Regional British Accents

[very-near]

In the US, I had a very weird time of it because for the first time in my life, my bog-standard west-of-Scotland accent wasn't perceived as "rough", uncouth or uneducated; just the opposite, in fact - people were always coming over in cafes and stuff to say what a nice accent it was! Probably that was because they perceived it as Irish-sounding. In Iowa once (near the U.I. campus) when I'd explained to a student/waitress that I was from Scotland, she said, "Oh, so are you here to learn English?"

 

[Kirstie]

... the most pleasing, romantic accent of them all, the Orkney accent. Lovely.

For the loveliest of lovely Orkney voices listen to the singer Kris Drever. Lilting gravelly loveliness.

 

[PaulB]

I like the Welsh language as it is spoken in Clwyd. I think the Welsh in nearby Gwynedd is a bit harsher and more gutteral and not as pleasing to the ear but around Wrecsam and the Berwyns it is very sing-songy and lovely.

 

[Ian H]

Somerset

And name a few more West country accents

West Dorset shades into East Devon which is different to mid-Devon. North Devon shades into North Cornish which to me sounds a bit Canadian. Dartmoor is different again. Plymouth has its own language, moi luverr, and then you get into Cornwall proper where I'm less sure of the linguistic territory.

Of course Somerset varies. No one would confuse a Bath accent with a Chard one, for instance.

 

[swee'pea99]

In the US, I had a very weird time of it because for the first time in my life, my bog-standard west-of-Scotland accent wasn't perceived as "rough", uncouth or uneducated; just the opposite, in fact - people were always coming over in cafes and stuff to say what a nice accent it was! Probably that was because they perceived it as Irish-sounding. In Iowa once (near the U.I. campus) when I'd explained to a student/waitress that I was from Scotland, she said, "Oh, so are you here to learn English?"

When Bill Bryson told an American waitress he was from Britain, she said he spoke real good English for a foreigner.

 

[meenaghman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave5N
Scottish, Not sure it's British (in fact it isn't) but Cork

We have a customer in Cork and I'd go along with this.

Seems Cork is on its way up in the world -> http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1103/lonelyplanet.html
That'll only make them even more bigheaded..
Although Tommy brings it down to earth a bit..

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRm9Q2KfzBA&feature=PlayList&p=882F50F39F35B5D7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=25