to be ashamed of my American accent?

[DameYankee]

It's not so bad living here in Scotland, but when I go down to the inlaw's in Manchester, I feel acutely aware of my horrible American accent. The Scots don't seem to mind so much (I think they assume I'm Canadian?) but the English do. I used to live in Gloucester, and it was pretty apparent that having an American accent really annoys a lot of people because we're so loud. Also, when people hear my accent, they pretty much assume that whatever I'm saying must be ignorant.

I don't blame people for thinking this of Americans, which is why I'm ashamed of it.

I was reminded of this when I just now registered a nickname to post. For some reason, I picked "DameYankee" and then, after it was too late, I thought of why that may have been a mistake. "You had the chance, so long as you remembered to spell words correctly, to not come across as an American, and instead you went and announced yourself as one!"

I've also thought of trying to change my accent. I have a stubborn midwest/Southern accent, and haven't picked up anything of the Scottish accent after years of living here. I don't know if one goes to an acting coach for that sort of thing, or what.

Anyway, am I being unreasonable, or do you think there could be wisdom in trying to blend in a bit better?

Why change who you are? If anyone judges you on the way you speak, they are the ignorant ones.

Not everyone assumes Americans are ignorant. Be who you are without trying to suit other people.

Well, I worry also about my children being bullied.

oh stay as you are.they are the ones with the problem

Your children are more likely to pick up the local accent after a while, especially if they are very young.

YABU - American accent great - but you don't have to talk so loud .

Your accent sounds lovely. It is who you are.

Oh I love that accent (if I'm thinking of the right one!)! Please don't change yourself, if people are so ignorant that they judge you on your accent (or anything else equally superficial for that matter) it's their loss that they don't get to know you!

Oh no! Don't change. I'm sure you are imagining the dislike of your accent (apart from from a few nasty loopos who would prbably taunt me too for my softee-south-English accent.

If I was your neighbour, I would especially enjoy hearing your midwest/southern accent, since it would be different from the typical hollywood movie accent I think??

I love accents and I bet yours is lovely. You will find that some people will always judge you by your accent. I have a mild Brummie accent and people assume I'm a bit dim. Do you want to swap accents?

Well if you are loud-you can do something about that.

If you have a strong accent already, perhaps it´s harder to pick up another one, so there´s not a lot you can do about that!

I don't know if my accent is different than what you'd hear in a Hollywood movie: most actors come from elsewhere, like the midwest! LOL.

AncientStarlight, I can't tell the difference between different accents. I wouldn't know Brummie from Essex. LOL

Brummie or Essex - there's an interesting choice!

FWIW, I think in Bush era particularly, some Brits had problems with Americans' international outlook, but rarely with American individuals. I don't think I've articulated that very well though.

YABU

Why do you think people think that?

I think it is great that people have a wide variety of accents.

You can control the volume though. I have to admit 'posh' accents can annoy me sometimes but only because they are often close to shouting.

Hehe, my DH is from Scotland, and he's been asked if he's from:
Ireland
Wales
Bristol (?!)
America
Canada

So you could probably get away with saying you're from anywhere really!

your children will pick up the accent from their local school.

it would be a sad world if everyone judged you on your accent.
:(

but there are people on this forum from all over the world! so we don't mind how you spell your words!

really, don't worry about it - you'll get quesitons, and maybe teasing comments, but anyone worth knowing will look past it.

Be proud of who you are. I'm an American in the UK and have had loads of people compliment my accent. I usually forget I sound different. I'm sure most people don't mind your accent, but if they do, it's their issue not yours.

I get the bit about not wanting to stand out so that your kids don't get bullied, but your kids will most likely sound like their friends.

I would never change my accent, which is also American. I lived in America for 34 years. Here in the UK for 7.

Your children will babble in your accent, according to most studies, but will pick up the local accent in school.

Be proud of your accent. Even if, like me, you aren't all that proud to be American any more.

Tee, have you learned to use a knife and fork properly, yet? I haven't, and that's another thing I'm ashamed of. I need to try harder to copy my husband, but I don't like to eat the way he does (big lump of mash with peas stuck to it.) I don't know how to pick up food like a civilized person, so I spear it and do that ridiculous hand-swapping charade.

I can keep my mouth shut, but I can't eat in public without being a spectacle. LOL

I actually worry that my kids will be bullied for having a foreign mum, even if they speak correctly.

Don't ever change who you are. I love different accents but then in London you hear them all the time. There are parts of the country where they can't abide a Southern accent or a cockney one.

Some people in this country have a weird obsession with the way others speak, their class and house prices. My friends parents who were orginally Southerners living in Yorkshire decided to relocate their business back down to Surrey when their DS was born because they couldn't deal with their son developing a Northern accent!!

Just ignore them (hopefully you're not loud though as I often find Americans have a tendency to be several decibles louder than everyone else and can never work out why?! )

HOW DARE YOU COME OVER HERE WITH YOUR IRRITATING ACCENT AND LOUD VOICE, DEMANDING ICED TEA AND POTATO CHIPS, WEARING POLO NECKS UNDER PASTEL COLOURED JUMPERS AND ACTING LIKE YOU OWN THE BLOODY WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT LIKE ALL YOU ARROGANT YANKS DO.

I like America, and Americans (though that is of course a generalisation as stupid as hating all Americans) and have spend a lot of time over the pond.

Ignore any irritable, stupid twits and be loud and proud! x

YABU

America is a HUGE country and it stands to reason that although they have more ignorant people there (because they have more people there, full stop) it must also be kicking out a fair proportion of decent folks.

Accents are MASSIVELY differing in England, I can tell if someone lives 30 miles away from me.

Dame, don't worry about your children's accents, theirs will be 'local' - I have a fairly broad Scots accent but my son has no hint of it, unless putting it on deliberately/jokingly. And your accent will not change - I am still broad Scots despite 20+ years in England.

and don't worry about eating the English way either - if you are ever in society where it might matter, they will be too polite to mention it anyway.

don't change who you are just because you worry you won't fit in - you are much more likely to fit in if you are confident and yourself.

(your way of eating makes more sense if you're right-handed anyway - lefties eat like that with their fork in their dominant hand!)