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Do you American churchgoers find accents bothersome in church?

Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
I had a local Oklahoma Catholic radio station on this morning. A priest was saying mass or something with a perceived Spanish accent even in Oklahoma.

I find it difficult to understand and distracting from the message being spoken. As a person raised in a culture that speaks the standard American dialect, I also find New England, Southern and New York accents annoying as well as most foreign accents, in church or otherwise. However, I don't seem to mind British accents of educated people in church so much because of their classiness, politeness, elegance and sounding scholarly. The classiness of the British vernacular sounds particularly solemn, respectful and pious as well. I can still understand British for the most part being that I'm a native English language speaker. Spanish, or English spoken with its accent, sounds too rude, short, saucy and impatient being that patience and politeness is not much of a virtue in the Latin culture.
 
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Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
There was this Irish guy on the radio.....
and?

Was the Irish guy supporting the kelly green aerial rooftop radio antenna?

the definition of guy

guy2
[ gahy ]

noun

a rope, cable, or appliance used to guide and steady an object being hoisted or lowered, or to secure anything likely to shift its position.

verb (used with object), guyed, guy·ing.

to guide, steady, or secure with a guy or guys.

ORIGIN OF GUY
2

1300–50; Middle English gye < Old French guie a guide, derivative of guier to guide
 

Father Heathen

Veteran Member
There was this swedish chef with a cooking show but his accent was so thick that I couldn't follow his instructions at all.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
I had a local Oklahoma Catholic radio station on this morning. A priest was saying mass or something with a perceived Spanish accent even in Oklahoma.

I find it difficult to understand and distracting from the message being spoken. As a person raised in a culture that speaks the standard American dialect, I also find New England, Southern and New York accents annoying as well as most foreign accents, in church or otherwise. However, I don't seem to mind British accents of educated people in church so much because of their classiness, politeness, elegance and sounding scholarly. The classiness of the British vernacular sounds particularly solemn, respectful and pious as well. I can still understand British for the most part being that I'm a native English language speaker. Spanish, or English spoken with its accent, sounds too rude, short, saucy and impatient being that patience and politeness is not much of a virtue in the Latin culture.

For me, the message is far more important than the accent with which it's delivered.

I had a difficult time understanding Hindu sages in videos when I first set out to learn more about nondualism and Hindu philosophies, but I've grown used to the accent and no longer have any difficulty in understanding what's being said.

I think if one truly wants to understand the message, one will find a way to overcome the barrier.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
I had a local Oklahoma Catholic radio station on this morning. A priest was saying mass or something with a perceived Spanish accent even in Oklahoma.

I find it difficult to understand and distracting from the message being spoken. As a person raised in a culture that speaks the standard American dialect, I also find New England, Southern and New York accents annoying as well as most foreign accents, in church or otherwise. However, I don't seem to mind British accents of educated people in church so much because of their classiness, politeness, elegance and sounding scholarly. The classiness of the British vernacular sounds particularly solemn, respectful and pious as well. I can still understand British for the most part being that I'm a native English language speaker. Spanish, or English spoken with its accent, sounds too rude, short, saucy and impatient being that patience and politeness is not much of a virtue in the Latin culture.

I don't know where you get off saying Latin culture is impolite or lacking in patience. It appears to me, that you have never set foot inside of a "Latin" country for any extended period of time, let alone experienced what their "culture" is, outside of maybe your immediate dealings with Hispanic people's in a service industry aspect. By calling out one dialect as classy and polite (British) and another rude (Hispanic), you make apparent your own ingrained biases.

Do you know how dialects and accents work? Did you know that if you don't learn a 2nd language before the age of 25 or so, you will always speak the new language with an "accent" (your mouth and brain physically cannot make some sounds and vocal motions). They can be immitated but never emulated. Maybe try reading a book about linguistics and cultural variants.

BTW: if you think "British English" is understandable, you've never been to England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales either (all British English speakers). (Irish/Scottish/Welsh aren't really spoken).
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
BTW: if you think "British English" is understandable, you've never been to England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales either (all British English speakers). (Irish/Scottish/Welsh aren't really spoken).

I have no problem understanding Brits. But it's probably from my years of watching Benny Hill as a child.
 

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I can still understand British for the most part being that I'm a native English language speaker

I'm a native English speaker as well, but I rely on subtitles to understand British TV and movies.

I don't seem to mind British accents

It seems like too much work to speak like that, moving most of ones jaw and lower face just to utter a syllable. I'd need a break mid-sentence.



Now there's an interesting accent. It made Scarlett sound sexy, and Gomer sound like he had had a stroke. Consider Ellie Mae and Jethro.

And my years of listening to Beatles songs.

That helps. And you can learn about the language and culture as well - "Curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid get." A what? "She's the kind of a girl who makes the News of the World" The what? "Monday morning, turning back Yellow lorry slow, nowhere to go" What?

patience and politeness is not much of a virtue in the Latin culture

Disagree. But this isn't the place to go into it.
 

Salvador

RF's Swedenborgian
My normal accent is standard American English; however, I'm particular fond of non-rhotic English accents like how many North Eastern Americans speak. I find the drawing out of vowels from a Southern American English accent to be just a bit too much for my liking. However, once I know a Southerner American is a fellow Trump supporter like me, I forgive him for his southern draw.


trump-flag1.png
 

PureX

Veteran Member
I like hearing people speaking with accents. It's a reminder of how we are all different, with different experiences and different wisdom to share.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
My normal accent is standard American English; however, I'm particular fond of non-rhotic English accents like how many North Eastern Americans speak. I find the drawing out of vowels from a Southern American English accent to be just a bit too much for my liking.
They pronounce the H's in words like 'when' and 'where' down south, I LOVE that!
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I was more referring to the accents of Welsh/Irish/Scottish vs British but I guess I could have been clearer.
Vs English. Not British. Really wish people would stop making this mistake.

Also I have noticed a lot of US people have trouble with foreign accents, but many Brits don't. This an isolationist thing?
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
For me, the message is far more important than the accent with which it's delivered.

I had a difficult time understanding Hindu sages in videos when I first set out to learn more about nondualism and Hindu philosophies, but I've grown used to the accent and no longer have any difficulty in understanding what's being said.

I think if one truly wants to understand the message, one will find a way to overcome the barrier.

Years ago I worked with woman from India, who had a very thick accent. She was our data center tape librarian and pretty much kept to herself. And she was a sweetheart. Some of the managers were proposing they fire her because of a "communication problem". I was beyond furious at something that could be construed as racist Not to mention despicable in every way because, oh I didn't mention... she did one bang-up of a great job. I told them I didn't know what their problem was because I had no trouble understanding her. They said how. I said because I listen to her! Other people felt the way I did, so she stayed on.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Vs English. Not British. Really wish people would stop making this mistake.

Also I have noticed a lot of US people have trouble with foreign accents, but many Brits don't. This an isolationist thing?

When I took linguistics we differentiated between British English and American English (mostly due to spelling and some pronunciation differences).
As far as isolationist, very much the problem I think.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
When I took linguistics we differentiated between British English and American English (mostly due to spelling and some pronunciation differences).
Yes, because English is spoken all over the island of Great Britain and Ireland, which is divided into four Kingdoms, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. English is not synonymous with British and never has been.
 
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