(Untitled)

[skeezix1000]

On the elevator to work this morning, a woman asked me for directions.

When I replied, she told me that I have an American accent.

That's one I have never heard before.

Comments

[sourdick]

were you like "well, ta get to the donut shop, yall jest gowan down there, turn 'round, and therey'ar."

[skeezix1000]

I actually think I said something along the lines of "Turn aboot 20 metres down the road, near the Timmy's and the chesterfield store, eh."

[siobhan63]

There you go - that's how Americans talk when they make fun of Canadians!

[skeezix1000]

You're right! Except they probably think that a chesterfield is a cigarette.

[boy_asunder]

Wow. I totally want to know what an "American accent" sounds like to a Canadian. Probably really flat vowels or something.

[skeezix1000]

The stereotype is, of course, that you all talk like you were born in Alabama.

I do hear the accent, though. It's hard to describe. I don't hear it generally while watching U.S. tv, but you often hear it talking to real live Americans (but not always).

[boy_asunder]

I actually have a hick accent that slips out from time to time. I tried my damnedest to get rid of it when I went away to high school... but every once in a while it sticks out. Jwo loves to make fun of it.

[skeezix1000]

YOU'RE RIGHT!

If she was going to mistake my accent, I would have much preferred to be mistaken for an Italian.

[vinomazzei]

Maybe your dye-rections didn't include the words "about (or any other word with an 'ou')", washroom, or involve sitting on a Chesterfield. Sorry, those are the only stereotypical things I listen for.

[skeezix1000]

I think reading your LJ way back when that I realized that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily call a wool hat a tuque. I didn't even realize that there were other words for that.

[vinomazzei]

I've heard at least 8 different ways to refer to those winter hats. I grew up with "stocking cap". They say "toboggin" in the south, mostly. I have a preference for "knit cap" and "sock hat", though. I forget what they call them in Chicago.