Scottish parents but 'Blimey, Guv'nor' accent ?

[daquiri]

I've known my partner a long time and knew both his parents when they were alive. One thing surprised me - his parents are both Scottish but he's always had an extremely 'Blimey Guv'nor' accent - as a teenager and now as an adult. Is this unusual? I thought his parents' Scottish accent would've modified his accent somewhat

I don’t think it’s unusual. I’m in the north east and have friends who’s parents are both Scottish, and another friend who’s parents are from the East End in London, proper cockneys.

All of them had more of their parents twangs when they were younger then lost it when they started school. All 4 of them have spoke with a proper north east accent since about age 6, only difference being they still say Mum instead of Mam!

You get your accent from your peers, not your parents. We moved when I was little and I sound very different to my older (8 years) sibling, let alone my parents.

When kids are moved from A to B they pick up local accents to fit in. There are probably lots of different experiences though.

Where did he grow up? Children normally have the accent of their friends, and even if it’s not accidental some do it purposely to fit in. DH moved from Wales to England at age 18 and only a couple of words you can hear his welsh accent (‘ear’ being the main one).

Accents are influenced by what they hear everyday, not just home.

Peoples accents can change depending on what other people they are around as well.

You get your accent from the area you grow up. One of my parents is American. I do not sound American.

I think it can vary dramatically depending on the person. DH is from another English speaking country and a friend of his has a Scottish accent having never ever lived in Scotland - she picked it up from her parents. My parents are Scottish, I was born in Scotland and lived there until I was 4 - I had a Scottish accent - I remember people commenting on it - but then spent many years at school in South London. I've got no hint of a Scottish accent now - apart from a very slight stronger 'rrr' which can give a bit of a West Country vibe 😂

This! My DF is Welsh and moved to England at 18. He's lost most of his Welshness but the word 'here' stands out a mile. 🤣

I’m Scottish, dh is a ‘cor blimey’ speaker 😁 DD1 was born in England, but has lived in Scotland most of her life. She’s 7 and she sounds like her dad despite my Scottish accent and her living and going to school in Scotland. I’m hoping she grows out of it one day 🫣😁

I think that some people cultivate/acquire the Gorblimey Guvnor accent just because they like it and they're from nowhere near London.

I remember my Irish friends living in London, were eventually going to move back to ireland with their young children, thinking that they'd have Irish accents and wouldn't stand out with English accents. I kindly told them that it doesn't tend to work that way, my friends and I being perfect examples of that.

I'm from Lancashire. A proper "ey-up are ye goin' t'shop?" Type.

My kids are all Scottish. Proper jocks.

My first daughter spent 0-3years with just me, Scottish DH (who worked full time) and my Lancashire mum and stepdad and she still managed to get a full on Scottish accent. She'd come to the family business all day with me and only Lancashire accents around, 9am - 5pm. Weird.

London

This was my cousin. He moved down south when he was 13 .
2 months in he spoke like del boy having had a west of Scotland accent.
Presume it was to fit in

My parents have two very distinctive UK accents and I grew up in an area with a bit of a farmer twang. I have a very bland southern accent that people can’t pinpoint beyond South England. 🤷‍♀️

Come to a supermarket in London.

You hear adults speaking English with their accents e.g. South African but their children over 3 speaking with a broad London accent.

Btw this is not one of the London accents spoken by people over about 40 but one nearly all young people seem to have.

Why is this odd? Rephrase: DH who grew up in London has a London accent.

My inlaws are both Scottish and have strong accents, unsurprisingly as he never really lived in Scotland DH doesn’t have a Scottish accent.

Similarly I wasn’t born or brought up in my parents country of origin and I don’t have their country’s accent.

Does he code switch? When he's with his parents, does his accent switch to be more like theirs?

I think this is very normal for people who grew up a different place to their parents. Your accebt comes from friends and environment rather than parents. Maybe when you're really little and only hear them you have more of their accent. But not in adulthood in my experience.

This isn't unusual is it? You get your accent from your peers

My kids grew up from a very young age in an area that has a strong distinctive accent. They have never picked up the accent but have the same as my much less distinctive accent so it can work either way, it seems

Not unusual at all. My parents were Scots but I have a southern accent (borderline London). I use quite a few phrases that are of Scottish origin that I picked up from my mum and dad but I certainly don’t have a Scottish accent.

I'm a Jockney. Been in London 20+ years and always picked up accents extremely quickly.

No, I am not Rod Stewart.

I grew up on a different area to where where I live with my son now, he sounds like everyone else here...but he can do a fantastic spot on impression of my accent it's uncanny.