Amusing Accents
You know how there is so much silly you can do on the net to amuse one's self? That's what I was doing tonight.
I love accents, some definitely more than others. Always used to have a weak spot for Aussie accents but I think now that I've lived close to decade here, it's not as strong as it was. *lol* The Scots and the Irish are hilarious to me and they make the best comedians, especially when drunk. I love some of the American accents, especially Texans. Some from outside North America may not hear it but there is a distinctly different sound to the different American accents and especially to the southerners. The Texas sound is a lovely drawl without too much of the yokel twang. Does that make sense to anyone but me?
Anyway, I took an accent test. It's asks you questions on how you says different words, what vowel sounds tend to rhyme etc. I actually did it twice, the first time based on how I sound NOW (which is particularly strong when tired or drunk) and the second based on how I say things when I'm back home for any length of time. Wanted to see if I got different results...and I did! Guess the Yanks I've spoken to lately haven't been sniffing glue when they said they thought I was from the Midwest. *snort*
First result - How I talk NOW:
Western. Like Midland, Western is another accent that people consider neutral. So, you might not actually be from the Western half of the country, but you definitely sound like it.
And if you're not from the West, you are probably one of the following:
(a) A Pittsburgher - the quiz can't tell the difference;
(b) Someone from Canada (probably southern Ontario) who doesn't have a Canadian accent;
(c) Someone from northern New England who doesn't have a New England accent; or
(d) Someone from Texas or the Heartland who was born after 1980. (for the Aussies, Heartland refers to Oklahoma or Kansas etc.)
You are definitely not from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, the Deep South, etc.
I AM from the western part of Canada and I might as well have been born in 1980 for all the difference it makes, so I find this amusing and interesting. However...
Second Result - How I talked at HOME:
Canada. You probably get irritated when British people and Europeans think you're from the States, but over here we wouldn't make a mistake like that.
If you're not Canadian, you're either a Minnesotan, or you're a Westerner who over-thought some of the questions on the quiz.
So I came out Western but had to over think to remember how things used to sound so this is relevant on several levels. *lol* There you go, proof that Australia has changed the way I talk, even if it's too subtle for Aussies (and Kiwis) to notice. :)