On the Benefits of Having a British Accent

**ChrisGeorge** · 03-21-2007

A cut glass English accent can fool unsuspecting Americans into detecting a "brilliance that isn't there", says Stephen Fry. So is a British accent - of any variety - the route to success in the United States?

See Best of British By Megan Lane from the BBC News Magazine

For myself, I am a complete dope but because I speak with a British accent, people think I am a college prof. . .

**shytalk** · 03-21-2007

I don't have a British accent, I speak pure Scouse.

**Ged** · 03-21-2007

I find myself speaking more eloquently when speaking to our European friends whilst on the phone in my line of business simply because they can't understand a word I say in my normal scouse.

Gnomie · 03-21-2007

sorry Ged cant understand you

I think we all put a phone voice on for work.

**bigpab** · 03-25-2007

My mrs still says that she cant understand a word I say when I'am talking to another scouser! But to anyone else she has no probs.

**Hitchmough** · 05-19-2009

Originally Posted by shytalk

I don't have a British accent, I speak pure Scouse.

I speak/spoke Scouse when I moved here but realised that no-one can understand me, so the 'old BBC' accent comes out for them. Every time I talk: to my mum from Garston, I have to revert to the accent or she doesn't understand me at all

**Ronijayne** · 05-19-2009

In New York (and in USA in general) the Americans ask me, or tell me

I am English but when I meet fellow Brits they think I am Welsh!!!

**Dade** · 04-07-2007

Not a British accent but the Belfast accent can confond alot of people although I can use my professional voice where all the slang is dropped but in full force "Norn Iron" it confuses the hell out of alot of people

**Cloggie** · 04-09-2007

What did Ged say...?????

The 'Norn Iron' accent takes some listening to but it's a great accent!! In a book I was reading recently..........'She spoke using more vowels than there are in the English language' Refering to a Belfast person. It does seem like that tho..hehehe.
Think I still have me Scouse accent, I was a taxi driver here in Holland for a while. When speaking Dutch it was obvious to the punters that I was English, it was obvious to some of them that I was Scouse!!! I have 2 lads who were born here they're 23 and 18 now and speak both languages without any accent but there's a bit of Scouse in them.........'u gorra cob on or wot??' How else do u say 'gorra cob on'????...............'Are u in a bad mood'...??? far too posh!!!

**Dade** · 04-09-2007

Originally Posted by Cloggie

What did Ged say...?????

The 'Norn Iron' accent takes some listening to but it's a great accent!! In a book I was reading recently..........'She spoke using more vowels than there are in the English language' Refering to a Belfast person. It does seem like that tho..hehehe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7FY6vMFIyE

watch that and think again

ok ok it is heavily "put on" to the extreme in that video but god... I come from Belfast and it really annoys me in that vid!

**Waterways** · 10-03-2007

Originally Posted by Cloggie

What did Ged say...?????

The 'Norn Iron' accent takes some listening to but it's a great accent!! In a book I was reading recently..........'She spoke using more vowels than there are in the English language' Refering to a Belfast person.

I personally can't stand the Northern Irish accent. I think it is the most grating sounding accent of any ever heard. No disrespect to any decent people over there, that is just my view.

**Waterways** · 10-03-2007

I Have a very watered down Liverpool accent and pronounce the words correctly. One lady on the phone said I had the best voice she had ever heard on a telephone - I was shocked.

Having a Liverpool accent in the south is a distinct disadvantage. If we were collectively black we would have legal case against some organisations. I met one girl who went for an interview and they said to her that she cannot have the job as many people would find her accent "offensive".

In the USA, I get regarded as a "very" intelligent person, as I write with an italic pen and they are astounded. I also know more about the world and history than them. They are in awe at times - to the point I unintentionally intimidate some of them. One company would always run some projects past me, as I thought and looked from a different angle than them.

In the south of England the only way to survive is out dress them. Have a clean crisp white shirt on every day. A dark blue immaculate suit and a Burberry raincoat. Immaculately polished black shoes. They then can't point at you. If you are scruffy you get nowhere. The doormen also call you Sir when dressed that way - just say little to nothing to them, as if they detect the accent the respect drops.

Always be in first in the morning and one of the last to leave. Don't drink alcohol with them at all, as Liverpudlians are drunks aren't they. If you have to, only at company meals, and learn about wine and knowingly order the wine if you can. It helps if you learn French too. Don't willingly socialise with them as they really don't want to know you. Some will make an attempt to be friendly with you, but mainly out of a sense of duty more than anything else.

Follow all that and you will survive. You may not be the first on the redundancy list then.

**Squirrel** · 10-05-2007

Originally Posted by Waterways

I Have a very watered down Liverpool accent and pronounce the words correctly. One lady on the phone said I had the best voice she had ever heard on a telephone - I was shocked.

Having a Liverpool accent in the south is a distinct disadvantage. If we were collectively black we would have legal case against some organisations. I met one girl who went for an interview and they said to her that she cannot have the job as many people would find her accent "offensive".

In the USA, I get regarded as a "very" intelligent person, as I write with an italic pen and they are astounded. I also know more about the world and history than them. They are in awe at times - to the point I unintentionally intimidate some of them. One company would always run some projects past me, as I thought and looked from a different angle than them.

In the south of England the only way to survive is out dress them. Have a clean crisp white shirt on every day. A dark blue immaculate suit and a Burberry raincoat. Immaculately polished black shoes. They then can't point at you. If you are scruffy you get nowhere. The doormen also call you Sir when dressed that way - just say little to nothing to them, as if they detect the accent the respect drops.

Always be in first in the morning and one of the last to leave. Don't drink alcohol with them at all, as Liverpudlians are drunks aren't they. If you have to, only at company meals, and learn about wine and knowingly order the wine if you can. It helps if you learn French too. Don't willingly socialise with them as they really don't want to know you. Some will make an attempt to be friendly with you, but mainly out of a sense of duty more than anything else.

Follow all that and you will survive. You may not be the first on the redundancy list then.

You're not the sort of man one meets every day, John. I enjoyed reading that. Every so often one will actually marry you, but, yes, only out of a sense of duty. That's women for you though.

**ChrisGeorge** · 10-05-2007

Originally Posted by Squirrel

You're not the sort of man one meets every day, John. I enjoyed reading that. Every so often one will actually marry you, but, yes, only out of a sense of duty. That's women for you though.

Hello Squirrel and Waterways

Waterways, I don't doubt that what you say is true, though it still pains me to hear that a Liverpool or northern accent may be viewed as a disadvantage in the job market place down south. Although I am sure that as you imply, you have to do whatever you have to do in these precarious times when one can so easily face the axe.

Chris

**Waterways** · 10-05-2007

Originally Posted by ChrisGeorge

Hello Squirrel and Waterways

Waterways, I don't doubt that what you say is true, though it still pains me to hear that a Liverpool or northern accent may be viewed as a disadvantage in the job market place down south. Although I am sure that as you imply, you have to do whatever you have to do in these precarious times when one can so easily face the axe.

Chris, I know some Liverpudlians who were highly qualified and couldn't get jobs, discrimination was so rife. They started a company themselves and quickly employed southerners on the phones and as the front men mainly because of their accents. They did very well. So, like the Jews and Asians before them, Liverpudlians benefited from discrimination.