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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
Terrible at understanding different british accents
Apart from the London accent, I have great difficulties understanding certain british accents - I dont know the names of these accents as I stay in Asia.
I have tried hearing british movies/talks but I dont seem to make any progress on this. Could someone give me any tips on how I can be any better on this issue?
Socially and in office, I often find myself keep asking the other person to repeat more often than not! This is embarrassing so its really an area where I am looking for improment.
Any help is much appreciated.
I have tried hearing british movies/talks but I dont seem to make any progress on this. Could someone give me any tips on how I can be any better on this issue?
Socially and in office, I often find myself keep asking the other person to repeat more often than not! This is embarrassing so its really an area where I am looking for improment.
Any help is much appreciated.
Top answer
I think it just takes familiarity so try and listen to as many different accents as possible. Can you get a subtitled film to help you get to grips with another accent? There is no need to be embarrassed - we have a wide range of accents and some of them are pretty incomprehensible to native Brits from other areas too!
- I think it just takes familiarity so try and listen to as many different accents as possible.
- Can you get a subtitled film to help you get to grips with another accent?
- There is no need to be embarrassed - we have a wide range of accents and some of them are pretty incomprehensible to native Brits from other areas too!
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9 Answers
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I think it just takes familiarity so try and listen to as many different accents as possible. Can you get a subtitled film to help you get to grips with another accent?
There is no need to be embarrassed - we have a wide range of accents and some of them are pretty incomprehensible to native Brits from other areas too!
There is no need to be embarrassed - we have a wide range of accents and some of them are pretty incomprehensible to native Brits from other areas too!
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AnonymousApart from the London accent, I have great difficulties understanding certain british accents - I dont know the names of these accents as I stay in Asia.
I have tried hearing british movies/talks but I dont seem to make any progress on this. Could someone give me any tips on how I can be any better on this issue?
This is not an easy
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TeacherBrianYou might be surprised to know that even British people can't always understand someone who has an accent that is very strongly different from their own!Hi, Nona, Brian
However, the more you associate with people of different accents, the easier it becomes to understand them.
Based on your own accent, (I don't k
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The most difficult accents for a foreigner to understand would probably be those from the different parts of the Lowlands of Scotland. Although it may seem odd, the accents from the Highlands are far easier to understand. This is because a large part of the North of Scotland was once a Gaelic speaking area and when they turned to English they adopted a more "standard" variety.
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It's hard to say which accent you would find difficult. Possibly Geordie (Newcastle area), some Scottish, some Irish, strong Cornish etc.
My boyfriend is not from Britain and he finds it easy to understand my mother's speech and difficult to understand my father's speech, which is very strange as they are both from the same area and sound the same to me! So clearly there are differences j
My boyfriend is not from Britain and he finds it easy to understand my mother's speech and difficult to understand my father's speech, which is very strange as they are both from the same area and sound the same to me! So clearly there are differences j
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Nona The BritSo clearly there are differences just between individuals with the same accent; some people are just clearer than others.Absolutely!
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They've got a huge selection of sound samples region by region. The subject's not very interesting but it's very good just to get used to the different accents.
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Helo dear anonymous,
Honey hive here. Well i believe you need to talk to yourself, as much as possible. you see pal, watching and listening to some language is not all required only, you must try speaking too. When you listen to an English movie conversation, repeat it loudly , and keeping thier accent in mind. Then you must aslo record your voice to check your mistakes and improvments. I
Honey hive here. Well i believe you need to talk to yourself, as much as possible. you see pal, watching and listening to some language is not all required only, you must try speaking too. When you listen to an English movie conversation, repeat it loudly , and keeping thier accent in mind. Then you must aslo record your voice to check your mistakes and improvments. I
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Hello,
The University of Nottingham has developed a computer program to help Asian students to understand British accents.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk
The University of Nottingham has developed a computer program to help Asian students to understand British accents.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk
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