Do the British think that the southern American dialect is awful?

Question

I have a southern accent and for the most part love it, but sometimes it can be a pain. Some people (the ones who stereotype) view a person that has a southern accent as ignorant before the person even has a chance to say anything but "hi there".....so, what do the British (English more specific) feel about this? I may be living in England for a year to study and was just curious about it. Thanks for the answers!

Answer 1

I'm scottish.now living in Florida..my wife is from N.C...and we have been on road trips from here to there..& I just love the SOUTHERN accent..I can almost pick out y'alls dialects now, but not too good..and I DO know that to call a southerner a "Yank" is like calling a scot, english....am I right..so Y'all git yerself over there an git y'all an ejucashun an don worry bout nuthin...pass the boiled peanuts...

Answer 2

well, i dont mean to be rude, but i think since so many of the answers given have been pleasant & encouraging... i shall clarify that you are just as likely to find the stereo-typing etc of your accent over here in the UK as much as you are at home or anywhere else.



Some people will love your southern drawl, others will find it awful. If you are going to be in England for a year that will give you long enough to realise we too have areas of the country where the accents that have stereo-typical connotations attached to them, so at least you can laugh at someone elses accent should you feel the need to.



Yes, you can expect to be called a yank, to British people it just means an american & does not refer to just your northern counterparts.



Not relevant to your question as such but if you will be coming to England you may wish to amuse yourself with these guides to Brit-speak, the first being specifically for Americans...



http://english2american.com/



www.effingpot.com



Best of British :)

Answer 3

I'm English and I love the southern American accent on a girl

Answer 4

I'm British and recently met a friend in South America. She has a lovely accent, though it was a little difficult to grasp straight away. I found it easier when she slowed down a little (do you guys all speak so fast??). Mostly, we find all American accents cute, though some people tend to drawl, which I, personally, do not find as appealing, but each to their own. That does not mean I judge a person because of it, though, just judge each individual on their own merits like most Brits.



My uni has quite a few Americans, including many lecturers as well as students, so you will do just fine.



Indeed, I love my partner's lovely American accent! ;-)



Good luck with your studies here.

Answer 5

When my relatives come here from england and ireland, they just love the southern accent. I live in the midwest and they think I have a southern accent! They think its great! If you do get the chance to live there for a while you'll be a hit!! They love it!! And they certainly do not have the same perception that many folks do here. They think it sounds so soft and sweet, not ignorant!!

Good Luck!!

Answer 6

Supposedly, people who study dialects and accents have determined that there are areas of the American South where people have kept something much closer to the accent of the original English settlers than in other parts of the U.S. I'm serious about this. But I think that's like in Appalachia or bluegrass country somewhere, like rural Kentucky or wherever. (I'm from Texas and my U.S. friends think I have no accent, but a friend from Ireland thinks I do have one. I guess he did not think it was awful or anything. I think I read this info about the accents somewhere on, like, some Smithsonian Folkways Records liner notes or something...)

Answer 7

Come come...there are many Brits who scream at that surreal accent called 'Estuary English'! But on the subject of the accent south of the Mason-Dixon line, it looks like that particular one will always be twinned with the KKK.

Cdrotherham (now then, owd luv...how's tha doin?) has the idea that rednecks of the same part of the world have the attitude that's none too impressive. History, huh...

...what a bastard!

Answer 8

Im english and i love the southern accent =)

Answer 9

I have a southern accent and I dated a guy from London who loved it. Have a great trip : )

Answer 10

There are so many different regional accents here that I really don't mind hearing other variations. I'm sure you would have no major problems here in England, but you're sure to meet at least one ignoramus - every country has them.

Answer 11

Southern US accents are nicer than some British accents. Redneck attitudes are not very widely admired though.

Answer 12

Don't worry be happy!! The thing with the English is that any accent, be it Scottish, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, west country, Norfolk, Birmingham etc makes you sound stupid; just prove to them that you are not

Answer 13

I can't answer for anyone else over here, but I like the southern dialects personally.

Answer 14

Yankee's. Am I right.

We in good old blighty feel fine with peoples accents.

Generalisations are awkward as I can not speak for 60 million others. But we try to listen to the content and not the tone.

Answer 15

I'm from England and think your southern accent is really sexy and cool, come on over and see us.

Answer 16

Well, I don't hate it. I love the famous Southern drawl.



One of my oldest online friends comes from Texas, and I love the sound of her voice. She's one of the most educated folk I know.

Answer 17

I am a Brit and my girlfriend is from Southern Texas and I LOVE the way she talks...so soft and lovely.



Dont worry, most people really wont have any preconceptions, except thinking you are incredibly glamorous for coming from the States...

Answer 18

most people i know like hearing American accents and i don't think anyone here will have a problem with it

Answer 19

all dialects are interesting but some do great a bit ,also i think when you have been abroad a long time you feel homesick for the sound of your own language

Answer 20

wait till you meet someone from ballymena northern ireland, im from belfast northern ireland and i cant understand a word they say. its the same throughout the uk from scotland to cornwall. dont worry you wont feel out of place just learn sign language and you will be ok,

Answer 21

oh come on its not as bad as the french... oh and have you hurd the germans and the southern scandanavians.. im sure eastern european is up there maybe the australian or chinese?



i have hurd worse seriously how long you got

Answer 22

no dan just dig this accent its rather sexy think you'll enjoy being here in england but good luck anyway !

Answer 23

can't be anything as bad as a liverpool accent

Answer 24

it all depends on who you talk to. one person might like it where another might not. but overall they shouldnt care. but dont go expecting people to say "oh, you have a love;y accent." because its not the british way love



and when you come over, dont call us the british. we are called the english. to say the brirish is not correct.

Answer 25

I love your accent!!!

Answer 26

i dont mind...ignorance comes from within, not from your voice!! if some people are nasty just laugh at how funny they speak!

Answer 27

Well, they look at the country's leader for an example...

Answer 28

"... hope "the british" will remember, southernman dont give a dam anyhow !".........

Answer 29

no