Accents - can it change at will?

Originally posted by Kinneary
Japanese are very racist against any and everyone non-Japanese, and are very discriminatory against those not from the mainland, even if they are Japanese.

I heard this before and I don't doubt it. I've been around Japanese people before, and they seem like wonderful people, and in short time, got along fine with them, I can't say how differently they would act once they get around "their own kind" and may turn a different cheek, so, I won't doubt that when they are in the majority, they may exhibit nasty tendency as oppose to when they are out of their element. Either way, when I see them here in America, thus far, they've been very kind, rigid but friendly. And I tend to think broadly, as elementary as this is going to sound. If you think of my mind as from -100<x<100, restrictive thinkers are in the range of -10<x<10 (these are arbitrary numbers), I except restrictive thinkers, no matter how stupid or racist or judgmental, however, rigid thinkers don't have the capacitance to accept my broad thinking, and I know this, so I try to adjust things when I come across restrictive thinkers, as I am the broad one.

You make far to many generalisations based on your own personal experience that its hard to reply to your posts.

Originally posted by Magee
You make far to many generalisations based on your own personal experience that its hard to reply to your posts.

Well, that's probably true, but when it comes to racism, that's based on personal experiene, I can personally say that the Japanese people I've met here in America haven't displayed racism (maybe they seem a bit more reserved and judgemental, but a lot of people are like that), but I did admit that although I've never been to Japan (only to Europe, Zurich), I can see how people might be on their best behavior when "out of their element" and so, I don't discount the other poster's comment about Japanese people being racist if he is actually in Japan experiencing it. I won't tell him that he's crazy or it's all in his head based on my brief experience with them as "Americans", as I doubt that's a complete characterization of them (when they are here in smaller numbers).

I changed accent. It didn't even realise I was doing it.

are you serious? is this a real thread? a real thread in the general discussion forum on kmc?

sad.

Originally posted by Devil King
are you serious? is this a real thread? a real thread in the general discussion forum on kmc?

sad.

if that's all the value you can add to this thread (negativity??), thank you, and have a wonderful day.

Once you have the phonetic and acoustic abilities, i dont see why not.

Accents are not fixed even in adulthood. Anyone can alter their accent by following a voice and diction class.

Originally posted by Storm
Accents are not fixed even in adulthood. Anyone can alter their accent by following a voice and diction class.

Ok, so it does require training, it's not a natural change, but one that requires focus and exercise for a long period of time.

People who have an affinity with languages can easily develop different (foreign) accents simply through exposure.

So you are saying I have an affinity with language because I can mimic the accent of some one? There is nothing special about it, If you hear it before hand it just makes it all the more easier.

Originally posted by Magee
So you are saying I have an affinity with language because I can mimic the accent of some one? There is nothing special about it, If you hear it before hand it just makes it all the more easier.

language is phonetically based, and so is accent. it's not far reaching to parallel both language/accent, as they both depend on phonetics...so if you have an "ear" for accents, i wouldn't be surprised if you are probably going to be better at picking up on VERBAL speech when learning a new language, as opposed to someone who doesn't have an ear for intonations within the same or opposite language, maybe not so much grammar, depending on your affinity for that particular processing (phonetics, grammar, logic, math, etc.), and this is assuming you have the memory to learn the new words. and if you can pick up on intonations/tone, i wouldn't doubt you are also good at music or picking up on musical theory, but i am "different" in how i parallel things together.

There are many dialects in Norway and it's quite common actually that those who move to Oslo (often) loses their dialect/accent. I myself have been asked if I was British when I was in London a few years back. And some thought I was American when I was talking to some Americans I met on a political festival last summer. I grew up with English as my first language and I've had teachers that either had an American accent or a British accent. We're allowed to choose, and I prefer the British accent over the American accent. But if I meet Americans (like the Texans in my family) I tend to switch to an American accent.

Norway has quite distinct dialects and accents, so they're not very hard to imitate. The Oslo/Østlands dialect, which is my dialect, also have differences within different areas. I myself come from the east side of Oslo and have a different accent from those who comes from the west side of Oslo. But when I went to this very posh school on the east side of Oslo, I noticed my accent changed. So instead of saying 'skarru', I began saying 'skal du'. It was a bit scary actually. 😛

Regards, Yvonne

Originally posted by Storm
People who have an affinity with languages can easily develop different (foreign) accents simply through exposure.

And that's a fact. It's taken nearly 5 years of constant exposure, but my accent has now been completely altered from what it was originally, through no deliberate attempt or 'training'. And that's after 16 years of being immersed in that original dialect.

Originally posted by yvonnekarate
There are many dialects in Norway and it's quite common actually that those who move to Oslo (often) loses their dialect/accent. I myself have been asked if I was British when I was in London a few years back. And some thought I was American when I was talking to some Americans I met on a political festival last summer. I grew up with English as my first language and I've had teachers that either had an American accent or a British accent. We're allowed to choose, and I prefer the British accent over the American accent. But if I meet Americans (like the Texans in my family) I tend to switch to an American accent.

Norway has quite distinct dialects and accents, so they're not very hard to imitate. The Oslo/Østlands dialect, which is my dialect, also have differences within different areas. I myself come from the east side of Oslo and have a different accent from those who comes from the west side of Oslo. But when I went to this very posh school on the east side of Oslo, I noticed my accent changed. So instead of saying 'skarru', I began saying 'skal du'. It was a bit scary actually. 😛

Regards, Yvonne

I wonder if you speak more then one language, as you are European, so I assume you speak at least 3 languages, this might be why it's easier for you to "adjust" to accents/tones/intontations and even alter your own rather quickly, as you may unknowingly have a trained ear to "hear" deviations in phonetics that allows you to readily mimick different accents b/c you are part of a system that requires you to learn several languages.

Its really not that hard to change your voice, why do you need to make such a thread? Its got nothing to do with knowing languages, I can speak English and still use an Australian, English or American accent. Just like I can speak Japanese with an Australian accent. What answer are you looking for?

Originally posted by Czarina_Czarina
I wonder if you speak more then one language, as you are European, so I assume you speak at least 3 languages, this might be why it's easier for you to "adjust" to accents/tones/intontations and even alter your own rather quickly, as you may unknowingly have a trained ear to "hear" deviations in phonetics that allows you to readily mimick different accents b/c you are part of a system that requires you to learn several languages.

I'm fluent in English, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish. I also know German and a little Spanish. I had Norwegian, English, German and Spanish at school. Norwegian is my mother tongue and English is my first language.

English is a part of our everyday life, we listen to British/American pop, watch American or British sit coms and 90 % of all films shown on tv or at the movies etc are American/British. And I grew up reading English books, since most book stores here sell as many books in English as in Norwegian.

Regards, Yvonne

well again the chameleon in spider-man can do it and trick family members and stuff....i have the ultimate spider-man guide....

Originally posted by JLred
i can sound like a mexican gangsta' if i want to....but i'd probably get shot....😖

That's my natural speaking accent.

And yeah...you probably would.

Originally posted by Kinneary
Japanese are very racist against any and everyone non-Japanese, and are very discriminatory against those not from the mainland, even if they are Japanese.

None of the Japanese people I met in Japan were racist at all.