Why do so many Americans love the British accent?

HRH wrote:

smile wrote:

I like British accents. It reminds me of The Beatles, Harry Potter, James Bond, Doctor Who, etc. It just sounds cool. I wish I had it.

It depends on the accent.

As George Bernard Shaw wrote: “It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him.”

With an English public school accent, one commands respect and natural authority from all sections of society, whereas, with say a Liverpool or Newcastle accent, that unfortunately is taken as one who is uneducated and very much working class.

Yup, the public school accent is where it's at. The Liverpool accent is almost foreign.

The Intrusive R wrote:

No offense, because I have no reason to believe you aren't a decent and intelligent human being, but I absolutely hate the British accent. It simply sounds pretentious and condescending.

Even worse, it is only in the British pronunciation that "Brenda Martinez" incorrectly becomes "BrendER MAHtinez". Stop adding and omitting the "R" sound at will.

Ha. This always cracks me up. "Brender Martin - ez". Her last name is pronounced "Martin" and then they toss on an "ez" at the end. Hilarious.

I'm old enough to know this one. Back in the 60's when tv was a novelty, all British accent men were "Gentlemen" Even in war movies. They were the ones who would lay their coat over a puddle for a woman, hold a door, etc. etc.

today, that translates to "trustworthy" A female or male with a soft British accent conveys a sense of honesty, and trustworthiness.

Because of that Monty Python show where you dressed up like frumpy old ladies and slapped each other with fish.

Half the stuff you said on that show we didn't even understand, it just sounds funny. Dipsy-doodle bounder, right-o, tensies on the treacle custard, eh what?

Yeah mate ? wrote:

Too funny. But I rather have him @ least 6" talk or greater, otherwise the accent is not a turn on anymore. Call me a snob or what not...💋

6 inches, huh? You have pretty... low... standards.

The Intrusive R wrote:

A Brit abroad wrote:

I'm a Brit, living in the USA. Have been here 15 years. Nearly daily I get compliments on my accent, which is very nice, of course. What's behind this? Why do so many here like the accent? I truly don't get it. Personally, I think most Brits sound stupid.

No offense, because I have no reason to believe you aren't a decent and intelligent human being, but I absolutely hate the British accent. It simply sounds pretentious and condescending.

Even worse, it is only in the British pronunciation that "Brenda Martinez" incorrectly becomes "BrendER MAHtinez". Stop adding and omitting the "R" sound at will.

Stupid! Stupid! STUPID!

Which British accent do you hate? Remembering there are more variations in accents in a small area of Yorkshire than the whole of the USA.

For example, I can't understand some old timers from Wigan ( 20 miles from where I live) with their broad Lancashire accents.

The variation in British accents is indeed quite amazing and beautifully rich and entertaining.

A good way to hear some of these variations is to visit YouTube where you can hear some Brits running through a number of regional Uk accents.

The Geordie accent is a newbie to foreigners. They say aye instead of yes, so I was at a bakery in Newcastle and I thought the old fat baker couldn't understand me "aye."

A Brit abroad wrote:

British Brit wrote:

Probably more likely to say "I'm British". But might say "Brit".

Have definitely never said "I'm a Briton". Sounds a bit weird.

OP here. I live in a college town in NY which has a fairly large number of Brits living there - most work at the university. We do, indeed, refer to ourselves as Brits.

As for the poster who said my accent should be waning after 15 years here - I moved here at age 40. My accent is too deeply ingrained. My kids' accents are another matter, though.

Ithica or Stonybrook?

What about a South African accent = the prefect blend of British & Continental Europe?

Portsea, what years did you run at Arkansas?

Thanks.

By George Mate wrote:

Great impression of an English accent. Can't stop laughing! 😂

https://youtu.be/DWynJkN5HbQ

I just clicked on this for the first time. Pretty. Dang. Hilarious.😁

Alactic wrote:

You say that now from the comfort of your keyboard, but under battle conditions....

I will say that my ability to mimic his accent has helped me get laid on at least two occasions (I am 6'0")

Yeah mate ? wrote:

Too funny. But I rather have him @ least 6" talk or greater, otherwise the accent is not a turn on anymore. Call me a snob or what not...💋

Most here don't want to hear about your homosexual liaisons. I don't.

harry wales wrote:

A Brit abroad wrote:

OP here. I live in a college town in NY which has a fairly large number of Brits living there - most work at the university. We do, indeed, refer to ourselves as Brits.

As for the poster who said my accent should be waning after 15 years here - I moved here at age 40. My accent is too deeply ingrained. My kids' accents are another matter, though.

Ithica or Stonybrook?

[B{What about a South African accent = the prefect blend of British & Continental Europe?

😍😍....Although I hear there are two different dialects? I heard that from a patient of mine.

If that isn't a case of projection of your personal unconscious issues, I don't know what is.

khjrtd wrote:

Alactic wrote:

You say that now from the comfort of your keyboard, but under battle conditions....

I will say that my ability to mimic his accent has helped me get laid on at least two occasions (I am 6'0")

Most here don't want to hear about your homosexual liaisons. I don't.

Heh wrote:

The Intrusive R wrote:

No offense, because I have no reason to believe you aren't a decent and intelligent human being, but I absolutely hate the British accent. It simply sounds pretentious and condescending.

Even worse, it is only in the British pronunciation that "Brenda Martinez" incorrectly becomes "BrendER MAHtinez". Stop adding and omitting the "R" sound at will.

Ha. This always cracks me up. "Brender Martin - ez". Her last name is pronounced "Martin" and then they toss on an "ez" at the end. Hilarious.

Oh yeah, hilarious! Like you Americans never totally and utterly butcher foreign names and words.

Notre Dame? Croissant? Pasta? Have you even heard yourselves try and say these things?

I grew up watching Monty Python. My college roommate was British, and I used to laugh every time he spoke, thinking he was being funny. It always put him in a good mood, but he must have thought something was wrong with me.