I was recently told that my speech is very British in style, which did not come as much of a shock to me. I spent 3.5 years living in a place where all I heard was a) German or b) Germans speaking in British English (and yes American English and British English are amazingly…different.)
So why wouldn’t I pick up some quirks?
For example, I say ‘quite’ quite a lot actually. I also say ‘actually’ ala Bridget Jones a lot too. My speech lilts up at the end of sentences on occasion and I am fond of using traditional old fashioned British words. If you let yourself, you could learn to like the way I speak.
My accent is another source of humor for some people.
I’m from the West Coast. I really can’t help it if I say ru-oof for roof and lie-berry for library or that I used to say pop instead of soda. Other amusing terms include Eye-talian (which I make a concious effort not to do, fyi). Really, let’s pick apart little ole me and make fun (obviously people have nothing better to do.)
Now my accent also includes a distinctive Southern twang on occasion since moo-ving to Ken-tuck-ee. Add in that I speak really fast with a Philly accent on top of it too. I’m officially coining my accent as British-Valley-Girl-East-Coast-Southern. No wonder I never got feedback from that Australian accent finder thing I did last year.
I’m simply unique.
Do you have an accent? Do other people think you have one? What words do you say that earn you amused looks?