What American accent would be equivalent to say a Welsh accent?!

[Nailest]

I don’t know if this even makes sense or if I can explain properly what I mean!

I was thinking earlier about how much I dislike my southern Welsh accent, but how when I’ve been in USA quite a few Americans have said they like it. I like virtually all American accents but would there be one we could equate to say a Glaswegian accent, or a Liverpudlian one, or a north walian one or something?

Can anyone articulate more clearly what I mean? Does anyone actually know what I mean?!

not american but people from the province of newfoundland and those that live in cape breton nova scotia have a very strong accent which when spoken quickly is a challenge to understand

This is spades!!! I met someone from Newfoundland and didn't believe he was Canadian at first, its such a different accent completely, but I like it, very singy, up and down. I love a strong Welsh accent too.

I also thought of fargo too

In a similar vein I always wonder what a British accent sounds like when speaking other languages. Like how if a German native speaker was speaking English as a second language you can normally tell they’re German. Same with French and Spanish. But what do we sound like speaking French and German?!!

I get you.

The thing is the accents we hear on TV aren't real at all. Both for US and UK.

I'm London born, have a very "standard" south east/London voice. A bit cockney but my telephone voice is very BBC commentator standard southern English accent.

Now. I frequently travel to the States, lived there for a few years, but that's big cities I went to (NYC, Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Los Angeles, San Fran etc) enjoyed everyone's accents and them mine but other than the occasional repeat of one of us of the other wasn't expecting an accent then pretty much I've never had language problems.

BUT last year I had to call at USPS depot in Louisiana as they were holding a parcel I had posted out to a friend. Quite rural LA.

When the person answered the phone seriously I had literally no clue what they said!!!!

So I talked extra clear, extra slow. I then (just about) understood "excuse me ma'am" so repeated myself - even slower - that I was calling about a package.

The hung up on me!!

Story here is - the accents, even on TV, aren't real life. And I think that's incredible and I love all accents. But have a HUGE soft spot for welsh ones - so please don't dislike yours. The grass is always greener!

@Porkbuttsandtaters

In a similar vein I always wonder what a British accent sounds like when speaking other languages. Like how if a German native speaker was speaking English as a second language you can normally tell they’re German. Same with French and Spanish. But what do we sound like speaking French and German?!!

It depends how good your ear is for the accent in the other language you're speaking. I learnt French growing up in Lancashire and my French teacher spoke French with a strong Lancashire accent. So that's how we spoke French too.

It was only when I went to university in the south of England that I realised my accent in French was actually very Lancastrian. So I had to work hard to develop a more neutral accent. Eventually I lived and worked in Paris (several times for a number of years) and apparently I now speak French with a Parisian accent. Although I start sounding more English if I haven't spoken French for a long time (the French accent comes back very quickly though).

I have an English friend (also Lancastrian) that I met in Paris who has lived in France for over a decade but still speaks French with a broad Lancashire accent. He actually teaches English for Air France staff so if you're flying Air France and the crew speak English with a Lancashire accent, you'll know who taught them.

I used to like the bits on Eurotrash (remember that?) where they’d dub the Perpignan inhabitants as Welsh and rural Normandy farmers as oo-arr West Country (well, maybe not exactly that, but it’s the general idea).

I’m wondering what the US equivalent is of, say, our broad Glaswegian. The sort of accent that has a fluent foreigner worried about their comprehension skills, only to be reassured by native speakers who can’t understand the accent either.

Well I have a South Wales accent and Americans seem to think I’m either Australian, Scottish or Irish 🤣

I’m wondering what the US equivalent is of, say, our broad Glaswegian. The sort of accent that has a fluent foreigner worried about their comprehension skills, only to be reassured by native speakers who can’t understand the accent either

I think some N Wales accents are in this vein too. I'm Welsh but good lord I really struggle with a strong N Wales accent at times!

@ToniLaRoni

I get you.

The thing is the accents we hear on TV aren't real at all. Both for US and UK.

I'm London born, have a very "standard" south east/London voice. A bit cockney but my telephone voice is very BBC commentator standard southern English accent.

Now. I frequently travel to the States, lived there for a few years, but that's big cities I went to (NYC, Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Los Angeles, San Fran etc) enjoyed everyone's accents and them mine but other than the occasional repeat of one of us of the other wasn't expecting an accent then pretty much I've never had language problems.

BUT last year I had to call at USPS depot in Louisiana as they were holding a parcel I had posted out to a friend. Quite rural LA.

When the person answered the phone seriously I had literally no clue what they said!!!!

So I talked extra clear, extra slow. I then (just about) understood "excuse me ma'am" so repeated myself - even slower - that I was calling about a package.

The hung up on me!!

Story here is - the accents, even on TV, aren't real life. And I think that's incredible and I love all accents. But have a HUGE soft spot for welsh ones - so please don't dislike yours. The grass is always greener!

Toni, your phone call with the USPS person in Louisiana was an encounter with a creole speaker.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cajun_English

Mostly French influence, but some from settlers from Nova Scotia had a hand in it too. Most American struggle to understand it.

I’m wondering what the US equivalent is of, say, our broad Glaswegian. The sort of accent that has a fluent foreigner worried about their comprehension skills, only to be reassured by native speakers who can’t understand the accent either.

Mississippi !!!!

Welsh = Wisconsin
Yorkshire = Texas
Liverpool = Boston
Glasgow = Brooklyn
Lancashire = Kansas
Geordie = Chicago

I like this game

I'd say Minnesota because it had a large immigrant population from Norway, and to my ear Welsh and Norwegian have a similar tonal sound.

I always think of Essex = jersey
(Bridge and tunnel brigade)

So that's Gavin

So what about Stacey?!

@ApocalypseNowt

Welsh = Wisconsin Yorkshire = Texas Liverpool = Boston Glasgow = Brooklyn Lancashire = Kansas Geordie = Chicago

I like this game

I'd put Lancashire as Colorado instead. There are some interesting similarities.

And Essex is a shoe-in for Florida (and Florida man!)

Yes Hundred! Lancashire is indeed Colorado.

Whoever is taking minutes please amend the record.

@Porkbuttsandtaters

In a similar vein I always wonder what a British accent sounds like when speaking other languages. Like how if a German native speaker was speaking English as a second language you can normally tell they’re German. Same with French and Spanish. But what do we sound like speaking French and German?!!

My French colleagues always say they love my English accented French! Even though I try to make my liaisons and sound native. I once admitted to a French colleague that I was self conscious to speak, as my accent wasn’t good. He said, “you know ‘ow ze English think ze Frenchman talking in English eez sexy, non? Well, it eez ze same for you - we find it very attractif”

@FlowerArranger

I’m wondering what the US equivalent is of, say, our broad Glaswegian. The sort of accent that has a fluent foreigner worried about their comprehension skills, only to be reassured by native speakers who can’t understand the accent either.

Mississippi !!!!

But it depends on where you're from. I can understand Mississippi because I grew up in another Southern state. Just as I imagine most people from other parts of Scotland can understand Glaswegian.

I think Cajun actually might have some parallels to Glaswegian in terms of native speakers of English finding it challenging. Both have quite a bit of vocabulary, as well as pronunciation from another language (French for Cajun and Scots for Glaswegian).