English Language

[Rifleman]

Sorry fellas,... I just had to do it..........

.........all in fun........

[Hagar]

I was thinking more Sean Connery and Roger Moore...

I believe Sean Connery is Scottish. Roger Moore has a typical "upper-class" English public school accent. The best examples of English-speaking actors I can think of are Anthony Hopkins & the late Richard Burton - strangely enough both Welshmen.

[Rifleman]

Like the sound of Tom Jones when he's not singing...?

[Hagar]

Like the sound of Tom Jones when he's not singing...?

Yes, although Tom's accent has become more "refined" over the years. He hails from Pontypridd, South Wales so his accent might be quite different from other parts of Wales. Dan will know more than me about regional variations in his part of the world. I always found the Welsh lilt charming, like many regional accents. There were a lot of Welsh families in the village where I was brought up & still are. They often speak English far better than the locals. This also applies to the Scots & Irish.

There's no such thing as a typical British accent & long may it continue. Vive la difference I say.

[Felix/FFDS]

Geordies are an infestation appearing insidiously all over the world.

I casually asked one of my cohorts at work the most innocent question: "What is a geordie?" Not only am I now aware of what a Geordie is, but he proceeded to assault my ears with an incoherent babble that defies comprehension!

(Yes, I've forwarded the translator link).

[Hagar]

Geordies are an infestation appearing insidiously all over the world.

LOL You must be talking about our Gazza.
http://www.longballgame.com/gascoigne.htm
The quotes have been translated into "proper" English or they would be impossible to understand.

[ATI_7500]

"Me failing English? That's unpossible!"

[eno]

Geordie is nothing compared to drunken Glaswegian...  typically used by Billy Connerly  in his routines.

Some examples ... not Billy's but typical.

GLASWEGIAN

Now add 10 pints of Special Brew to the mixture and you'll get what I mean.

[ozzy72]

Oddly enough I have no problem with Glaswegian, but Geordie does my head in
But for fun you can't beat a drunk Jamaican. One of my best friends in London comes from Kingston, and when he has had a few I can't understand a word

[Bazza]

Fortunately we Kiwis have no detectable accent and are frequently mistaken for English Parliamentarians - unlike Australians.

[Hagar]

Hi Bazza. Unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of meeting many Kiwis. Not to the best of my knowledge anyway. The strange thing is that everyone has accent of some sort but not to their own ears. It's all the others that talk funny.

[Saitek]

I take it you mean your're from New Zealand. I have a friend who is 100% NZ and he definately has an absolutely unmistaken accent. He isn't the first I've met either - I also have Australian friends and I would agree there is a big difference. But I can tell Bazza someone that comes from NZ immediatley.
I'm from Oxford - the centre of learning - where the cream of he English language is spoken.  :P
It's funny - many people overseas think becuase I'm from there that I speak some really superior English - i's quite amusing.

[Fozzer]

The strange thing is that everyone has accent of some sort but not to their own ears. It's all the others that talk funny.

Listening to your own recorded voice is often an embarrassing nightmare..... ....!
In my head I always hear my old London Cockney accent...but recording it and playing it back I hear a countryfied version of my local Herefordshire accent mixed in... .... ...!
Oooohhhh.... ::)....!
Imagine what that must sound like... ...!
LOL...!

Cheers all... ...!

Paul.

[Saitek]

Sure Paul - does it sound like a motorbike having difficulty starting/running?  ;)

[Fozzer]

[quote]
I'm from Oxford - the centre of learning - where the cream of he English language is spoken.