Catchy

[nq:1]"Indeed," I said. I don't think I ever said that word before. What is there about an English accent that ... maybe? And was it catchy? Does "I " try to say in the last sentence that English is deceptive ?[/nq]
No, "catchy" is usually complimentary, meaning "catching the attention." M-W.com has
1 a : tending to catch the interest or attention b : easily retained in the memory

[nq:1]"Indeed," I said. I don't think I ever said that word before. What is there about an English accent that makes people seem more intelligent than they maybe?[/nq]
("maybe" should read "may be".)
[nq:1]And was it catchy?[/nq]
That sentence seems somewhat odd to me. Maybe it would seem less so in full context. What is the "it" that it refers to? The word "indeed"?
[nq:1]Does "I

[nq:2]"Indeed," I said. I don't think I ever said that ... seem more intelligent than they maybe? And was it catchy?[/nq]
What word did "I" think he or she had never said before? Was it "indeed" or something else? (And please note that "maybe," as used in the sentence, should be written and spoken as two words: "may be.")
Also, I'm confused by the use of "was" in the final sentence. It see

[nq:2]"Indeed," I said. I don't think I ever said that ... say in the last sentence that English is deceptive ?[/nq]
[nq:1]No, "catchy" is usually complimentary, meaning "catching the attention." M-W.com has 1 a : tending to catch the interest or attention b : easily retained in the memory [/nq]
In British English, and I think that's probably what we're reading here, "catchy" is (perhaps

[nq:1]"Indeed," I said. I don't think I ever said that word before. What is there about an English accent that ... maybe? And was it catchy? Does "I " try to say in the last sentence that English is deceptive ?[/nq]
The speaker is discussing an English accent the type of accent (pronunciation) that an English speaker would use not about the English language itself. However, he is confusing an

[nq:1]In British English, and I think that's probably what we're reading here, "catchy" is (perhaps rather old-fashioned? I'm not sure) colloquial for "infectious", and is usually applied to diseases.[/nq]
Hmm? 'Catching', yes, but I've never heard 'catchy' meaning infectious in BrE. (And I'm old enough for old-fashioned to have been positively modish.)

Katy Jennison
spamtrap: rem

The American Heritage Concise Dictionary, Third Edition says as follows;

[nq:1]"Indeed," I said. I don't think I ever said that word before. What is there about an English accent that ... maybe? And was it catchy? Does "I " try to say in the last sentence that English is deceptive ?[/nq]
No; the accent is contagious.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa

[nq:1]The American Heritage Concise Dictionary, Third Edition says as follows;[/nq]
[nq:2]1. Easily remembered: a catchy tune. 2. Tricky; deceptive. Other Derivatives: catchPRIMEiBULLETness, noun 1994 by Houghton Mifflin Com[/nq]
Interesting. I hadn't encountered this usage of "catchy." The *Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary* at www.m-w.com also has that meaning: "*3 :* TRICKY ."
Most

[nq:2]In British English, and I think that's probably what we're ... sure) colloquial for "infectious", and is usually applied to diseases.[/nq]
[nq:1]Hmm? 'Catching', yes, but I've never heard 'catchy' meaning infectious in BrE. (And I'm old enough for old-fashioned to have been positively modish.)[/nq]
I agree. "Don't worry; it's not catching" was what kids with running sores all around