got me out of potentially sticky situations once or twice. For example driving while well over the limit etc… at a routine police stop, a well modulated “Good evening, officer. Can I help you?” has gotten me waved through a couple of times. Of course I don’t do that any more… ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375/23 "2024-11-19T00:04:12Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Also, I don’t suppose the question needs to be limited to people who are grouped by profession - for example people of the same religion might have ‘tells’ in their speech or mannerisms, even when they’re not talking about belief. It’s a common observation that alcoholics/heavy drinkers tend to include in their conversations frequent mentions of drinking/brands of beer/spirits, bars/pubs, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375/24 "2024-11-19T00:13:08Z")
Reminded me of a time when I was in a military on-base club having a few beers. I went up to the bar to order another and the woman bartender was being a bit flirty. I spoke to her a bit and then she says “You have a cute accent. Where in the South are y’all from?” I said “Ummm. . .southeast Alaska.” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375/25 "2024-11-20T06:31:35Z")
> [@Ash\_trav511](#): > > We Indians do have a typical accent (2nd gen indian americans born and raised in usa don’t have that accent) which I call Hinglish…Hindi + English Hehe, I would say that Indians have their own version of English that is entirely their own, similar to American English. I wouldn’t call it Hindi, because my Muslim Indian co-workers will often speak it, too. I remember the first time I was told to “Do the needful”. I understood what it meant, but it was an alien enough phrase, my brain kept trying to apply it in different contexts that were obviously idiotic -“Maybe it’s a dance craze. Do The Needful!.” > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > I’ve seen references here and there to a “military accent,” as in this Quora post: And I’d say it’s not confined to the military. I have a co-worker that I would have swore was in the military. Nope, he’s been a troop leader in boy scouts for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Ash\_trav511](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@Ash\_trav511](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ash_trav511)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375/26 "2024-11-20T07:40:34Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I remember the first time I was told to “Do the needful”. I understood what it meant, but it was an alien enough phrase, my brain kept trying to apply it in different contexts We Indians also use “prepone” hehehe… Meaning…“to move the time or date of a meeting or event forward, making it happen sooner than previously scheduled”. Opposite of “postpone” haha ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375/27 "2024-11-20T09:34:41Z")
I clearly have a southern accent. But I was not born here. Actually born in Indiana. With its own distinct regionalisms and sound. My Daddy, long time military was born in Arkansas. You couldn’t tell it by his accent. I live in a peculiar conclave that has its own weird sound. You can quite put your finger on it. But it might have a cajun influence. It’s pauses and then spurts of words spoken quickly. Lots of _umms_ and _aaaas_(long A) My Texan sister finds it very hard to take. She corrects, puts her hand up to stop you and just walks away when she gets overextended on it. She’s kind of a asshole. Add my stutter and no one ever wants me speaking with words. Some how I convince myself everyday, these people really do love me 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-regional-dialects-accents-etc/1010375.md?page=1)