Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

DefiantStomp t1_j66xn6w wrote

I pick up accents when I travel. I was born in Texas but lived in Minnesota and went back to Texas for the summer months and traveled through Oklahoma and Kansas. I had such a weird accent when I moved to Arizona where many people have Mexican Spanish as their first language. Then I'll watch movies and pick up on accents from characters. I have been convinced for a long time that I may not be right in the head. Or that the me I'm perceiving now may not be the same me tomorrow.

36

animagus_kitty t1_j675cv9 wrote

I once knew a fellow who, in his youth, moved from his native country of Ireland to New Orleans, where he joined the military and (separately) went to New York, and by the time he got out of New York, they'd made him take speech classes because no one could understand his Irish-New Orleans-New Yorker accent anymore.

He worked at a Gamestop in Indiana in the late 00's with no accent at all, but lots of great stories to tell.

13

BoomChaka67 t1_j68939x wrote

NO and NY accents share some similarities- notably some non-rhotic pronunciations.

5

mercedes_ t1_j67366h wrote

I’m pretty sure this is a tell for someone with high empathy, actually.

7

transnavigation t1_j67ytlw wrote

Yes, it's actually a sign of pro-social behavior (or the need to people-please, or put others at ease, especially strangers you have just met or people you want to impress.)

Which can backfire when you do it automatically and people think you're having a laugh.

I genuinely cannot help it, if I try to concentrate on not mimicking someone's accent, I can't focus on what they're saying and it jumbles up my words, too.

10

Original_Sail t1_j68gdg1 wrote

I have this issue. I had to fight it really hard when i worked tech support on the phone because customers don't want to think you're mocking them and are quick to assume it

5

claraalberta t1_j67qx33 wrote

This. I used to work in customer service, and I would copy the accent of whoever I'm speaking to. Heck, I copy the accent of anyone I'm speaking to in real time. It's driven me insane because I feel like I have no accent to call "my own".

5

BoomChaka67 t1_j688zd1 wrote

I do this as well. Spent 18 months in London and came home to the US with an accent that took at least a month to go away.

2

Astronius-Maximus t1_j67jhd7 wrote

Recently I've watched a lot of documentaries and videos with people speaking british english, and I now find myself speaking with an accent that is a mix of my usual voice and a british accent (I'm from Texas). Sometimes when I think out loud I just use a british voice. I have to prevent myself form embarrassing myself in front of family.

1

ARobertNotABob t1_j69tphk wrote

TBF, a fellow Brit imitating a Texican can be pretty embarrassing ... heavy on the "y'all", horses, hats and either "steers and queers" or "bushwackers".

1