What is it about accents?

[Killick]

Interviewed a 38yo Brit microbiologist today for a story I'm working on, and I gotta say I came away completely smitten. Now, it was a phoner. Never met her face-to-face, though I did see some pics online (she's pretty cute, which helps) and she's wicked smart (of course), but it dawned on me that I really had no basis for being affected so.

Finally, I deduced it had to be the accent.

Why oh why am I such a sucker for an accent? I don't think I'm alone in this affliction, either, am I?

(BTW, I already sent out the batsignal to a friend at the local U to see if she's seeing anyone. May have been a stalker-ish move, after only a 25-minute phone call, huh?)

 

[imjustagirl]

Sweet lord no. Any accent (southern doesn't work that much, but Boston, NYC or any foreign one for sure) will melt me at hello.

 

[Bubbler]

There's nothing like a northern accent, ya knoh.

 

[Killick]

Hmm. Agree that southern doesn't work (for me, at least), but NY doesn't do much for me either. I guess I associate it too much with the two Noo Yawkers I've known -- both old, hippy white dudes.

 

[Angola!]

a southern woman's accent is much, much better than a northern accent.

 

[imjustagirl]

Boston, NY, even a good Fargo accent if the guy is cute enough. But definitely Italian or French or something like that is way hotter.

English and Australian are the gold standards. The international desks are right near where I sit at work, and sometimes I'll just listen to them talk.

 

[Angola!]

ok, a northeastern accent on a girl is good, but a southern is best in the states. british accents are stunning.

 

[Bubbler]

German accents are sexy in women, but don't strike me as sexy at all in men.

The exception being Phil Hartman of course.

As for southern vs. northern accents, Mrs. Bubbler sounds like she has a southern (Hoosier) accent to my northern ears, so I can't argue with you, Angola.

She has always disputed her accent, but when we were in Milwaukee, I asked some dude working at a gas station if she sounded like she was from the south. He confirmed it, though thankfully, Mrs. Bubbler doesn't say **** like "warsh" or "sweeper" for vacuum cleaner.

 

[Killick]

Had a Canadian at my college paper that I could have fallen pretty hard for, too. A French professor from Breton area (Isobel, went by "Izzy") that every dude in the class would have would have crawled over broken glass for, as well. Geez. It really is the little things that set us off, eh?

Oh, and Bubbler: My mom's from the hills of PA, and she says "warsh" and "Warshington" -- drives me nuts. "Mom! Where's the 'r' in that word!?" Come to think of it, she says sweeper, too, but that one never grated on me.

 

[spnited]

Attractive woman, British accent .. it's all over. Nothing better.

 

[Bubbler]

Had a Canadian at my college paper that I could have fallen pretty hard for, too. A French professor from Breton area (Isobel, went by "Izzy") that every dude in the class would have would have crawled over broken glass for, as well. Geez. It really is the little things that set us off, eh?

Oh, and Bubbler: My mom's from the hills of PA, and she says "warsh" and "Warshington" -- drives me nuts. "Mom! Where's the 'r' in that word!?" Come to think of it, she says sweeper, too, but that one never grated on me.

Lots of Hoosiers migrated from that area years ago, so it makes sense.

In some ways, that belt of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri that produces that accent is as southern-sounding than some other southern accents.

There's definitely a difference between, say, my buddy from South Carolina, or someone from Texas, but the accent still sounds "southern".

 

[Angola!]

the warshington thing is weird, my principal called our high school lake warshington and he was from seattle, washington.

 

[imjustagirl]

My dad, from major metropolitan Olive Hill, KY, says "warsh" and "tree" for the number between two and four. He also says "yellow" when he answers the phone.

 

[Bubbler]

I say rut beer. It's not quite "rut", but its closer to "rut" than "root".

Can't explain that one other than picking it up from my deceased mom, who also said crick for creek. I used to too, but dropped it a long, long time ago.

Of course, my dialectical calling card is my handle, only Milwaukee-area natives and some New Englanders use that one.

 

[Killick]

Mom also uses the phrase that something's "leaning towards Fisher's" when something's crooked. She says that one's from back home, too. No Fishers lived anywhere around, so she has no idea the origins of that one. Weird hill people. ;D

My dad, from major metropolitan Olive Hill, KY, says "warsh" and "tree" for the number between two and four. He also says "yellow" when he answers the phone.

IJAG, I wish my dad would answer that way. Lately, he's taken up answering in a horrible Hop Sing-esque Asian accent. [/slapping forehead]

But, back on topic... I wonder if in England (for instance) an American accent will get you some play. If so, I'm packing in the morning.

 

[budcrew08]

a southern woman's accent is much, much better than a northern accent.

Oh yes, it's true.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

the warshington thing is weird, my principal called our high school lake warshington and he was from seattle, washington.

Was he the governor at some point? Mike Lowry put the goober in gubernatorial. He called his own state warshington.

 

[Bubbler]

Mom also uses the phrase that something's "leaning towards Fisher's" when something's crooked. She says that one's from back home, too. No Fishers lived anywhere around, so she has no idea the origins of that one. Weird hill people. ;D

But, back on topic... I wonder if in England (for instance) an American accent will get you some play. If so, I'm packing in the morning.

They all think we sound like cowboys. I suppose if the chick is into cowboys, maybe.

And not all Brit accents are gold. Scottish accents aren't sexy, nor is a true Cockney accent either.

Now an Irish accent? Indefatigable.

 

[sportschick]

Oh, Scottish accents are a fine, fine thing in my world.

 

[Angola!]

my ancestors are scottish and welsh, just so you know sc.