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Thread ID: 65999 2006-02-07 21:13:00 E.S.L (English as a Second Language) SurferJoe46 (51) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
428119 2006-02-08 06:33:00 Sorry..it never went out the first time..but I see now it did..sorry for the double post.... SurferJoe46 (51)
428120 2006-02-08 06:46:00 Regional differences are not that noticeable in NZ Joe. Down at the bottom of the South Island can be heard a country 'burr', and Scottish accents persist too.

I'd say England is very much more variable, because of the different 'tribal' origins, like Danish influences around Newcastle, Celts down in the south west, just so many regional variations.

I wouldn't think anyone has any trouble with American accents because of the globalisation of Americana via music and films, it is fast becoming the basis of the world 'English', instead of the English English :)

Even auto terms here tend to be more American English. Hood instead of bonnet, fender instead of mudguard :)

Edit: and 'Coop' instead of coupé 		Terry Porritt (14)
428121 2006-02-08 07:50:00 I think with NZ having such a small population, the differences in accents throughout the country are minimal. While there are quite clear differences in vocabulary and mannerisms from region to region where demographics vary, you can always understand what someone is saying.

I've found personally that the worst accent to try and decipher are the very strong Welsh or Scottish accents, especially new migrants/tourists from those regions. While Indian and Chinese accents are also tricky, they are generally clearer, and those people make an effort to try and be understood. 		somebody (208)
428122 2006-02-08 08:58:00 Regional differences are not that noticeable in NZ Joe. Down at the bottom of the South Island can be heard a country 'burr', and Scottish accents persist too.

I'd say England is very much more variable, because of the different 'tribal' origins, like Danish influences around Newcastle, Celts down in the south west, just so many regional variations.

I wouldn't think anyone has any trouble with American accents because of the globalisation of Americana via music and films, it is fast becoming the basis of the world 'English', instead of the English English :)

Even auto terms here tend to be more American English. Hood instead of bonnet, fender instead of mudguard :)

Edit: and 'Coop' instead of coupé
Auto's instead of cars. 		Cicero (40)
428123 2006-02-08 09:44:00 Youse guys must get a few US tourists there, so I'd like to ask:

Are US-English speaking tourists easier to understand than ..say...a Welsh or Cockney? What about your own dialects? Are they hard to understand North-to-South or East-to-West there in NZ?

I know we here in the US have a lot of dialects (southern, Texan, Valley-Girl, etc) but they are all pretty well understandable to us here.

Is it the same in NZ?

Most Americans I've talked to are pretty easy to understand. Some Scotsmen can be hard to understand when they really go for it. The Irish can be damn hard to comprehend when they start to talk fast.

The country is too narrow to have East-West issues. Those West Aucklanders are strange though.

I've been acused of having a "south island" accent, whatever the hell that is.
The good old Southland "RRRRRRRRRR" is well known, leading to a town named Gore sounding like Gorrrrrrrrre. For a good test, have them say "round the wriggly rocks the wriggly rascal ran"... :D 		gibler (49)
428124 2006-02-08 09:54:00 I always thought the Scots were easy to understand,for example . . . . .

Whare are you gaun, my bonie lass,
Whare are you gaun, my hinnie?
She answered me right saucilie,
"An errand for my minnie . "

O whare live ye, my bonie lass,
O whare live ye, my hinnie?
"By yon burnside, gin ye maun ken,
In a wee house wi' my minnie . "

But I foor up the glen at e'en .
To see my bonie lassie;
And lang before the grey morn cam,
She was na hauf sae saucie .

O weary fa' the waukrife cock,
And the foumart lay his crawin!
He wauken'd the auld wife frae her sleep,
A wee blink or the dawin .

An angry wife I wat she raise,
And o'er the bed she brocht her;
And wi' a meikle hazel rung
She made her a weel-pay'd dochter .

O fare thee weel, my bonie lass,
O fare thee well, my hinnie!
Thou art a gay an' a bonnie lass,
But thou has a waukrife minnie . 		Cicero (40)
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