Why do you visit GMG?

[Sarastro]

English often sounds better with a bit of a foreign accent.

Perhaps, or maybe you are just so used to the regional accents, so a foreign one brings freshness and novelty. I haven't met many Brits here, mostly watched films with British actors, and from what I've experienced (although it is hard to comprehend what they are saying at the beginning, one soon gets used to it), and I luuuuuv it!

Most people think I am French or German (presumably because the accent is not heavily Slavic) prior to learning my name or where I came from - which happens very quickly and therefore makes their lofty dreams fall into ruins. 0:)

[knight66]

I can assure you most women here prefer a French man speaking English with a bit of a French accent than listening to English as mangled by many of its natives. It often sounds more musical from a foreigner. Certainly all these Poles I encounter in London sound charming. Some west-coast of Scotland accents with the loose extended vowels are revolting. So, no need to lose your accent, what are you wanting instead? There is always an accent, Bostonian to Newcastle....no one really speaks it without one.

Mike

[Sarastro]

what are you wanting instead?

A nice British accent with its lightly dimmed peculiar "r" and "l," and the classical A in words "dance," "chance," etc. (like in Harry Potter movies and how I was taught in school) Actually, I even tried and somewhat succeeded, but was not comprehended and told to be more uniform.

PS: I can still remember a lady from Scotland, whose "l" was very peculiar.

Or am I wrong about any of my points?

[vandermolen]

I joined because of the friendly banter between M forever and Sound 67 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I joined because of the friendly banter between M forever and Sound 67.

[Wanderer]

I joined because of the friendly banter between M forever and Sound 67 

Yes, I'm also here for the catfights.

[DavidRoss]

I joined in hopes of getting turned on to some good, previously unfamiliar music.  That I keep returning may be a manifestation of OCD.

[karlhenning]

English often sounds better with a bit of a foreign accent; especially when set against Estuary-speak or Brummie, (both regional accents).

Does the Brooklyn/Jersey City accent qualify as foreign here, Mike? 

[Renfield]

I visit GMG for many reasons; as do most of us, I'm sure.

But what has me coming back to GMG is the member community, beyond doubt. All of it, I dare add.

If nothing else, I am in the middle of moving, packages, boxes all around, yet here I am skimming through GMG's Latest.

[karlhenning]

Good luck with the move!

[knight66]

Does the Brooklyn/Jersey City accent qualify as foreign here, Mike? 

No, in terms of an improvement. Re the Scots L, not sure about that one, but there are so many accents, at least four in Glasgow alone. A lot of words that are specific to a geographic area are seemingly disappearing. This is due to the influence of television, though to my ears, regional accents are alive and well.

During the second world war, the BBC did sometimes use announcers with regional accents. I read that this was to prevent any fake German broadcasts; as the Germans would have had a very hard time reproducing thick regional accents.

Mike

[Kullervo]

During the second world war, the BBC did sometimes use announcers with regional accents. I read that this was to prevent any fake German broadcasts; as the Germans would have had a very hard time reproducing thick regional accents.

...and here is Keef with today's weather — Keef?

Cor... s'real 'ot innit?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

...and here is Keef with today's weather — Keef?

Cor... s'real 'ot innit?

The BBC Home Service was never the same again.

[Wanderer]

...and here is Keef with today's weather — Keef?

The Futurama Keef? 

[knight66]

Corey, Sorry, that 'here' should have been 'ear'. The 'and' and 'ear' would also have been elided into one word, 'andear'. Well, anyway, here is my version in Estuary-speak.

andear is Keef wiv today's wever — Keef?


Charmin ehwot? (that final 't' being virtually unsounded.)

Indeed this is exactly what happens when people who are just not top drawer are allowed their say and don't have to wear dinner suits any longer for wireless announcements.

Wotcha,

Mike (Maike)

[Sarastro]

andear is Keef wiv today's wever — Keef?

I had a classmate in Russia, and, although usually it is hard for all non-native English speakers to pronounce voiceless and voiced th, and it's mostly substituted with s and z respectively, he managed to pronounce it just as you described. And voiceless th was "f".

Mike, do British women have grammar issues? What if a Frenchman speaks with a charming accent but leaves articles, confuses times, and is not very eloquent?

[knight66]

Sarastro, I can assure you that British women I know would be firmly under the spell of a silky-toned Frenchman with fractured English and would not care in the least if he could not congugate a verb. As long as he could make himself understood in the most important matters.

Of course looks help too I guess.

Mike

[Novi]

I visit GMG for many reasons; as do most of us, I'm sure.

But what has me coming back to GMG is the member community, beyond doubt. All of it, I dare add.

If nothing else, I am in the middle of moving, packages, boxes all around, yet here I am skimming through GMG's Latest.

Hey, where are you off to?

(sorry - OT )

[Renfield]

Good luck with the move!

Thank you. If I can get through putting my notes in order, "the rest is (mostly) furniture".

Hey, where are you off to?

(sorry - OT )

You'd be surprised. Edinburgh!

But I'll make a thread about this eventually, as I could use a few classical-related pointers for my new base.

[Mark]

Edinburgh? Lucky man! A beautiful city, and far more alluring (IMO) than London.