Rishonly wrote:

Wow! It is surprising, though, that an Asian is well acquainted with American accent but not with British accent. Quite interesting, Adomi.

Joy, I agree with your mentionning that "the thick regional accent is difficult to follow". Had that difference(in countries, regions, races and so on) not being, I don't think the accent would  have ever been an issue in any language.  I think you are Indian, aren't you? I guess people around you understand you when you speak Hindi or Tammil, or.... anyway your mother tongue. Did you try and cultivate  that accent? I know one might need to cultivate his accent even when speaking his mother tongue, but what I'd like to stress is, why don't we keep the accent we have by birth and try and pronounce the words as the ought to be pronounced in the language we are trying to learn? That's why I mentionned that, the emphasis should be put on the language first, and when we are in a foreign place or with people with different accents, try and get use to their accent, while keeping ours as simple(Natural) as possible. Do we necessarily have to speak with a different  accent when we speak another language? Allow me to get back a while on the British accent. The British friend I'm telling you about, has no problem following me, yet I'm using my normal(Natural) Cameroonian accent. I'm sure by 2 to 3 weeks I'll be able to follow him too. Usually what happens is, people that live for long time in a foreign country tend to acquire the national/local accent, which is understandable, because of the influence of their environment. 

I believe accent isn't something you learn, it's just what you grow up with. For instance, when I was a child I was taught to speak in an American "southern" accent, which I've come to find quite charming (although others would beg to differ...) but the point is I've learned to imitate several of the different British accents for a short while, but I could never keep them up in my everyday speech. Your accent is just what comes natural to you...

Perhaps I'm out on a limb on this subject, and have completely missed what we were discussing. Sorry if that's what happened...

Wow, you're a very mature just-15 year old, KYsheeplover! Yeah, sure, I'm definitely one to be talking at almost-17!

You're quite right - accents are not meant to be copied. I pride myself on being able to do a pretty creditable mimic of the BBC accent(as well as a few others), but that's all it is - a mimic.

Fortunately though, with the advent of globalisation, English accents all over the world are growing more and more similar, as people from various nations continue to interact. I'm sure that within a decade or two, people will be surfing through "ancient" threads like these, and saying, "Accent? What are you talking about?"

Cheers,

 - Joy

Tearsofjoy wrote:

I'm sure that within a decade or two, people will be surfing through "ancient" threads like these, and saying, "Accent? What are you talking about?" Cheers,  - Joy