Earlier I was listening to "Why Can't The English"

[missionseeker]

When did the Americans lose their British accents?

[shortnun]

I don't have much of a specific "date" for you, but I'd say that after a few generations, the accent eventually started evolving. The majority of early American settlers were in fact from England, but then other Europeans (and their respective accents) began arriving. Thus, things began to mix together.

Think about how Australians and New Zealanders don't have "British" accents. [Okay so this example isn't exactly perfect, but I hope it helps kinda make my point.]

Bottom line is, accents change and evolve constantly. And, while I'm not a huge fan of English accents (Scottish and Irish on the other hand.... ), I think it'd be cool if we had biscuits instead of cookies, and Mummys who took us for walks in our prams.

Edited January 28, 2006 by shortnun

[missionseeker]

I call my mother Mum.

Is sounds much more ... warm and mother-y than mom.

[JamesTheYounger]

your mummy would be taking you for a walk in your stroller not your pram

[missionseeker]

my mummy never took me for walks at all.


Until I could walk.

[JamesTheYounger]

if you spoke as she does, sir, instead of the way you do, why you might be selling flowers too.

[JamesTheYounger]

i cant get it out of my head now at least its better than a lot of other songs though

[missionseeker]

That's it.

"Move your bloomin' arse!"

[missionseeker]

sorry.

[JamesTheYounger]

learn proper english your regarded as a freak, why can the english learn to...set a good example to people whose english is painful to your ears the Scotch and the Irish leave you close to tears there even are places where English completely disappears.
I played Freddy Eynsford Hill a few years ago.

[JamesTheYounger]

do you like "the street where you live'?

[missionseeker]

yes, I like 'em all.
except one or two but I can't remeber them


[quote name='JamesTheYounger' date='Jan 27 2006, 11:30 PM']learn proper english your regarded as a freak, why can the english learn to...set a good example to people whose english is painful to your ears the Scotch and the Irish leave you close to tears there even are places where English completely disappears.
I played Freddy Eynsford Hill a few years ago.
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That's pretty cool.

[argent_paladin]

Actually, one can make the argument that Americans have better English accents than the English. In fact, some communities in Appalachia have accents nearly identical to the Elizabethans. Both accents have evolved their separate ways.

[RandomProddy]

[quote name='argent_paladin' date='Jan 28 2006, 07:32 AM']Actually, one can make the argument that Americans have better English accents than the English. In fact, some communities in Appalachia have accents nearly identical to the Elizabethans.  Both accents have evolved their separate ways.
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Exactly. Accents evolve fast, especially in the British Isles.

[misereremi]

[quote name='RandomProddy' date='Jan 31 2006, 08:10 AM']Exactly. Accents evolve fast, especially in the British Isles.
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I've lived in England for 11 years now, my Cali twang has faded very slowly despite my best efforts at attempting the Cockney accent and peoples' pleas to "lose your ignorant accent" (!!!) ...people now think I'm Irish or "taking the mickey" of the Brits. Peace 2 all

[Church Punk]

I think its weird how you can go state to state and everyone speaks with a different accent. Go from Ohio to Kentucky man what a differance.

But in Canada, you can go from ontario to BC with out hearing a change in accent. Quebec and the maritimes have their own, but for the most of Canada it is the same.

There's no doubt about it, Canada is really big....

And on contruary to what you may think its pronouced about.... not a-boot eh.

[Tindomiel]

According to one book on the history of American English I read, the English didn't have "English" accents when the colonies were formed. The languages just developed seperately out of a dialect that sounded closer to Irish than anything.

[Krostandt]

And actually the Deep Old South accent spoken by the upperclass retains much of the British words.
Again, technically you could ask what happened to the English accents as in many aspects the American version of English retains older aspects. (except for spelling!)

[Tindomiel]

Actually, the English changed a lot of the spelling too. For example, they practically banished the letter "z"

[Krostandt]

You mean "Zed"