View Poll Results: Non-native English speakers: do you find it easier to imitate British or American English?

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  • British

    3 42.86%
  • American

    3 42.86%
  • Both in equal measure

    1 14.29%
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Thread: Non-native English speakers: do you find it easier to imitate an American or British accent?

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    Default Non-native English speakers: do you find it easier to imitate an American or British accent?

    Although in theory my inclination would be that foreigners find it easier to imitate American than British English, what is quite striking listening to many US-based Hispanics (whether or not they were actually raised there as children) is how you can still hear a clear Spanish influence in many of them. So, which is it?

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    El_Jibaro
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    The standard American form of speech is easier for me to imitate, but I fucking hate their accent.

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    Interesting question.
    Since I'm much more familiar with the UK than with America, I tend to imitate British accent(s) and to use a British vocabulary.
    Quote Originally Posted by Tooting Carmen View Post
    my inclination would be that foreigners find it easier to imitate American than British English.
    But I've noticed that when chatting with a non-native but competent English speaker (= an average Dutchman), we tend to agree on a more Americanized pronunciation. Is it because it's increasingly becoming the world standard of because it flows somewhat more naturally, I can't decide.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ouistreham View Post
    Interesting question.
    Since I'm much more familiar with the UK than with America, I tend to imitate British accent(s) and to use a British vocabulary.

    But I've noticed that when chatting with a non-native but competent English speaker (= an average Dutchman), we tend to agree on a more Americanized pronunciation. Is it because it's increasingly becoming the world standard of because it flows somewhat more naturally, I can't decide.
    Nature vs nurture? But I actually think that American pronunciation is more phonetic than British pronunciation, such as the fact they still use the post-vocalic 'r' and don't generally have the distinction in vowels between short 'a' and long 'ah' that is profound in British English.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tooting Carmen View Post
    I actually think that American pronunciation is more phonetic than British pronunciation, such as the fact they still use the post-vocalic 'r' and don't generally have the distinction in vowels between short 'a' and long 'ah' that is profound in British English.
    Spot on. In America syllables are as a rule more distinctly pronounced.
    The Pilgrim Fathers wanted to build a nation made of better Christians than in the old homeland, Mr Noah Webster wanted them to use a better English.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ouistreham View Post
    Spot on. In America syllables are as a rule more distinctly pronounced.
    The Pilgrim Fathers wanted to build a nation made of better Christians than in the old homeland, Mr Noah Webster wanted them to use a better English.
    Which is ironic, given that the usual consensus is that British English sounds more classy and sophisticated than American English.

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    I probably sound neither but think closer to American
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    Quote Originally Posted by El_Jibaro View Post
    The standard American form of speech is easier for me to imitate, but I fucking hate their accent.
    Well like I said, I do find it striking how so many Hispanic-Americans still have a Spanish influence in their speech in English.

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    El_Jibaro
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tooting Carmen View Post
    Well like I said, I do find it striking how so many Hispanic-Americans still have a Spanish influence in their speech in English.
    They speak English with that accent sometimes even if they can´t speak Spanish, its weird.

    For me, the problem with English, man...is that its just such a horrible language. Like, I can try to sound American, I can enunciate everything like the WASP man, but I hate it.

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