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Original poster

When people expect you to have an accent?

100 replies

gemeyemar · 19/09/2021 09:53

Is anyone else in a similar situation?

My name gives away my origins immediately. I have a very welsh first name and surname. This means that when people meet me, they expect me to have a very Welsh accent.

I was born and raised in Swansea, and speak Welsh. Both my parents were teachers but only my mum really had what you would call a welsh accent. My dad was educated in England, but even his (welsh) parents don’t have a welsh accent.

I moved to southern England for university and got a job here. People assume I’m from London. Just the other night, someone asked “what part of London are you from?” (!) I’ve never lived in London in my life.

People almost seem disappointed that I don’t sound welsh. Some treat me with suspicion. Some even try and get me to admit that I’ve altered my accent!

OP posts:
Goingbackto5oh5 · 19/09/2021 10:24

My first and last name give away that I'm South Asian, and for some reason I have a lot of people assuming I'm not even British born Confused I grew in SE so don't really feel like an accent although I've had relatives from other parts of the UK say I sound posh.
But I've had people say that my accent is really clear for a (insert ethnicity here), or how long did it take me to pick up the accent. I just tell them the same as it takes for any child born in the UK that learns to speak English Grin

Original poster
gemeyemar · 19/09/2021 13:41

Gosh yes! It must be even more annoying for you.
People amaze Grin

OP posts:
Ellis989 · 19/09/2021 13:46

I find it really interesting that you grew up in Swansea but don't have the accent. I read some research that says that typically peers influence a child's accent more than parents. My kids were all born in Australia, we are British, but the eldest two sounded Australian for ages even after moving back to the UK.

I do have another friend from Newcastle though who gets really annoyed with people asking why she doesn't have a Geordie accent! I do think it's a bit odd though? I wonder why some people don't pick up the accent of the place they are raised, and others do?

Susannahmoody · 19/09/2021 13:46

I'm from Lancashire and live abroad. My kids speak the local language together, and English with me. So it's quite a shock to people if they hear the kids first, then hear me bellow to them in coarse Lancashire 'sit yerself down!'

People are like Shock

midsomermurderess · 19/09/2021 13:51

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Brigante9 · 19/09/2021 13:52

@Ellis989

I find it really interesting that you grew up in Swansea but don't have the accent. I read some research that says that typically peers influence a child's accent more than parents. My kids were all born in Australia, we are British, but the eldest two sounded Australian for ages even after moving back to the UK.

I do have another friend from Newcastle though who gets really annoyed with people asking why she doesn't have a Geordie accent! I do think it's a bit odd though? I wonder why some people don't pick up the accent of the place they are raised, and others do?

Nobody believes I’m a Geordie. I left the country at 18 and just lost my accent although obviously I can pick it up again when I’m there. Worse, I lived in France and have a French first name. I speak fluent French having lived there for over a year and I’ve had to get out my ID to prove I’m English.
rocklamp · 19/09/2021 14:02

I'm a non accented Geordie as well due to growing up in a few different places. People always ask where I'm from and are totally confused when I say Newcastle. My dcs don't have accents either and their classmates were always asking where they really came from. It makes us feel like outsiders when we're not.

SoloISland · 19/09/2021 14:05

Born in Wigan, which was then Lancashire. Moved to Warrington when I was three. But never had any local accent as I was a very late talker. Love the accents there.

SoloISland · 19/09/2021 14:10

@SoloISland

Born in Wigan, which was then Lancashire. Moved to Warrington when I was three. But never had any local accent as I was a very late talker. Love the accents there.
Yes folk find it hard when I say where I come from. Now in Ireland I am just English so it does not matter any more.. I was at school locally then university in Manchester.
Elieza · 19/09/2021 14:52

My pal married an Indian guy and took his Indian surname. I think people expected her to have an Indian accent because of her name but she didn’t and doesn’t speak any language other than English.

cactijones · 19/09/2021 14:53

I'm Welsh and have a Welsh first name and don't have an accent and yeah I find people are almost disappointed it's strange

KatherineJaneway · 19/09/2021 14:54

I find it really interesting that you grew up in Swansea but don't have the accent.

I grew up in Wales and don't have an accent.

derxa · 19/09/2021 14:57

You do have an accent but it's not a Welsh one.

BlusteryLake · 19/09/2021 15:06

I got a big surprise last week. I had been emailing a new work contract called Pedro Martinez. We arranged a video call and I nearly fell off my chair when he turned out to be a red-haired Scotsman!

MolyHolyGuacamole · 19/09/2021 15:18

TBH if the first time you lived away from home was university then yeah I'd find it strange that you don't speak in the accent I presume you had before? Or have you always spoken with a 'London' accent?

I've lived in the UK for over a decade and haven't lost the accent of my home country, why would I?

AGreenerShadeofKale · 19/09/2021 15:20

I was just coming to say you do have an accent. Derxa got there first!

TheWayTheLightFalls · 19/09/2021 15:23

I have an odd name combo and often get mistaken, on paper, for a SE Asian bloke (I’m a Jewish woman). In real life it gets worse - I have a vaguely international accent after lots of moves and have Irish people convinced that I’m Irish, German people convinced that I’m German etc.

MerryGoRoundBrain · 19/09/2021 15:32

Oh goodness. I have a foreign surname and a first name that could be from pretty much anywhere in the Western world. I adore people commenting on my grasp of English or asking when I lost the accent. “Wow your English is perfect!”
Thanks, I suppose (?)

Cooroo · 19/09/2021 15:38

I grew up in Kent and moved to Yorkshire 40 years ago. My DD was born and raised in Leeds, went to local schools. Now 25 people at work asked her 'How do you like it up here?' assuming she's only just come north, as she unfortunately has my accent!

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 19/09/2021 15:41

When I'm in work gear people are surprised at my RP accent, so I lightly salt it with a bit of Norfolk. I have no accent, having moved a dozen times since birth. Hopefully Northumberland will be keeping my ashes when the time comes.

Bloodypunkrockers · 19/09/2021 15:45

@derxa

You do have an accent but it's not a Welsh one.
Absolutely this

Everyone has an accent. Except robots

AlphabetAerobics · 19/09/2021 15:50

Have Gaelic names and live in the far, far north of Scotland. Accent straight outta Henley though. 🤷‍♀️

Mayhemmumma · 19/09/2021 15:53

I have a pretty exotic name...but am not! No fabulous accent or fabulous anything really

JosephineDeBeauharnais · 19/09/2021 16:05

My accent has changed over the years - grew up in one place, lived most of my adult life in another, so it’s a bit hybrid but still obviously “northern”, I think. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been asked if I’m Scandinavian or Dutch, almost always by southerners. People round here know I’m not local, but can’t place me exactly either. They don’t think I’m furrin’ though Wink

KatherineJaneway · 20/09/2021 13:26

@derxa

You do have an accent but it's not a Welsh one.
Wow, you have time on your hands