What is an accent?

Title pretty much sums it up. We all know when someone from another country, or region speaks a bit different than we do. But what exactly is an accent? What makes people from certain places speak differently than others? Why can't others imitate other "accents"?

Yeah, there is a big difference from some white boy trying to imitate some jap's accent, seeing as how they're language/alphabet are different, but I'm more curious about those languages that are more in common; Such as someone from Washington State, USA (Like myself) and someone from.. lets say New Jersey(USA), or somewhere in the "South", or maybe, just anyone on the East Coast.

Wussup?

 

me luv you long time

is my example for a white boy imitating korean working girl


edit : oh noe... i didnt see this is in serious discussions...

ermm... idk about u but i live in israel and my language has no accent at all... but i think i can imitate other accents pretty good
if i do so myself

 

Thats the whole basis for my topic though. You're from Israel. If you were to come to my country, or maybe even speak to me on Ventrillo/gayspeak/skype you would totally have an accent to me, since I'm from a completely different country than you.

 

Me Love You Long Time - YouTube

 

im from holland
and dutch ppl totally suck at pronouncing english lol
really has an accent

 

Its their own way of pronouncing words.
Whether it be tone, the way they pronounce letters or even just sound cocky (no offence).

Like me, i have an aussie accent, but not the full-on aussie ones from south australia or whatever cause im asian,
And its quite rare to find an asian from australia with those pure aussie accents ;_;
We generally dont pronounce our 'r's and we dont say 'a', we say 'ah'
e.g bananas = bah-nah-nuhs rofl.

@calith: I CAN STILL UNDERSTAND YOU, S'ALL GOOD.

 

Well, the U.S. is the land of immigrants, so people all talk different. xP
I think somewhere like Japan for example they grew up with a different alphabet, and vowels that they learn to pronounce something differently their whole lives. Makes them talk idealy to their country, but when you put a funky language like English into the mix things complicate. o_>

 

Well yeah. Thats why I compared the "standard US" "accent" to a Japanese accent. But when an entire country can have maybe at least 4 different accents, that's when I start to become curious as to what determines how our "voice" will sound.

I hope some people are keeping up with me on this one, haha.

 

There are countries like mine that has like different dialects(tons actually like more than a 100) pronounciation and all that. Generally philippines speaks tagalog and english but when visayans(we have many in this server)talks tagalog it might be understandable not so many visayans are bad tagalog speakers. They also say visayans are good english speakers and has good voices(singing)

 

I live in Aus *stalks you*

 

fu'cken righto mate

 

imo you're way to much of a stalker..

On topic: The main thing I'm wondering is what actually makes an accent. Yeah you speak one language, and sweet, you speak another, and amazing, I speak yet a different one. Why are we different?

 

Ah have a black accent foo dont you eva complain bout that

 

I live in Aus *stalks you* xDD

 

It has a physical nature. Remember the girl that went through surgery to be able to pronounce korean words? Also, it's for the same reason right handed can't do things with the left hand as good as with the right.

 

I love my "accent" lol.

 

Your accent when you scream my name?

 

People imitate the accent of their own language while speaking another language,greeks for example speak english in a somehow same accent as their native greek language. Even though if you live in usa or speak english every day cause of work or lifestyle your accent will surely improve

 

Vowels? ionno.

 

It's a conspiracy!
You've cracked it!

/alsolivesinaustraliasowillnowbeonthelistofregiisstalkers