Friend and her accent

[ByKindLilacFinch]

Not an AIBU, just interested if anyone else has experienced this.

my friend has never had any kind of accent (well spoken, sounds like a news reader). Over the last few months has started pronouncing words differently. She sounds a bit like she’s from Russia but has been in the UK a very long time and the accent is subtle but it’s there.

I’ve asked her why she is speaking with an accent and she just looks at me blankly. I know I’m not imagining it as we both met someone new last week and they asked where she was from as she didn’t sound British.

I’m curious as to whether anyone can shed any light, just really curious.

Oh there is definitely a distinction.

Why do people assume it's attention seeking?

What does she say she works as? And her husband?

From a strictly neutral point of view (for example, if you were to phone MI5 to say "My friend has recently started talking with an accent and I think she is a Russian spy", and they would say "Oh really, Madam?" and roll their eyes), it is possible that she has always had this accent and you just didn't notice it before. Or that in fact she is 100% British and you are imagining the accent. Stranger things have happened, and all we have to go on for now is your account — which of course reflects your experience of what's going on.

This doesn't mean I think you're lying, or that you are wrong, but we are all fallible and this is the kind of story where it would be very helpful to have external input. For example, perhaps you can get her into a social situation where other people could hear her speak and give you their opinion afterwards. Or even better, see if you can find a way to give her the Stroop test in Russian.

Suggest you both record her speaking and play back?

EDITED: sorry - see that's already been covered

I think that's that unusual - ie accent slightly flexes according to the environment you're in

Maybe we should consider the theory that there's something amiss with OP's hearing. Something recent perhaps, a sudden onset of False Foreign Accent Hearing Syndrome. And a visit to the GP is in order before OP starts hearing Russian accents elsewhere 😉

Alternatively, friend is doing it to wind up OP; has a Russian lover; or her Slavic background is re-emerging.

I had a stalker, my picture goes nowhere online. As you say, I get out of having my picture taken then theres no worry about it ending up online.

Was it George Michael that changed his accent ? From London to west country or Welsh or similar. I dont remember the details now but could have been a stroke or Tia.

I also pick up an accent in a day, I was truly Canadian two days into my 10 days there. I have a mishmash accent now with some words RP and some German and a few Canadian and American and Spanish etc

A lot of people laughing at people changing accents. I moved to the UK as an adult. Wasn't going to be holding on to my prior accent when speaking to UK friends and colleagues. I can code switch just fine when I need to.
So unless she's had a stroke or a neurological issue, it's no one's business.

The examples are absolutely normal. Very judgemental comments here...

This is what I was thinking.

Sorry I haven’t read the full thread but wanted to say this happened to me at some point I my twenties. Suddenly started speaking with a an odd northern accent, (I’m from the south). People I just met would ask me where I’m from and not believe me when I said. It was very strange, I could hear my accent had changed but could literally not stop it. I couldn’t think of anything that triggered it but at some point basically overnight it went back and has thankfully never happened again. It was very embarrassing!

Just leave her be she is maybe on the hunt for a Russian oligarch. I know someone who’s dad is from the West Indies but born in Britain, he used to speak the ‘queens English’ growing up but then he became Rastafarian and now talks with a twang LOL

Does she have an amazing wardrobe and work abroad often?

Is her name Villanelle?

Where do you live?
Is it possible her accent is blending with the local accent and sounding a bit strange?
Because accents can change throughout life, DH is from the north east but hasn't lived there since he was 21 and his accent is definitely "faded" compared to his family who still live up there.

She could also be a Russian spy....

Maybe she's a Russian spy and this is the real accent

Im no actual help, but I’m autistic and moved from Hampshire to Yorkshire when I was 9. I went to school with a southern accent and came home speaking broad Yorkshire 😂 no one knew at the time that I was autistic but it makes total sense. I never went back either. Just carried on as if was normal 😅 I still say the odd word that sounds southern and I definitely have a ‘telephone voice’. But no one would be able to tell I ever lived anywhere but Yorkshire. Having said that, as like much of the UK, even parts of Yorkshire have different accents. I can tell if someone is from Bradford or Barnsley. Accents are odd. Not that I’m suggesting she’s Neurodivergent but it just is another possibility amongst others.

Blimey she’s possessed . Say three Hail Marys and throw some holy water at her!

I worked with midlanders but fortunately didn't absorb the local dialog even after 10 years, but moved north and did absorb lots of the accent.

Some people are born with a more linguistic ear and ability to mimic than others. I have a friend who is a French teacher who sometimes sounds a bit different from time to time. If she’s been to see her friend in Ireland, she comes back sounding a bit Irish! She does it without thinking & just laughs about it!

No advice but the same happened to me once. My best friend all of a sudden developed a scouse accent and we are Mancunians. It was the weirdest thing. He did it for a couple of months. I didn’t know what to do so just pretended I didn’t notice and he eventually reverted back to manc! He was going through a really rough time at the time so I’m not sure if stress or depression brought it on.

My friend moved from England to Scotland late 20s, he now has a full on Scottish accent. Does not fake it. He's not a fan himself and definitely doesn't put it on!

I am guessing that she has been hearing an accent somewhere - could even be watching a tv show if she is super sensitive to how others speak. I pick up accents quickly - not enough to be massive, but I am definitely influenced by how people around me are speaking. It is not conscious, it just happens. On the up side, when I am learning languages, my pronunciation is always praised!

Are you sure she hasn't any partner/family with that accent in the past? My accent sometimes flips a bit, had an Irish partner for 10 years and moved about a lot, so I have what I call 'souvenirs', Liverpool, Irish, South African all pop up. If I spend time with my sis the SA gets stronger for a while.

She might go to a doctor if you explain how what you are hearing fits with FAS. Good luck.

Same here, I think it comes from trying to be understood/fit in quickly as I moved countries from age of 14. It's funny isn't it, but I have a friend the same, he's lived in a few different countries and slips into them depending who he's talking to.