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AIBU?

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Original poster

...to think that 'doing' an Indian accent is not racist?

101 replies

MrsMerryHenry · 04/02/2009 22:59

I was thinking about an old friend this evening, and how when we used to teach EFL together (if you've ever learned a foreign language, rest assured, your teachers are laughing at your mistakes behind your back! ) all the teachers used to 'do' loads of accents - we'd all taught all over the world and so everyone had a bunch of foreign accents up their sleeves. However when my friend then 'did' an Indian accent, apparently some of the (white) teachers had a go at her and said she (white) was being racist. They didn't object to the content of what she said, just the fact that she was mimicking an Indian accent. There was a bloke of Indian origin amongst the teachers but I don't know whether he was there at the time to make a comment.

Am I the only one who thinks this is bizarre, hypocritical and rather hypersensitive political correctness? (by the way, if anyone says it's "political correctness gone mad" I shall shoot them )

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SalBySea · 05/02/2009 15:19

oh please! I dont get offended when people do my accent (DH does mine and my mother's pretty well actually, I do his back, badly!)

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 15:44

Sal, what are your and your DH's accents?

Dragonbutter, I just don't understand why the laundry thread didn't take off. I might start another one about washing up, then sit back and watch the fists start flying!

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Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 15:48

Right, dragonbutter, I have actually started a washing-up thread. I'm hoping for a revolution.

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mayorquimby · 05/02/2009 15:49

as ricky gervias said "if you ever find yourself in a shop abroad just speak normal enlgish except LOUDER AND SLOWER with a bit of pointing. if they still don't understand you, just smash up the place.safe in the knowledge that you tried your best"

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 15:51

What a just and righteous approach to travel. You gotta love him, eh, Quimbs?

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margobambino · 05/02/2009 15:54

MrsMerryHenry, I think I cannot explain this and I don't know why but I just think it is ruder. If someone mimics my accent in my first language I would feel less offended. It is like you own the language. However, in your second language, you are like a guest in that language. You need to be more polite to a guest.

ruty · 05/02/2009 15:54

i thing genuine observation is not racist and funny. Stock accents/sterotypes not.

mayorquimby · 05/02/2009 15:55

oh yep. and as us irish say "do what you like when abroad.they'll blame the english for it anyway"

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:02

Margo, I don't think anyone's suggested that it's okay to actually mock someone to their faces! Noooo, we're much more devious than that: we do it behind their backs!

MQ, that is brilliant! I've never heard that before, but it's true!

Reminds me of the time an old colleague went to Spain and some idiot treated him really rudely. When he asked why he was being so objectionable, the Spaniard said 'It's because of Northern Ireland.' In other words he was blaming my colleague for the whole history of the Troubles.

Words fail me.

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sandy4 · 05/02/2009 16:12

I don't think it's racist.

I'm Jamaican/Irish & really crap at a Jamaican accent.

Question is - in doing so, is it the 'Irish' me trying the accent & therefore insulting the 'Jamaican' me?????? life is so confussing...

mayorquimby · 05/02/2009 16:14

sandy4 = despicable self loathing racist
putting on a jamaican accent is horribly disrespectful to half of your culture and the other half should be ashamed of yourself...itself...halfself....(puts on jamaican accent picked up from 80's sitcoms and yells) HEAR ME NOW.

sandy4 · 05/02/2009 16:16

Fact is DH (white) does a fantastic jamaican accent - v

loobeylou · 05/02/2009 16:18

Gosh, I never dare speak to anyone again incase they think I am taking the piss out of their accent. Having lived in London, Durham, Northern Ireland, lancashire, Birmingham, Sheffield and Kent (among others!) I often get people asking where i am from, either because they can't make out my accent, or because they recognise a certain lilt in certain words. I love the diversity of accents, wherever they are from and unless mickey taking is invloved I don't see trying to imitate them is at all racist.

DH on the other hand is queens english through and through, except when he tries to read DS "Ivor the engine" in a welsh accent which sounds like a dire indian accent, but is not racist

PS - am a yorkshire lass by birth and proud of it. Not a flat cap nor a whippet in sight mind you!

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:20

Sandy. You have brought shame upon both your nations.

I have heard Nigerian Brits like me doing crap Naija (Nigerian) accents...I now realise now that this accent thing... it's a gift! It's like...Gahd has blessed me with this gift so that I can change the world and make it a better place!

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mayorquimby · 05/02/2009 16:22

now the qestion is.. why did you feel the need to mention your dh is white when discussing he does a brilliant jamaican accent?is it because you racistly think a jamaican person can't be white?or because you racistly think white people can't do accents? remember,regardless of your answer you did one of them racistly

also does anyone remember dave chappelles sketch of the black kkk member?it was hilarious but a bit close to the bone but just a great peace of satire on racism

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:24

Mayorquimby, I think we can safely assume that Sandy4 is racist, specifically against Jamaicans and the Irish. Why else would she fail at both accents?

Dave Chappelle - not seen it, better get mah black ass over to youtube!

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mayorquimby · 05/02/2009 16:28

it's impossible to be racist against the irish, over here we just call it jealousy.

or like a football pundit (eamon dunphy) over here said when he was criticising a footballer and said something along the lines of "but then again all scottish players are like that"
and when asked was he not being a bit racist he brilliantly replied
"that's not racism bill, it's ethnic criticism"

sandy4 · 05/02/2009 16:29

snort

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:35

Just watched Dave Chappelle sketch (also one of my fave aykseynts!) - I had seen it, years ago! Thanks for reminding me of it - it's brilliant!

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Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:35

Just watched Dave Chappelle sketch (also one of my fave aykseynts!) - I had seen it, years ago! Thanks for reminding me of it - it's brilliant!

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dragonbutter · 05/02/2009 16:35

link please

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:36

[http://cliptank.com/funny-clips/dave-chappelle-black-k-k-k-member.html Dave Chappelle kkk]

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Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:37

Hmm. I'll try again!

Dave Chappelle kkk

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mayorquimby · 05/02/2009 16:37

yes i love his accent,that sketch and his sketch with the white family called "the niggers" were his two best.also the baltimore accent on all the drug dealers in the wire is class.
and the new zealand accent but only on bret,jermaine and murray in flight of the conchordes as they make it so funny.

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 05/02/2009 16:51

Just watched The Niggar Family - hilarious!

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