What is the worst accent you have ever heard…?
(From ability to understand it in normal conversation)
Some American accents are really whiny and annoying, but generally clear and easily understood.
My guess the worst would come from Glasgow, Newcastle (or Sunderland), Liverpool or Birmingham in the UK.
Almost impenetrable at first, having lived in Glasgow for 5 years (at Uni) I now find it quite simple to understand. Geordie is still hard to follow when it is strong. Brummie accent is just plain silly.
In Ireland, the West Country is shocking, esp. North Galway where people mumble and talk so quickly its damn hard to have a clue what they are on about.
I’ve worked with English speakers from a variety of countries, but the only native speaker of English I ever met that I just couldn’t understand was Irish. I think. I met her in Tokyo, and she was lost. As I was going to the same place she was, I suggested that she come along with me.
Me: So where are you from?
Her: M frm Rlnd.
Me: Excuse me? Holland?
Her: N. Rlnd.
Me: Well, what is your native language?
Her: Nglsh.
Me: You’re from where, again?
Her: Rlnd. Ts prt f Brtn.
Me: Oh, you’re Irish?
Her: Ys. Rsh.
The conversation sort of died out there.
Okay, I’ve known other Irish folks who were easily undertandable to me. I certainly don’t know what part of Ireland she was from; I was lucky to get the language right. Seemed to me she didn’t open her mouth when she talked. They do use vowels in Ireland, don’t they?
I actually like all the South African accents I’ve heard. I had no idea anyone found them annoying.
They interviewed some of the locals where Paul McCartney got married in Ireland. I could make out just enough to tell they were trying to speak English, but not enough to tell what the devil they were saying.
I’m just goofy, I guess, but I love all accents. One of the things I enjoy about working with people from around the world is the lovely variety of spoken English. Wandering the halls you can hear British, Irish, Australian, Canadian, French, Serbian, Russian, Italian, Swiss, Japanese, Chinese and Korean accents, and maybe one or two I’m forgetting, and I just love 'em all. Not just the different sounds, but the wonderful little twists of grammar and idiom that they spinkle throughout a conversation. Some times the folks fresh off the boat (as it were) are a bit difficult to understand, but you just have to be patient and listen carefully, for a while–they improve rapidly.
The absolute worst Anglophone accent is that put-on Dublin 4 accent, though it is kind of funny when they slip up and say “tree” instead of “three” by mistake. (The Irish dopers will know exactly what I’m talking about here; the rest of you can take my word for it - trust me, you’re better off that way.)
And I completely agree with the OP about western Irish and Galway accents in particular - brutal! Cork City’s pretty awful as well…
Well, the harshest accent to MY ear* would be-forgive me for saying this-a spanish accent. I’m sorry, but it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
On the flip side, though, I’d have to say the NICEST sounding accent I’ve heard are would be the Indian (from India) accent. Just beautiful.
I’ll try and be back later to insult some more people and/or groups.
Ranchoth
*(I’m from Northern California. You can tell that I’m not from Southern California because “I, like, don’t end each sentance sounding like, ya now, I’m asking a queston?” )
You know I love the South and Southern accents in particular, but I absolutely cannot stand it when someone who has a Southern accent tries to speak Spanish with a Southern accent. Ooooh, my ears!
I also absolutely cannot stand Boston accents. I have nothing against folks from Boston or what little I know of Boston culture or anything, but that “pahk tha cah” accent makes me grit my teeth. [shudder]
“oi’m going to a porty, wood yew loike to come? loike?”
being from norn irn myself i can see your comprehension problems with the girl in tokyo, especially if she was from culleybackey (hey), aughnacloy or east belfast!.
sheeyure we ky-an’t awl tok praaper awl de tie-em hey, som tie-ems yuh-oo gatta tok a wee bat aul-stter laike
(sure we can’t all talk proper all the time, sometimes you gotta talk a wee bit ulster, like!)
personally i like a nice soft just-outside dublin accent. leixlip maybe.
Ballymena & around is strange, hey…but is still usually understandable.
Where are you from…?.. (I’m Lisburn born).
East Belfast…yep…especially if whiney & quick. I used to speak in that accent when abroad if I wanted to say something to a friend without anyone else understanding, like.
