Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Can You Be Bi-Accented?
Do you think it is possible to be able to switch accents, naturally? I think it is very possible. I didn't realize there was an actual term for switching accents, without thinking, until I bumped into this post. I do believe that I am bi-accented due to being exposed to different accents at a young age. I actually feel incredibly stupid for not being able to just feel comfortable with one specific accent, and often wonder if someone else may be able to relate.
First off, I need to clarify that I don't really have a genuine native accent for any language I speak, because I have a multiracial, multilingual, and third culture kid background. I never speak English at home, and have never lived in a primarily English-speaking country, before. However, I have always received excellent grades in English for native speakers at school, and I do consider English my most dominant tongue.
How I became bi-accented could be traced back to when I first started learning English at around the age of two and a half. Until the age of eight, I attended British school systems, and therefore spoke British English. When I switched to an American school system, I remember others teasing me for pronouncing words "the wrong way". As a response, I think, I started speaking with an American accent. However, some classmates pointed out how they still noticed that I would switch accents. Around high-school, I think I perfected my American accent in order to blend in with my peers, but realized I never really lost my British, when I flew with British Airways and replied to the stewardesses in a very posh "Yes, I would like to have sone water". At that instance I was surprised by how natAtal it still felt speaking British after all these years it had been masked by an American accent. Once, during a class trip, a group of friends and I dared each other to see who could pretend to speak in a British accent for the longest period of time.They were all a little surprised by how authentic my British sounded, and how long I remained in character. For the last two and a half years of high-school, I actually ended up attending an Australian school system. I couldn't help, but pick up a few typical Aussie terms, and sometimes I manage to do an affectionate Bogan impression.
In conclusion, I think I switch accents depending on the person I am speaking with, subconsciously. I guess my English is a jumble of American and British, with a dash of Australian English. I'm sometimes told I sound British, American, or even Australian. Depending on who I speak to, a certain accent will become more dominant. I often try to stick to my American accent, because I'm afraid of being teased again for speaking British. I also do find it very difficult to stop myself from switching back to British to someone who speaks British, when they have heard me speaking American. I am often afraid that they might think I am mocking or faking their accent. Around Fall, I will move to Scotland, and am curious to find out what will happen to my spoken English. Would I feel inclined to maintain my mostly American accent? Will I return to speaking British? Will I end up adopting some Glaswegian? I have no idea...
First off, I need to clarify that I don't really have a genuine native accent for any language I speak, because I have a multiracial, multilingual, and third culture kid background. I never speak English at home, and have never lived in a primarily English-speaking country, before. However, I have always received excellent grades in English for native speakers at school, and I do consider English my most dominant tongue.
How I became bi-accented could be traced back to when I first started learning English at around the age of two and a half. Until the age of eight, I attended British school systems, and therefore spoke British English. When I switched to an American school system, I remember others teasing me for pronouncing words "the wrong way". As a response, I think, I started speaking with an American accent. However, some classmates pointed out how they still noticed that I would switch accents. Around high-school, I think I perfected my American accent in order to blend in with my peers, but realized I never really lost my British, when I flew with British Airways and replied to the stewardesses in a very posh "Yes, I would like to have sone water". At that instance I was surprised by how natAtal it still felt speaking British after all these years it had been masked by an American accent. Once, during a class trip, a group of friends and I dared each other to see who could pretend to speak in a British accent for the longest period of time.They were all a little surprised by how authentic my British sounded, and how long I remained in character. For the last two and a half years of high-school, I actually ended up attending an Australian school system. I couldn't help, but pick up a few typical Aussie terms, and sometimes I manage to do an affectionate Bogan impression.
In conclusion, I think I switch accents depending on the person I am speaking with, subconsciously. I guess my English is a jumble of American and British, with a dash of Australian English. I'm sometimes told I sound British, American, or even Australian. Depending on who I speak to, a certain accent will become more dominant. I often try to stick to my American accent, because I'm afraid of being teased again for speaking British. I also do find it very difficult to stop myself from switching back to British to someone who speaks British, when they have heard me speaking American. I am often afraid that they might think I am mocking or faking their accent. Around Fall, I will move to Scotland, and am curious to find out what will happen to my spoken English. Would I feel inclined to maintain my mostly American accent? Will I return to speaking British? Will I end up adopting some Glaswegian? I have no idea...
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