# You pesky Americans. Sometimes you say things in films that are incomprehensible. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153 "2010-01-16T01:29:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/1 "2010-01-16T01:29:31Z")
I am watching Avatar (I won’t go into how I am able to watch it at home and how I am able to watch the same bit repeatedly. Let’s just say that I will one day pay money to watch a better version of it) In one part our guy says ‘I have something to admit… …to all of you’ (in na’vi so it is conveniently subtitled) and then makes this sound “thewursomystonormywurd” If I play it back four times each time I hear “thewursomystonormywurd” What the fu…dge is he saying?? I can only guess it is “The words of my stone are my word” which sort of sounds like something vaguely sensical but not fully. So is that what he’s saying? (And why?) Anyway: A particularly notorious culprit of this was Dawson’s Creek with a friend (Don’t ask. I used to watch Dawson’s Creek. Just… don’t ask) Often Dawson would say something (usually Dawson) and we’d replay it over and over (because we’d be watching a vhs taped show) and still could not gain one ounce of further understanding from the first hearing. It would be something like “fuswudalemforpIymboor” Any other English-speaking non-Americans notice this phenomenon? Does the reverse happen? (Americans watching English productions fail to understand any of the words being spoken in one sentence by a non-American English speaker, even after repeated hearing) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/2 "2010-01-16T01:41:18Z")
“The words are like stones in my heart.” Jake is admitting that his original purpose was to spy on the Na’vi. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/3 "2010-01-16T01:46:05Z")
I think this is probably better suited to Cafe Society than MPSIMS. Moving. Colibri Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/4 "2010-01-16T01:49:21Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > … > > Does the reverse happen? (Americans watching English productions fail to understand any of the words being spoken in one sentence by a non-American English speaker, even after repeated hearing) Are you kidding? Of course we have trouble understanding you guys. I have long heard Brits being described as speaking through a mouthful of marbles. Sorry, nothing personal, you do have cute accents. ---
**Author:** ![Snite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Snite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snite)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/5 "2010-01-16T01:55:32Z")
In Iraq a British SAS soldier once told a guy in my unit SAS: “a;jklhasdflk” USsoldier: “Huh?” SAS: “ladjljdsa” USsoldier: “I can’t… what?” SAS(angry now and yells): “ADSLGKASDLJ” USsoldier goes around the corner and brings back a box and sets it on the ground. The SAS guy is incensed and screams at the USsoldier for awhile before stomping off. USsoldier: “What? I thought he said go get a box?” SASwithoutsuchanaccent: “He said to search his pockets.” ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/6 "2010-01-16T02:01:07Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Are you kidding? Of course we have trouble understanding you guys. I have long heard Brits being described as speaking through a mouthful of marbles. Sorry, nothing personal, you do have cute accents. Nah I and (I hope my countrymen) don’t take it personally. It’s kind of amusing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/7 "2010-01-16T02:04:13Z")
It happens sometimes: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LJw6PAi5Q8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LJw6PAi5Q8) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/8 "2010-01-16T02:08:59Z")
> [@Snite](#): > > In Iraq a British SAS soldier once told a guy in my unit > > SAS: “a;jklhasdflk” > USsoldier: “Huh?” > SAS: “ladjljdsa” > USsoldier: “I can’t… what?” > SAS(angry now and yells): “ADSLGKASDLJ” > USsoldier goes around the corner and brings back a box and sets it on the ground. The SAS guy is incensed and screams at the USsoldier for awhile before stomping off. > > USsoldier: “What? I thought he said go get a box?” > > SASwithoutsuchanaccent: “He said to search his pockets.” This reminds me of the unfortunate fact that Britain (and I know the US also) has people with ‘regional dialects’ I have known at least one person in my life from _my own country_ who might as well have been speaking a foreign language. I could not understand any sentence he _ever_ spoke. I could only succeed in making out individual words, and rarely that. And I know (or guess from what I know) that you tend to get people who come from those places with distinct regional dialects becoming members of the SAS. So my point is: This thread refers to people who are talking in the ‘majority’ accent. People who are using a generic American or generic British accent. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/9 "2010-01-16T02:09:35Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Any other English-speaking non-Americans notice this phenomenon? Not concerning American TV. I’ve met a few people from the deepish south that I had trouble understanding, though. They said I sounded English, which was interesting as I’m from western Canada. > [@](#): > > Does the reverse happen? (Americans watching English productions fail to understand any of the words being spoken in one sentence by a non-American English speaker, even after repeated hearing) Yes! I’m told Absolutely Fabulous is funny, but I’ll never know because I don’t know what the hell anyone’s talking about. Red Dwarf can require some concentration as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/10 "2010-01-16T02:10:32Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > It happens sometimes: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LJw6PAi5Q8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LJw6PAi5Q8) You (almost) owe me a new monitor and keyboard. That was feckn hillarious! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/11 "2010-01-16T02:24:04Z")
First time I went to London, I had a conversation with a street busker. Couldn’t understand more than two words in ten. I did manage to pick up that he had been born in Scotland, but raised in Wales. Which, I think, explained everything. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/12 "2010-01-16T03:01:53Z")
When English speakers outside of the United States can’t understand Americans, it’s because we’re incomprehensible, or slurring words together. When Americans can’t understand English speakers outside of the United States, it’s because we’re ignorant of other accents, don’t get enough exposure to other cultures, and generally less patient and intelligent. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [January 16, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/13 "2010-01-16T03:08:56Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > When English speakers outside of the United States can’t understand Americans, it’s because we’re incomprehensible, or slurring words together. > > When Americans can’t understand English speakers outside of the United States, it’s because we’re ignorant of other accents, don’t get enough exposure to other cultures, and generally less patient and intelligent. > > :rolleyes: Yeah but that’s like saying the sun rises in the East. Back to the OP I think it has something to do with the fact that they are acting. I think there is some US school of thought that indistinct delivery of your lines is more naturalistic. The actor in question in Avatar is an Australian. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/14 "2010-01-16T03:15:05Z")
I am American and although I can generally understand English accents in films, I’ve had trouble deciphering what English people are saying when they are talking to me face to face. I had the following exchange at the bag check in Heathrow airport. Checker: Do you have any shop objects? Me: Well, just this book I bought. Checker: No, do you have any SHOP objects? Me: Um, I didn’t really go shopping… Checker: No, SHOP objects! Knives, scissors… Me: Oh, SHARP objects. No, I don’t have any sharp objects. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/15 "2010-01-16T03:44:18Z")
I was in a bar/restaurant a few years ago, when some drunken Scots came over to me. I had a ten minute conversation with them and didn’t understand a single word they said. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/16 "2010-01-16T04:11:06Z")
I prefer to watch movies at home specifically because it allows me to use the closed captioning. I pretty much keep it on all the time now. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/17 "2010-01-16T04:42:45Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Yeah but that’s like saying the sun rises in the East. > > Back to the OP I think it has something to do with the fact that they are acting. I think there is some US school of thought that indistinct delivery of your lines is more naturalistic. > > The actor in question in Avatar is an Australian. An Australian speaking with an American accent though. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/18 "2010-01-16T04:46:51Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Yes! I’m told Absolutely Fabulous is funny, but I’ll never know because I don’t know what the hell anyone’s talking about. I enjoyed it - by watching it with closed captioning on. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/19 "2010-01-16T04:49:56Z")
What? There’s no subtitles on your pirated copy? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153/20 "2010-01-16T05:01:18Z")
That’s my go-to, subtitle ON when I can’t quite catch something on a DVD. The worst time I had was when I was in London and I met someone who was born in India, who had an accent from India, and was speaking British-accented English with his Indian accent on top of it. My American ear has an OK time with either a British accent or an Indian accent, but not the two on top of each other and mixed together. Conversation was very awkward, then only went downhill during dinner when I ate with my fork prong-side-up. He and his family looked at me as if I had three heads! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-pesky-americans-sometimes-you-say-things-in-films-that-are-incomprehensible/525153.md?page=2)