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?

That's true, I was so confused when I started on Mumsnet because everytime I'd read "MN" my brain automatically thought Minnesota. :) It means 'sky-tinted waters' in the Lakota/Dakota language, apparently...just a fun fact for you. :o

I'm an American who has lived in London for around 15 years now and never worried too much about my accent. It has mellowed over the years, but most Brits still say they can tell I'm American (or Canadian, but I'm from Michigan, so it can be hard to tell) although most Americans now think I sound British.

I know I'm not ignorant and if anyone assumes that I am just from hearing my accent, well, its their loss! I've completed a doctorate and worked in a highly specialised field in the UK and have never encountered anyone who did not take me seriously because of my nationality. I do get my fair share of jokes about the US, but I just laugh them off as they're not meant personally or maliciously.

Perhaps its because London is more multicultural, but it never occurred to me that DD would be considered 'different' because she has a foreign mother - over half her friends have at least one foreign parent!

I don't think that changing your accent is really the key to blending in - in fact, it might make people slightly suspicious why you want to hide where you're from... There are a lot of easier non-accent related ways to blend into the UK. You can be more aware of the volume thing (I speak much more softly in the UK than home in Michigan). Get familiar with British/Scottish pop culture (soaps, celebs, issues) that come up in conversation regularly. And I use some British words and wordings instead of American ones (like nappy instead of diaper) just because its easier when everyone else is using them too.

Incidentally, we've just moved from London to Australia for the next 3 years. As DD has started at an Aussie nursery, I expect her to pick up the local accent quite quickly. Before too long, everyone in our family will have a different accent: DH an English one, me an American one and DD an Aussie one. We think its great!

MercenaryMom... you'll have to learn to say Yoe-gert instead of Yogget now that you're in Australia. You'll be glad to learn that "pants" means trousers, again. And you can say zucchini, but still have to say coriander instead of cilantro. They are brutal on correcting that one.

MercenaryMom - we did the word-switch thing too. Nappies, buggies, etc. I think we did it not so much as a blending-in thing as a respecting-our-location thing. We were always taught when you go to another place you speak the language there instead of expecting them to adapt to you, and queen's English IS a different language, so that's what we did.

We never had a problem switching back and forth.

All in all, we had a wonderful time living in London and were very sad when we moved away.

btw, snobear4000, I still consider coriander and cilantro different things. I know they are technically the same species of plant, but they truly honestly taste different, even the leaves. IME coriander won't make pico de gallo that tastes right and therefore I won't ever accept that they are the same

I am a very well-spoken Brit who has moved to the US recently. I have a "posh" brit accent because I grew up overseas and only moved to the UK at 24, so never developed a local accent.

Now I am doing my best to fit in the US - and generally everybody is fantastic. I get lots of "I love your accent" and they get puzzled when I say that I love their accent .

My little ds was 4 when we got here, so I expected him to be speaking with an american accent in no time, but his english accent is holding on still, 12 months later. We shall see how long that lasts. But his vocabulary has changed so much and we have long chats about the difference between rubbish and trash. I try to make sure I use the correct words and spelling as well, as I want to fit in. But it still feels weird - rumor just looks so wrong!

The strangest thing that happened is when we visited a small town in deepest, darkest Virginia this summer and two kids who were working on a roadside food stall we stopped at said: "You ain't from 'round here - are you Iranian?"

DH and I did not know what to make of that - still not quite sure, as we are typical anglo-saxons in features, so no physical reason, but they couldn't place the accent at all. But we explained we were from England and had a chat with them about how much we loved their town and how far we had come, etc... It feels like such an adventure.

Well, I'm Canadian and am absolutely that anyone could confuse a Canadian and American accent! To me they sound absolutely nothing alike in any way. I do tend to pick up a local accent very quickly when I spend any time in the US and it lingers for about a week when I return, always thought it a bit strange as others I've travelled with don't seem to do the same.

Anyhow, please don't try to change your accent OP, I'm sorry to hear that it has caused you any worry. It's part of you. Plus it's so much fun when I hear an American accent, I am compelled to try and guess where they're from and then they usually have a laugh at how far off I am, lol!

I bet we'd sound a bit alike though gomummy :) I've gotten "are you from Canada" before...I've got a pretty strong Minnesoootah accent. It's funny hearing the "old-timers" talk, most of them still have that Scandinavian lilt from the original settlers. :)

Have you really Cheerful? I must find a way to hear you, lol! I have never heard an American accent that I could possibly confuse with Canadian, but I definitely hear the American accent in myself after some time in the US. When Border Services ask where you're from, on the way out I say Ca-na-da, on the way home I catch myself saying Caayh-na-da, iykwim?

Lots of Irish and Scottish lilts where I'm from due to the original settlers too. I like when people's accents give a clue as to their heritage.

I love the American accent

I cannot believe that British people are soo negative and unfriendly
THEY ARE

Really? I haven't met the whole of the British empire, of course, but everybody I've met in person or encountered on here has been pretty nice.

oh well of course neither have i?
but i am the queen

just make sure you say "war-tah" to your DCs, not wawder. It took my nine years but by golly i think i've cracked it.

gomummy - i find it very odd that you can't hear the similairity between some canadian and american accents. i'm canadian, and i sometimes find it impossible to tell them apart.
i've been in the uk seven years and am constantly mistaken for being irish?? i'm disappointed that most people can't recognize my accent anymore, and that it seems to have become a bit diluted. you can't judge someone based solely on their accent, it's happened to me numerous times and i've gotten some awful comments (as well as plenty of great ones).

Really Morgan? That surprises me! I would find it near impossible to mistake them, think they sound nothing alike. Lots of American tourists visit where I live though and I definitely do confuse where in the US they are from, am not good at pinpointing location but find it fun to try! (Thankfully they've all seemed to enjoy humouring me so far!)

dont change your accent its intrinsic to who you are.pragmatically some will love .some will hate

I do think Americans are loud. But love a good South Carolina accent.

I was an Au Pair out in Florida cica 92. The mum asked me to make macaroni cheese for tea. I was 17 but confident I remember how to do a good cheese sauce and asked where her milk, cheese, flour,mustard was....then the packet was presented!! It took less than 10 mins

There's nothing intrinsically horrible about an American accent and some of them are rather lovely imo. Y'are who y'are, as someone once said, and your accent is part of that. If people are stoopid enough to judge you on your accent rather than what you're saying, then what can anyone do?

And your nickname is very good- it conjures up a panto dame in 19th C garb to me. I like it. Although if you don't you can change it. you know.

yes

I spoke to a man from New Brunswick the other day and actually thought he was Northern Irish . There were heavy NI overtones though.

Having lived in Canada for a year I think I could tell a Canadian from a US accent. I can even distinguish between US accents. I imagine the distinction may be more blurry around the border although there must be subtle giveaways.

I'm not loud. Well, after a night out I am :o but otherwise of normal volume. I think, anyway. Now I'm full of self-doubt.

That's funny, justonemore. I do make the packages every now and then but usually it's what everyone calls "homemade" mac 'n' cheese.