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(34 Posts)
Annobel Sat 16-Jul-11 06:48:29

As a Scot exiled for 46 years, I know my accent has been modified though still recognisable as Scottish. My DSs think I don't have an accent but they have been brought up listening to me. When I cross the Border (as I will do next Friday - Hooray!) I believe my accent becomes more broadly Scottish. What is your experience?

Baggy Sat 16-Jul-11 07:06:12

I think DH1 is like you with regard to accent as well, annobel. (Yes, he is still D without irony, but not to live with wink). His parents' accents are much broader and his sister broadest of all.
Nobody can tell from my accent where I'm from except that it is "the north" as I've never suppressed my short 'a' in words like grass and bath. When I first moved to Oxford I had been living in Edinburgh for seven years and even an old Edinburghian (!) thought I was Scottish! That did surprise me. In Edinburgh (we lived in Sighthill) some people thought I was posh until, on a club picnic one time I told my two kids (politely of course wink) to 'shove up' on the picnic mat.

Annobel Sat 16-Jul-11 07:33:14

Come to think of it, my English granny lived in Scotland for over 50 years and never lost, or even modified, her Leicester accent.

susiecb Sat 16-Jul-11 09:14:24

I was brought up in the East End of London to cockney parents. My mother tried to speak 'nicely' and encouraged us to do the same. We moved to Essex and I went to an good Grammar school where accents were not tolerated so we had to speak ' properly'. So I thought I didnt have an accent - that is until I moved to North Yorkshire where I was not only rumbled but slightly ostracised (small village). Here in South Leicestershire all accents are heard and no-one seems to mind how you speak as long as you are friendly - much more comfy here. What does come out of me at random times are saying and phrases and certainly humour that is definitely East End. I am married to a middle class boy from North London who speak beautifully and doesnt swear so my more colourful expressions are editedsmile

greenmossgiel Sat 16-Jul-11 09:48:50

My accent is Anglified or perhaps 'Englified!'/Scots. I really don't like to hear my voice (eg on a recording), but having lived half of my life in Nottingham and the other half in Fife, there's nothing I can do about it. I do love to hear the Nottingham accent though - it takes me right back there!

jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 09:53:25

Do you know, I was thinking about accents a night or two back after being in the quiet corner. I think Baggy and Elegran started talking Scotch to each other (sounded like it anyway!confused) wink. I think we should have an emoticon type of thing to put after our names to show what accent our posts should be read in! Good eh? smile

greenmossgiel Sat 16-Jul-11 09:59:42

They did, jangly! I recognised 'bauchle' at least! Just for information's sake, a 'bauchle' is a broken-down, comfortable old shoe (or person!!) Well, that's what it is here in Fife, anyway! Think it would be a great idea to have regional emoticon, by the way! grin

Annobel Sat 16-Jul-11 10:07:53

I'm so proud of my DS who has just used the word 'dreich' in a text message. Something Scottish must have rubbed off on him. Mind you, what better word to describe the weather today?

Elegran Sat 16-Jul-11 10:12:01

An accent emoticon would be misleading in my case Jangly - I have only been in Scotland since 1957, so all my Scots friends think I speak southern English. I have learnt quite a lot of the lingo though, and understand Fifers better than my DH whose parents were from there (well, he went to Watson's, what do you expect?).

Annobel Sat 16-Jul-11 10:22:48

Um - Jangly, 'Scotch' usually refers to the drink rather than the language or the person nowadays.

Elegran Sat 16-Jul-11 10:36:25

I was about to say that too, Annobel, thought of it while washing dishes after sending my previous post. There are Scotch eggs, Scotch whisky and butterscotch and you can scotch a rumour, but people and language are Scots. so are most other things Scottish.

jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 10:39:35

I was winding you up!! grin

Scottish Scottish Scottish

I'm really sorry.

jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 10:41:43

I know that is the one thing that really annoys Scotch Scottish people.

I'll go now...

Annobel Sat 16-Jul-11 10:50:42

Serves me right for rising to that bait! blush. I think there are probably lots more things that really annoy us Scots, but I will deal with those on a case to case basis...

Elegran Sat 16-Jul-11 10:52:08

The mean Scot jibe? Ive not found that true.

jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 11:44:28

Didn't mean to offend Elegran. Or start a cross border war. smile

Annobel Sat 16-Jul-11 12:10:13

I have spent far more of my life in England than in Scotland, had an English granny, so am a real hybrid. The accent, however, betrays my birth.

Elegran Sat 16-Jul-11 13:33:17

Jangly - In a cross-border war, I don't know which side I'd be on. When the 6 nations rugby is on the box, I tend to shout for Scotland, so maybe I am now assimilated. Don't like it when rabid Scots blame England for everything, though, and I don't think the fat controller is right in pushing for independence. The whole country needs to stick together, particularly when money is tight, as it is now. You'd think the lessons of Iceland and Iceland would have taught him something useful. But he's a bit obsessed.

I'm not easily offended, and don't actually see anything you wrote that I could have been offended by. You are not trying, go back and do it again.

jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 13:45:59


jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 13:46:41

I dunno whether you're cross or not sad

grannyactivist Sat 16-Jul-11 13:47:53

I was born and brought up in Manchester on a large council housing estate and all my family speak with Mancunian accents - including the ones who left years ago, as I did. When I was three I learned to read and often say that Enid Blyton actually socialised me. I learned what was 'proper' through the exploits of the Famous Five and Secret Seven and this included speech. I tried very hard to speak well and, as I think I mentioned elsewhere, really did read a dictionary for fun. (Yes, I do know how weird that makes me.) As I left Manchester in my teens and lived in various parts of this country and abroad I never picked up an obvious accent and still speak in what my (English language) students describe as 'book' English. If I spend time with my family I can imitate a Mancunian accent and I confess I love to hear a northern accent still.

jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 13:51:13

Sigh! My husband's off flying model aeroplanes, daughter's pre menstrual and son is still in bed.

I think I'd better phone a friend.

Or get some retail therapy. Yes! that! smile

grannyactivist Sat 16-Jul-11 13:56:44

No, no jangly stay and chat - it'll be much cheaper. grin

jangly Sat 16-Jul-11 14:04:27

Grandson wants a shaker Maker. John Lewis online has got a toy story one reduced. I'd better hoof it up the town to see if I can get in instore. Save the postage.

I'll be back. wink

greenmossgiel Sat 16-Jul-11 14:04:54

I'm supposed to be on here checking out gas and electric prices.....but I can't get on to the comparison websites because I keep checking on what else has been posted. Must go - Scottish Gas is going to cost me too much and I'm poor enough. Sorry if I've split the thread! sad