Accent, does this happen to anyone else?

[BigPinkBall]

I’m originally from the North East, like many people I went to school with I’ve got Scottish parents, but I’ve never lived in Scotland. I grew up near Sunderland, so on some words I stretch the vowels and I use a soft r sound, because I’ve lived in the South for the last decade I speak clearly and a little slower than I would in the North East. However I have, on numerous occasions had people ask where in Scotland I’m from, and when I tell them I’m not Scottish they insist that I have a Scottish accent. I find is so strange because I would totally understand not hearing the difference between Sunderland/Newcastle/Middlesbrough but Scottish is a very different sound.

Does this happen to anyone else or is it just me?

My dh jokes that I don't even know what my own accent is anymore.
I too had Scottish parents but didn't move to Scotland until I was nearly 16, my accent changes depending on who I'm talking to.
I always pick up accents when visiting places too, I can't help it and it's actually rather embarrassing but friends and dh think it's hilarious! Poor old woman in Dublin thought I was taking the piss
For some strange reason I get asked if I'm Australian an awful lot....

My best friend will tell people "oh Greebo's from everywhere" when they query my accent.

Our DC are born and bred in the 'Shire Counties' and talk 'posh' to us but we're both northern and try and train them to keep some northern pronunciation like 'laff' rather than 'laaarf' and 'grass' rather than 'graaaas' (yes, we know its futile!) . I'm from a particular northern city but have been accused of being from others with very different accents which I find bizarre. I think some people are just rubbish at correctly recognising accents if they haven't travelled around much and heard the variety that makes up English

I’m British but live in the US... I often get asked by British people where in Australia I’m from. I’ve never been to Australia!

Not sure what the problem is tbh? it’s that they argue with me that I’m wrong, I do have a Scottish accent and I must be from Scotland.

It’s quite common in the North East to have at least one Scottish parent or Grandparent and my parents think it’s hilarious because I really don’t have a Scottish accent, not even on some words and I can’t roll a R to save my life

My son is 6 and his little friend at school has northern parents. Despite living in the south since he was a baby he has a northern accent!

Accents are fascinating.

But op, I'm interested that you say you're not Scottish. Surely you are if both parents are Scottish? I understand the accent thing and that you've never been there, but I'm just interested in how people determine their nationality.

I’m from Sunderland, live in se. My husband from the midlands also says bath -as in bath not Barth.

Our children say Barth. I’m a teacher and went home to see Sunderland get beat again last weekend, had a real laugh (not larf) with my northern mates, and the kids at school have had my life this week. ‘Miss say whese keys are these keys......’ I’m proud of where I come from but now do say book not boo k...,,,

I have to listen to my recorded voice 3 times a week and I’m certain I don’t sound Scottish in any way shape or form.

You say that but my friend was born in England and grew up in Scotland. He is adamant he doesn't sound even slightly Scottish, he bloody well does.

TroubledLichen - I get the exact same thing! I've even had a cab driver argue with me that I couldn't be English because he knew what an English accent sounds like and I don't have one! For the record I have a very bland southern English accent and I am somewhat soft spoken. I recently found out that one of my neighbours was shocked to discover I'm British - she thought I was a German who spoke very good English. Not sure what to make of that!

My supervisor at work is South African and practically everyone in our office think we sound exactly alike when both my supervisor and I know we sound very different.

Yes, Ive come across this. You probably drift slightly from one accent to another while you talk. A friend is from Lancashire but has lived in Cheshire and Newcastle. She still sounds like she’s from Lancashire but cant hear it herself.

Regarding the Stoke accent, it tends to be people from ‘the potteries’ who sound Scouse-like (the northern part of Stoke and around the city centre) and edging towards south Cheshire. They deny it of course

People oten tell me they “love my Yorkshire accent” I’ve never lived in Yorkshire, I was born in London, lived in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire and now I live in Birmingham.
One guy reckoned he was great at accents, said he would tell me where I was born, where I grew up, I thought “this should be interesting “
His best guess was Lancashire, I’ve never lived in Lancashire.
I think I’m a bit of a Mongrel now with my accent, and I’m picking up some bostin Black Country dialect.

Rain good to know I’m not the only one! My accent was generic southern English too, before I moved stateside anyway and I’ve probably picked up more phrases than I’d care to admit but definitely don’t sound American in the slightest... maybe that confuses people and they jump to Australian?!

I am from Cumbria and have been asked more than once whether I am Welsh.

People don't know what a Cumbrian accent is.

I grew up in Derbyshire and used to have a proper ‘ay oop mi duck’ accent, but the effects of a university education and professional career mean they I now sound very neutral / bland and people struggle to place my accent. I now sound like I could be from anywhere, which is a shame.

It’s hard to believe you’ve not picked any of your accent up from your parents.
My DH is Australian & despite never living in Aus our Dd definitely says some things that give that away. I’ve even picked a bit of it up & ive got the strongest SE London accent you could ever hear.

Also north east, but sound RP, everyone is always amazed that I don’t sound like Ant and Dec when I open my mouth! However, I seem to pick up an accent very easily, so have been told I’m Welsh etc when I’d just moved from Wales. I go native when I go home.

Twice this month I’ve been told that I’m French, by French people to whom I was speaking in French (obviously!)

This thread makes me think of John Barrymore, authentically American and Scottish, depending on where he is!

Essex accent with me, parents proper Cockneys, spent the last 10 years in Cornwall. My accent does change depending who I speak too. My Dad says I have a West Country acccent now. If spend time with my family it ups it's Estuary Englishness.

Absolutely love regional accents and dialects and I mix and match the ones I use. My Cornish mates still laugh when I say "where's it too". You just pick up what those around you say.

Grew up in West London to Brummie parents. Now live in Bristol.

Parents say I sound Bristolian.

Bristolian boyfriend says I sound cockney (wrong side of the city even ) and go full Brummie when angry.

My oldest daughter spends her time with all of the above and now has the most absurd accent

I'm originally from Fife and moved to Glasgow 13yrs ago, when I talk to people when visiting parents in Fife all they hear is pure weegie 🤣🤣🤣

kab Where's it to? !!!!

God this confused me for YEARS!

Ishouldntbesolucky I’d consider myself 1st British and 2nd European but I’d never describe myself as English or Scottish because neither would be accurate. I’ve got ancestors on both sides from Southern England, Yorkshire, Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands so I’m a bit of a mongrel.