why sometimes do I hear English like this?

[alrot]

for those who doesn't know me ,English isn't my native language (well exept for my terrible writtings mistakes too

[NG-GhoSt]

Im american.... and I didn't understand any of that but a few yeah sures.

Lmao!

[wifesaysno]

Im american.... and I didn't understand any of that but a few yeah sures.

Lmao!

Then there is all the different American english dialects. For Michigan, we got da yoopers!

[ozzy72]

I spent three years in the States as a kid and 6 months in Canada and sometimes even I struggle to understand Americans on telly.
Mind you I've seen poor Americans in Scotland trying to ask a Glaswegian for directions. That is painful.... Poor tourists! Of course I'm half-Glaswegian and sometimes even I struggle with the accent

[jetprop]

I spent three years in the States as a kid and 6 months in Canada and sometimes even I struggle to understand Americans on telly.
Mind you I've seen poor Americans in Scotland trying to ask a Glaswegian for directions. That is painful.... Poor tourists! Of course I'm half-Glaswegian and sometimes even I struggle with the accent

IF you come to Ireland DON'T ask directions from an old irishman,they talk withouth opening their mouth and some can't speak english so they speak Irish,IMPOSSIBLE to understand,even for me!

[expat]

Now normally, I am not phased by accents, and I have a good sense of humour, but I am clueless here. I have just spent the last three weeks in the States and most of it in Hill Bill country and out of a few "yers", I cannot understand a thing. Where does this video come from. It's a joke or.........??

Matt

[Fozzer]

I can go through whole episodes of CSI on the Tele, and not understand a single word they are saying!.... ...!

But for the ultimate in whining annoyance....Emily Proctor [from North Carolina] (Calleigh Duquesne...where do they get these names from!)..takes the biscuit... ...!

Northern Americans I can understand...its the Southerners, (and Females in particular), that get me confused!

Maybe, my hard-of hearing doesn't help!... :-?...!

The funny thing is....in old American films from the past, they were very easy to understand....nowadays, they don't speak clearly and precisely, they "gabble", far too quickly!... ...!

Laziness, I suppose?

Its not American English that is the problem...its the way its delivered.... ...

Paul...with a Cockney accent!... ...!

Accents fascinate me... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]...!

[Hagar]

Now normally, I am not phased by accents, and I have a good sense of humour, but I am clueless here. I have just spent the last three weeks in the States and most of it in Hill Bill country and out of a few "yers", I cannot understand a thing. Where does this video come from. It's a joke or.........??

Matt

Not sure what that was all about either. I think it's a spoof.

I have no problems understanding most accents/dialects but over the last few years I find the dialogue in most films almost impossible to follow. There are two main reasons for this. Modern production techniques & acting methods.

The music & sound effects in modern films are usually a lot louder than the dialogue. This wouldn't have mattered so much in the old days as the old movie actors spoke clearly, usually facing the camera so you could lip read anything you couldn't hear properly. So many modern actors mumble their lines or speak softly, almost under their breath. Turning the volume up doesn't improve matters as the dialogue is still drowned out & makes it very uncomfortable to watch. For this reason I rarely watch films these days.

[ozzy72]

Jetprop, my mum is Irish, I don't have a problem there (except for Belfast)

[jetprop]

Jetprop, my mum is Irish, I don't have a problem there (except for Belfast)

I mean old irish MEN.(sorry,bit busy today)
Trust me,even other irish can't understand some older men.

[Bud Greene]

Trust me Alrot, I have to use the closed captions in order to understand much of what is said on TV, and I am ALWAYS asking people to repeat themselves and to enunciate. [smiley=huh.gif]

[Apex]

I also use the captions on TV, just makes for faster grasping.  Not sure I'd give this video any credit for understandability, tho.

[alrot]

Trust me Alrot, I have to use the closed captions in order to understand much of what is said on TV, and I am ALWAYS asking people to repeat themselves and to enunciate. [smiley=huh.gif]

I'm going to to give couple examples ,in the case of TV comedies two and a half men where the cast are supposed to be from LA ,I understand perfectly well ,but is not the same case of another TV comedy Two broke girls (the chicks are hot) where the cast saids from NYC I don't understand anything ,they speak to tie ,too fast..
I wonder is this has to do with New York accent and Californian accent? and yes for the last one I also have to activate Closed caption too

Alex

[wifesaysno]

Trust me Alrot, I have to use the closed captions in order to understand much of what is said on TV, and I am ALWAYS asking people to repeat themselves and to enunciate. [smiley=huh.gif]

I'm going to to give couple examples ,in the case of TV comedies two and a half men where the cast are supposed to be from LA ,I understand perfectly well ,but is not the same case of another TV comedy Two broke girls (the chicks are hot) where the cast saids from NYC I don't understand anything ,they speak to tie ,too fast..
I wonder is this has to do with New York accent and Californian accent? and yes for the last one I also have to activate Closed caption too

Alex

Alrot, if you think they talk fast I have a show that will blow your mind..first, I did not watch it of my own free will, my sister and wife had a marathon of it when we had to babysit her: Gilmore Girls. Good grief those girls talk fast! Its an American show and Im American yet I cannot even pick out individual words at least half the time! AND IM YOUNG!! So hearing should not be a problem....unless all the shooting, aircraft engines, and shops have gotten to me already...

[machineman9]

The video is not using actual words, it's just using false sentences to explain how we hear things. It's about how the accent washes over us. Of course, it won't make any more sense to those with the same accent, because it's aimed at Brits.

It's trying to give you the impression of the accent, not for you to use to practise your own accent in a different voice