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?

You can talk to me, I love your accent ! You will remind me of my holiday in Florida next year !

I am from the north east and sound like Cheryl Cole, I cringe when she is on TV ! We sound so common !

I think lots of people hate their accent !

Thanks Tarheel :) Nana was a riot - she used to have her two sisters over every Saturday for gin rummy. The were all as deaf as each other and you could hear them arguing over the card game from next door. My Dad used to refer to them as "hear no evil, hear no evil, and hear no evil"

Marenmj that's so funny about ordering sandwiches. I do that too - my tomaytoes (or in my own accent, more like tamaydis) turned to tomahtos within months of moving here, because the woman in the corner store newsagents' deli counter never knew what I was asking for, no matter how many times I ordered the same thing!

On the question of how we use utensils - the difference apparently dates back to revolutionary times, when switching your fork over to your right hand was a subtle signal to others that you were an American patriot up for the rebellion, while eating in the English style signified allegiance with the crown. I saw that on the History channel last month!

not read all 5 pages here, but I'll second the advice I saw further up the thread, and say just try not to speak as loudly as you might be inclined to. It's something both Americans and Canadians do naturally- talk to everyone within shouting distance. :)

Have you been living overseas for long? I've been out of the US for 8 years or so (lived in Australia, Germany, and Holland before coming here- so lots of practice on the subject) and after a couple of years I just didn't care what people thought anymore. I think we're naturally self-conscious, but at the end of the day, if people assume you're stupid because of your accent, then those aren't people you want to associate with, anyway. AND honestly I've only ever run into a handful of people who were like that, in over 8 years of living overseas. I don't miss them! Hell, I barely remember them!

(I'll come back and read this thread properly tomorrow. For all I know, you've answered my questions already...)

I always thought that the hand-switching thing was a way of making eating slower, so you wouldn't look like a gobbling hog. (I admit that sometimes, seeing people with a utensil in each fist looks a bit... greedy. I expect them to start pounding the table and sing "I'm Henry the Eigth, I am, I am...")

If you're eating American-style correctly, you're supposed to use the fork in the left hand to hold down the big piece of food, and cut ONE BITE with the knife in your right hand. (You are not supposed to chop it all up.) You then put the knife down across the top of the plate, switch fork to right hand, put left hand in your lap, and spear/lift the bite with the fork.

With every bite, you're supposed to do this switching knife/fork/lap routine, which prevents you from eating very fast.

My husband makes these vast wattle-and-daub constructions on his fork with mash as the mortar. It's impressive.

Everyone who tells me to speak less loudly:

I am loud even by American standards. That is, Americans consider me very loud. I am just a loud person. It's not actually easy to "be less quiet" all the time. (Obviously, I can be quiet in a library/church/movie theatre.)

But, I do try to remember to not be so loud, because I've been told that Americans talk through their noses and that our vowels sound like garden strimmers.

DameYankee - do you do the thrusting the fork at you thing I've sometimes seen with Americans? That feels worse to me than the utensil in each hand thing. But it's a cultural thing, I suppose.

SulisMum, are you talking about gesturing with your silverware when you speak? My mother would be horrified

We were always taught that the business end of the silverware should never be elevated above the handle, and I'm from the heathen West. Those New Englanders who are stuffy and formal would probably faint

I think I have seen it done once or twice on tv to shock and horrify the viewer.

Where I live earlybird people can't tell if I am English or Australian! I don't think people have assumed I'm intelligent on the basis of my accent but then there are a lot of Brits in this relatively small town!

I know what you mean DameYankee - I'm English but have lived in Scotland for 14 years and there are times that I wish my accent didn't make me stand out quite so much like a sore thumb. I have encountered a fair bit of anti-English feeling over the years, but more generally I find that some people make assumptions about me based on my accent alone.

I had hoped that in time my home counties vowels would soften up a bit but no dice! I've got two children here with my Scottish husband now though and the elder one, who is three, is a proper Fifer.

I worked with indian people in belfast who had kids in school there. It was hilarious that the 2 children spoke with a strong northen irish accent. Don't worry about your children they will probably have a scottish accent .

And be yourself. Yes, I have met some really ignorant americans but also some who worked hard to learn about other cultures (it was not a forte of your education ) and were very worldwise.

If people judge you because of your accent there are not worth knowing.
I still have a slight accent and will always have despite working and living in english for more than 12 years. (I don't ave ze big sic accent my compatriots ave zoo! I am not identified as french straight away ). DD1 speaks french with a very cute english accent .

If I'm honest I can't stand Americans who go around whining about America and how ashamed they are to be American. It sounds fake and stupid.

Would you be disgusted by an English person, just based on their accent, they have a lot to answer for in the grand scheme of thing?

I hope not, it would make you hugely ignorant. The majority of people who used to give me abuse for being American had:

1. never been there.

or

1. Been to Orlando on holiday.

Neither of them gives them any sort of insight to my life, what it means to be American or what it is like to live there, or any true understanding of our culture or government.

Ps Now, only my friends immediately recognise me as American, after a few years in this country my accent has change so much it is unrecognisable. I'm embarrassed when I go home because everyone thinks I'm English when I say I am not, they think I'm "doing" the accent. It hasn't helped me and I don't feel any obligation to change my accent it just happened. Don't apologise for who you are, but do give out to anyone who dares blame you for everything our country has done. You have the most information remember because you ARE American, and unlike most of them can genuinely compare the countries.

I had one ass hole tell me all about the American immigration system compared to the UK one.

Did you ever immigrate? "uh, no"
Did you try, "uh no"
Well I'm American, so I know a bit about it. Oh and I immigrated to this country so I can tell you something about that too.

Be proud of who you are, dont give a dame about what anyone thinks. I love the American accent just be yourself

yabu. It was my dp's American accent that first attracted me to him lol. Never worry what morons say to you, just be yourself. And kids will find any reason to bully sadly. :(

YABU! People who think all Americans are horrible are just very ignorant people. America is a huge country with a massive range of people of all abilities, viewpoints and persuasions and you should be proud to be from a country that's produced so many world class scientists, inventors, astronauts, thinkers, artists and revolutionary politicians! for every Dubya, there's an Obama, so don't be ashamed of who you are.

I'm American. And proud of it.

Have found that a lot of Americans living in the UK tend to be ashamed of their roots and who they are. I don't get it, but it's quite common. They seem to want to blend in or whatever and end up being more British than the British themselves.

Zzz - wasn't ignoring, had gone home!
i can't imagine eating with my fork in my non-dominant hand!
it makes no sense to me - i have my fork in my left hand and my knife is just a supplemental implement .

I grew up in Canada after we emigrated there when I was 7 , have now lived in uK since '83 and have a mid-atlantic accent that is often mistaken for irish.

It's funny how canadians are appalled at being mistaken for americans - try watching a flight of canadians coming in and 98% of them will have some form of the maple leaf flag emblazoned on them. We have contests at heathrow -'spot the leaf on the passenger'

Yes quite right ilovemydogandMrObama.

Now what time will you be round for tea and biscuits and will you be wearing you pantaloons this time?

I've lived in the UK 19 years. One extremely ignorant thing the British often do that gets me very down is when they say "What the Hell are you doing in this country?!" because they assume and even argue with me strongly, that California must be so much better in every way . So world-ignorance is not a solely American problem!

The British obsessions with there only being one proper way to eat/shop/wash up/phone/etc. is hilarious (as are most petty obsessions) -- especially as so many of their own flout the conventions and always have and always will.

I am trying hard to make my accent sound much more American. I lost it for a while.

i'm caught up now.

one thing that seems to be big in this thread is the worry about Americans being denigrated because Brits don'e like Americanisms.
Have to say, it's not that we don't like Americanisms, it's that we don't like them being used by British people (or people who are not American)
we have our own accents and our own language, and it's a shame that it has to be changed because we watch so many American films and TV shows.

said by an American, Americansims sound ace.
they sound like they're supposed to and they don't sound like someone is trying to be something they're not just to be cool.

(she says, putting cool and ace into her post....)

anyway, I think that reiterates the point that you should embrace the fact that you're American to use all the words and phrases that we're encouraged not to use! You're allowed!

Sanielle.

It's easy to blame mannerisms though on nationality. I'm not really loud, and tend not to attract lots of comment.

Although DD (4) just started school and was rather confused as to how long she was going to have to stay at school as they told her she would have to stay for 'dinner' next week. She was in a slight panic as dinner is out evening meal...

YABU. I'm sure your accent isn't "horrible". I like American accents, especially if they have a hint of the Southern.

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

You speak correctly too. If you went back in time to when the first pilgrims set sail to America, you would find the English accent(s) of the day unimaginably different to what it is (they are) today, and actually it is possibly even closer to an American accent than a fairly standard English one like mine. Just because my ancestors stayed in England doesn't mean my accent is correct and yours is wrong.

If people judge you for being American, think of their prejudice as a handy filter to keep you from getting entangled with complete knobs. But I am sorry if you have been made to feel unwelcome over here.

Bit late to this but don't you dare change your accent! Why should you? People who think you sound thick would probably have a field day with my DC who have a hybrid RP/East End/Somerset accent. But who cares?

I'm a bit late to this party too, but DON'T CHANGE!

Funny thing though, my DH is from the US and his accent has not changed in the seven years he's lived in the UK. No, what's happened is that I've picked up US cadences and turns of phrase and I get asked where I'm from all the time. Bit embarrassing to have to say "Essex". :o

I'm sure some people think I'm being pretentious or something, but I really can't help it, I'm a bit of a sponge for accents.

One thing I have noticed, is that as soon as DH is on the phone to his parents or friends back home, his voice automatically goes up several decibels. Also, if we stay living where we are (Midlands) our children will have completely different accents from either of us.