To want my accent back?

[QueenieBob]

I've lived in the West Midlands for over 20 years (I come from Yorkshire, came to Uni here and never went back). My accent has changed over the years, from Yorkshire to 'no man's land' and now I sound more like a local. I'll be honest - the West Midlands accent isn't one of my favourite accents but there's nothing wrong with it. I work with people based all over the country and some people don't know / can't tell that I'm from Yorkshire which makes me sad as I'm very proud of my roots. I just don't sound like me anymore and, short of moving back to Yorkshire, I've no idea how to reclaim my accent. AIBU or should I just accept and move on? I realise this is NOT a huge issue but it's niggling me more and more.

I moved to the north-east from London over 5 years ago and I didn't feel I'd lost any of my accent in the slightest until people didn't realise I was southern! It's more local phrases thrown into chat that makes me sound more northern than I am!

My Somerset accent only works when I am actually in Somerset. Or talking about Somerset. Or talking to someone on the phone who is in Somerset. Or drunk.

The rest of the time I sound very ordinary. It's not intentional! I find it a bit sad really.

I am a displaced Geordie. Thought I sounded alright until I heard myself on a video. I sound nearly as bad as Donna Air . I blame too many years living overseas and making myself understood otherwise I sound like a faux-posh wanker trying to lose their roots. I am not. I am now in Yorkshire and married to a Yorkshireman so have unintentionally added that to the mix. I just want to be a Geordie.

I lived in London until I was four when we moved ooop north so have completely lost my southern accent.

That said, I work in a northern town where the local accent is hideous very strong Lancashire and I'm regarded as posh.

My boss is from the north east and has a very mild accent, unless he's in a bad mood in which case he comes out with all sorts of regionalisms I have to Google before I nod along sagely.

IHeart

I too am from the West Country and have lost my accent.
My father still speaks with a pronounced accent but I think he will be one of the last in the village as everyone else who live there now is from London or the home counties. not that I'm bitter

What is a West Midlands accent? Genuine question

DH has a west midlands accent. He sounds nothing like Brummie or Black Country. Very flat vowels, long a in bath, path etc. I can spot another one a mile off. Northern but not very northern if you know what I mean.

IHeart
I think that quite common to adapt your accent to the company you're in!
There's a lady in my choir who is Welsh, but doesn't have a very strong accent....
But her mother was visiting a few weeks ago and she automatically became a whole lot Welsh-er when talking to her mum!

For IHeart
a Dorset poem but it should do the job to get your accent back:

THE PRIMRWOSE in the shade do blow,
The cowslip in the zun,
The thyme upon the down do grow,
The clote where streams do run;
An’ where do pretty maidens grow
An’ blow, but where the tow’r
Do rise among the bricken tuns,
In Blackmwore by the Stour.

If you could zee their comely gait,
An’ pretty faces’ smiles,
A-trippen on so light o’ waight,
An’ steppen off the stiles;
A-gwain to church, as bells do swing
An’ ring ’ithin the tow’r,
You’d own the pretty maidens’ place
Is Blackmwore by the Stour.

I'm from NZ, but have lived abroad for 15 years in Asia, Africa and the U.K. According to every South African I meet, I now have a South African accent ( never lived there). I miss my kiwi accent.

Aw that's lovely! Thank you moi lover...