General Chat

Although I have not lived in the Midlands for ten years, I have not lost my accent. But it really does annoy me when people automatically presume I am a 'Brummie' or come from Wolverhampton. I do not have a broad Black Country accent, I was bought up to speak nicely. But I do get fed up of folks laughing at my accent cause I sound like a 'Brummie, Lenny Henry or Barry from Auf Weidersenn Pet, sorry spelling. I do not mind if folks think I sound like them, but why do they always have to presume, that I am 'thick' because I have a Midlands accent. Jenny.

Did you expect my posh Birkenhead accent to be like it is Bendy?

Jenny - you thick???? They obviously haven't spent time with you!! I suffer from mimicking accents without even knowing that I am doing it.... My mother once accused me as being a scottish lady when i called from there one New Years Eve!! So it always makes me giggle that people haven't a clue where I am from.

Don't really have a distinctive accent, so it's not a problem

My wife moved from Sheffield to Kent as a child of 9 in 1948. She was teased because of her northern accent. When at college in Durham, she was teased for her southern accent. She still has some Sheffield in her speech. She often meets people and asks 'Is that a South Yorkshire accent?' She is usually right. D

Jenny, Having spoken to you on the phone many times, if asked I would have said you were from the Midlands, but no way are you thick! To an ignorant Southerner like me, I find it very hard to distinguish between the accents of a friend from Wolverhampton, my husband's relatives from Coventry and Jasper Carrott from Brum. I doubt many Midlanders could tell the difference between Glaswegian and an Edinburgh accent. I certainly find it very difficult. Don't take it to heart - it's other people's ignorance at fault, not you. CB >|< XX

Oh god Diana, I have the same problem. Spend time with someone with a strong accent & before I know it I also have it. Born in West London, lived in Huntingdonshire [now in Cambridge] lived in NZ & now in Somerset I think I have a bit of all of them. lol Oh & my husband was from County Durham Vivienne

Mommylonglegs singing ' When i get me moped on the ro-ad, iem gonna ryide ryide riyde' Cum on then yow lot, help me finish the song. Jenny x

On holiday in Scotland a few years ago, my husband was at the bar in a pub, having a conversation with the barman. The man stood next to him at the bar said 'Are you from Sale?' John said, 'Yes, how did you know?' The guy said 'I recognised the accent'. John could not believe it as we don't think we have an accent at all! I turned out the guy was from Sale and had moved there 20 years before!! Lynne

Hi Jenny Not quite the same but similar. My hubby can be very embarrassing. He seems to have an ear for accents and will often say to people 'are you from......'. I always cringe and hope that they aren't offended :)) Chrissie x

Having a London accent, I find the soap 'East Enders' irritating from several aspects but particularly so because of the accents. I would describe what they do is 'Estuary' English rather than East End. A lot of them obviously are from 'Sarf' of the Thames. Len

Being a 'Limey' who has lived in America for over 30 years, I get very ticked off when the Yanks either a) Try to mimic my accent or b) Ask if I,m from Sweden, Oz or the East coast!

I lived in Somerset until I was 10 and then moved to the Midlands - I was teased relentlessly and they thought I was 'posh' and a 'snob'. I did pick up a Midlands accent whilst I was there, but it soon disappeared when I moved back to Somerset. I now don't have very much of an accent at all, but people do pick up on the occasional word and start talking about 'Cider'! I don't mind anymore - as long as they're not being nasty. Besides, I am hopeless with other peoples accents. Kaye x

I do not have one!! so to speak (excuse the pun) but I am often told I sound from oop north!! I have never lived oop north but wouldn't mind it though!!....lol...I actually sound the opposite of where I was born....Colchester! Love Susie xx

LMHO Jenny! All I can remember is the last line! Me Mum won't let me bring it in the 'ouse. I gorra fix it in the garding! CB >|< XX

Hi Jenny, Living in Oz it amuses me that the Aussies can't differentiate between Scots, Irish and Welsh accents never mind which area you come from. Ian aka The Border Reiver

CB, feel very very tempted to dial your number and sing it to you. Do you dare me? Lol. Jenny xx

Susie, you just sound English and I probably sounded very Scottish. When we were in USA people asked what part of Ireland or England I came from and I said no Scotland.. Rosalyn

Right there with you Jenny (as I'm from just down the rowad!) Apparently I sound like a brummie too, but apparently in the town where I live (which is not far from Cannock) I sound posh (?) just because I was brought up in Lichfield Daft or what?

Ian, is that really true?? Have you ever been to England? Sorry you are a new one on GR, I presume. Sorry for my ignorance if I am wrong. Jenny x