# Question about British regional accents **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481 "2024-11-20T03:09:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/1 "2024-11-20T03:09:29Z")
Inspired by the “Britishisms” thread, of course. There’s a film I love called [Riff Raff.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riff-Raff_(1991_film)) Unfortunately, I don’t own it on DVD or Blu-Ray, because I have not yet found an edition with subtitles. Not even digital subtitles, and definitely not the built-in yellow “foreign film” subtitles I saw in the American release, and that were on the VHS, when I had one. Seriously: the trailer called it out: “We’ve included subtitles because, no offense, but you Yanks won’t understand a bloody word otherwise.” They were right, and mind you, that was hardly the first British film I’d seen. Except that in those other films, the characters were _all_ talking Cockney, or Glaswegian or whatever, and after a while, I would get in the groove. But in **Riff-Raff** , there was Cockney _and_ Glaswegian, plus Welsh, Irish, Scouse, Suffolk, Jamaican and whatever else. (It’s jarring when an RP accent is briefly heard.) So the subtitles were necessary for Americans. But I’m wondering, would that be a bit confusing for a British person as well? Would someone who’s spent their whole life in Ipswich be baffled by a Welsh accent? There’s a variety of accents in the US, but some people do have trouble, like a Southerner and a New Yorker not understanding each other. So maybe not; just curious. (\*\*Riff-Raff is also where I first heard of Billy Connolly. Robert Carlyle’s character is hitching a ride, holding a sign that says “ **I Knew Billy Connolly**.” I didn’t get it; my friend said “Means he’s hitching to Scotland. Billy Connolly is like the Robin Williams or Steve Martin of Scotland.”) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/2 "2024-11-20T08:34:46Z")
I was born in North London (or ‘Norf Lunnon’ using a local accent!) I now speak in a ‘standard’ English accent (or ‘educated’.) A while back I was hosting two friends. One came from Scotland (there are a few Scottish accents), the other from Newcastle (Geordie accent.) They both spoke English fluently - but I need to occasionally ‘translate’ for them! 😲 🤨 😀 ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/3 "2024-11-20T08:51:04Z")
Ipswichian (if that’s a word) here. For very strong regional accents I do definitely have to concentrate and, er, recalibrate (??) my listening on occasion. It depends what you’re used to but I would say if you hear a strong accent out of the expected setting then it can throw you off for a second. But if I heard strong Glaswegian accents in Glasgow then that’s not going to take me by surprise, funnily enough, so I should understand them pretty much immediately. Can’t say I’ve ever had a problem with any Welsh accent, in person or watching on TV/film. Generally speaking I wouldn’t need subtitles, and not for strong US accents either. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/4 "2024-11-20T10:33:17Z")
It all depends. It’s perfectly possible for someone to have a recognisable regional _accent_ while speaking, in effect, RP articulately (though even now that causes some listeners to the ‘posher’ BBC radio stations to have conniptions). What can be problematic for outsiders is when a lot of _dialect_ words and common phrases/sayings are being exchanged between people from the same part of the world, and at speed. I was once in a pub in a small village in deepest Suffolk, and couldn’t make out a word, but probably I wasn’t meant to. And given that you mention Glasgow; [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YIh4oBTV_Mc/maxresdefault.jpg "Rab C. Nesbitt Series 6 Episode 2 Wild") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIh4oBTV_Mc) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JfR_ObBQ5js/hqdefault.jpg "Stanley Baxter Parliamo Glasgow Mia Farra's farra, the marra & the barra") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfR_ObBQ5js) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/5 "2024-11-20T10:45:33Z")
Coincidentally, just came across this in this morning’s Guardian: > **[Southerners among worst at spotting fake English accents, study finds](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/20/southerners-among-worst-at-spotting-fake-english-accents-study-finds)** > > Northerners, Scots and Irish better at identifying people mimicking accents than southerners ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/6 "2024-11-20T11:35:42Z")
> [@glee](#): > > the other from Newcastle (Geordie accent.) > They both spoke English fluently - but I need to occasionally ‘translate’ for them! When I saw the thread title, my first though was this clip: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eqdUlJr9Zi4/maxresdefault.jpg "Greg Davies isn't fluent in Geordie... #Taskmaster #Shorts") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqdUlJr9Zi4) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/7 "2024-11-20T11:53:59Z")
Here is Kevin Bridges on the Scottish “language”. He uses a couple of other accents for comedic effect. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eFVQpsPZhHk/maxresdefault.jpg "Scottish Is A Language! | Kevin Bridges: Live at the Referendum") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFVQpsPZhHk) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/8 "2024-11-20T12:14:37Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Here is Kevin Bridges on the Scottish “language”. Not to hijack this overmuch, but I’ve always kind of wondered what the modern-day US equivalent would be of the general British read on James Bond circa 1962: the guy’s cover identity is ‘suave and classy businessman in an expensive suit,’ and his _actual_ status is ‘Royal Navy commander working On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,’ and the default reaction to Sean Connery’s thick Scottish accent would’ve been to think of him as — _what,_ over there, back then? Working-class Noo Yawker from Lawn Guyland? Good ol’ boy from Alabama, y’all? MinnesOta farmer, yah, you betcha? What’s the closest analogue? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/9 "2024-11-20T12:15:05Z")
Incidentally, you might want to know about the term “code-switching”. This is where a person has gotten used to speaking with people from two different communities (using the term “community” in a vague snese). These two communities might speak different dialects or different languages or allow different subjects to be talked about. It’s possible to do this between different people that one talks to or between sentences in what one says or within sentences. People are capable of unconsciously doing much more complicated things with language than you might expect: > **[Code-switching](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code-switching)** > > In linguistics, code-switching or language alternation occurs when a speaker alternates between two or more languages, or language varieties, in the context of a single conversation or situation\[citation needed\]. These alternations are generally intended to influence the relationship between the speakers, for example, suggesting that they may share identities based on similar linguistic histories. > Code-switching is different from plurilingualism in that plurilingualism refers to the ability of ... ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/10 "2024-11-20T13:08:27Z")
I wouldn’t say Connery (in Bond) had a thick Scottish accent, it’s more ‘posh’ Edinburgh/Scottish really. Definitely nothing like these ones… (warning, NSFW due to bad language, drug use, etc etc etc): - [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XGEXECLc__0/hqdefault.jpg "Trainspotting (3/5) Movie CLIP Spuds Job Interview 1996 HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGEXECLc__0) I’d say this is probably posh Edinburgh too, although any Scottish dopers would be far more informed on the subject than I… (some VERY mild bad language): - [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/46flaThCYhE/hqdefault.jpg "Victor Meldrew - two GREAT bits!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46flaThCYhE) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/11 "2024-11-20T15:42:50Z")
> [@glee](#): > > A while back I was hosting two friends. One came from Scotland (there are a few Scottish accents), the other from Newcastle (Geordie accent.) > They both spoke English fluently - but I need to occasionally ‘translate’ for them! 😲 🤨 😀 You’re not alone: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cun-LZvOTdw/maxresdefault.jpg "Hot Fuzz (4/10) Movie CLIP - Sea Mine (2007) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cun-LZvOTdw) ---
**Author:** ![BertNobbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@BertNobbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BertNobbins)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/12 "2024-11-20T19:17:02Z")
_I was once in a pub in a small village in deepest Suffolk, and couldn’t make out a word, but probably I wasn’t meant to._ Another Ipswichian here. What my parents called ‘Broad Suffolk’ is not a very pronounced accent and there are few dialect words. I wouldn’t have thought anyone would find it incomprehensible. Would you like to tell us which village you were in? It certainly isn’t like Wales, where the locals switch to Welsh when a non-Welshman walks in. Not very nice behaviour, in my view. Personally the only accent I have trouble with is Geordie, though Glaswegian was a bit of a puzzle when I first encountered it. BTW, for the first time I had to log in before I could see the Reply button. Is this a new thing? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/13 "2024-11-20T19:25:35Z")
As far as I can remember, none of my fellow Americans really acknowledged Connery’s Scottish accent. James Bond just has to be suave, cool, debonair, break out the cool weaponry and cars, and pick up gorgeous chicks that instantly betray international secrets to him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/14 "2024-11-20T19:32:07Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > As far as I can remember, none of my fellow Americans really acknowledged Connery’s Scottish accent. No, I’m with you there; I like to think I’ve got a pretty good read on what Americans thought of Connery’s accent, and I think you’re right. But I never had any idea what _Brits_ thought of his accent right when the first movie hit theaters. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/15 "2024-11-20T19:35:54Z")
> [@BertNobbins](#): > > It certainly isn’t like Wales, where the locals switch to Welsh when a non-Welshman walks in. Not very nice behaviour, in my view. This is a common but kind of nasty stereotype, one of the tools used to make people feel that they shouldn’t be speaking Welsh in public. Do you have any evidence for it? People certainly switch from English to Welsh, but usually for reasons that have more to do with who they’re actually talking to than their assumptions about random people who just came in. I’m married to someone who really dislikes speaking Welsh when we’re out and about because he’s afraid people will think he’s made that choice to exclude them, which isn’t the case. ---
**Author:** ![BertNobbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@BertNobbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BertNobbins)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/16 "2024-11-20T20:52:51Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Do you have any evidence for it? Well I’ve experienced it at least five times. I hope that counts as evidence. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/17 "2024-11-20T21:37:04Z")
Not being able to understand other dialects in your own country happens in the US too. I’m from Cleveland, Ohio (so I speak “regular” 😉) and I have a friend who’s a Mobile, Alamaba and I have to listen REAL close when he talks. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/18 "2024-11-20T21:48:58Z")
> [@BertNobbins](#): > > I hope that counts as evidence. Maybe. I will absolutely believe you as to WHAT happened, but you’re also supplying a WHY—how do you know? Did they say, or are you just assuming? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2024, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/19 "2024-11-21T06:12:36Z")
> [@BertNobbins](#): > > What my parents called ‘Broad Suffolk’ is not a very pronounced accent and there are few dialect words. I wouldn’t have thought anyone would find it incomprehensible. Would you like to tell us which village you were in? Laxfield, decades ago. These conversations were what the locals were saying among themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2024, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481/20 "2024-11-21T06:21:09Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Guardian: > > [Southerners among worst at spotting fake English accents, study finds | Science | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/20/southerners-among-worst-at-spotting-fake-english-accents-study-finds) At least as reported the authors seem to miss the obvious explanation - the Home Counties are an absolute melting pot, and have far higher rates of movement than the regions. If one is from London and asked to try to detect (by sound alone) if someone purportedly from London is faking their accent and they don’t sound quite right - are they faking it or have they lived in London all their life but their parents are from Bangladesh or Ireland or Jamaica? If they are purportedly from Essex but they don’t sound quite right are they faking their accent or did they move to Essex after growing up in Willesden? The same hurdle doesn’t exist to nearly the same degree for the regions. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-british-regional-accents/1010481.md?page=2)