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So okay, this is, as stated, a weird question.

Do most of you, (as Americans) find when watching American shows on TV (90% of shows are American ) it sounds weird? All being they have your same accent, does their acting sound almost forced?

I know as an Australian, when I see/hear an Australian in a show, it sounds really odd, the accent sounds off. However, American soap operas sound so forced and weird, but to me Australian soap operas don't.

So the question is, when you see an American TV show, does it sound weird and forced acting, or does it seem realistic and normal?

Cheerio.

err...to me Americans dont have an accent, i dont hear it, just normal talking. But Aussie, i hear the accent majorly, sometimes its hard to understand exactly what y'all are saying.

I consider American to not be a language, more like a dialect. As it's really a raped version of (historical) proper english. therefor the accent, well, it's all an accent.

Sharp324 wrote:err...to me Americans dont have an accent, i dont hear it, just normal talking. But Aussie, i hear the accent majorly, sometimes its hard to understand exactly what y'all are saying.

=] For me, Americans are just as easy to understand as an Australian would be, When you move here, you'll pick up on our Australian slang etc and it should become easier.

American accent is almost second nature, having grown up with it constantly on television, as you say you don't think you have an accent, I as an Australian don't think I have an accent.

@Priam, I don't know whether as an Australian person, I'm accepting to all versions of the English accent. Many of my friends are European, and I am of Dutch heritage, I find picking up on peoples broken English is easy because I've once again, basically grown up with it, my friends etc.

It's just in certain contexts, Accents sound weird. British movies sound absolutely horrible, Americans movies are by far the best, Australian movies are alright, though some of the quality of our actors are not so good, with the exception of Nicole Kidman. I can only watch Australian Soap Operas, and for example, an Australian on the TV show 90210 sounds retarded.

I'm dutch as well. I generally prefer (proper) Brittish movies above those from America. They have less feel to them, as movies do nog only contain visuals, but strongly rely on the script and how that's played.

I hate it when people, for example in the train, get a phonecall which forces them to speak english. In the act, they actually revert to the American slang movie type of speach. When the conversation ends, they get a comment on how good there english is, and they accept that with a huge grin on there face.

Dude, you weren't speaking english, you were highlighting scenes from whatever hollywood production you've watched last night.

Priam wrote:I'm dutch as well. I generally prefer (proper) Brittish movies above those from America. They have less feel to them, as movies do nog only contain visuals, but strongly rely on the script and how that's played.

I hate it when people, for example in the train, get a phonecall which forces them to speak english. In the act, they actually revert to the American slang movie type of speach. When the conversation ends, they get a comment on how good there english is, and they accept that with a huge grin on there face.

Dude, you weren't speaking english, you were highlighting scenes from whatever hollywood production you've watched last night.

Lol. Well having the English language as a main isn't always a bad thing. It isn't a help when it comes to learning new languages, I always in my head really fast try to convert things to different languages. Atleast you can up when people are quoting from some Hollywood Blockbuster.

I do love Americans though, I have a funny way of showing it. I don't know what I'd do if there wasn't Hollywood (disgusting place in real life though).

Snoopy wrote:

Sharp324 wrote:err...to me Americans dont have an accent, i dont hear it, just normal talking. But Aussie, i hear the accent majorly, sometimes its hard to understand exactly what y'all are saying.

=] For me, Americans are just as easy to understand as an Australian would be, When you move here, you'll pick up on our Australian slang etc and it should become easier.

American accent is almost second nature, having grown up with it constantly on television, as you say you don't think you have an accent, I as an Australian don't think I have an accent.

@Priam, I don't know whether as an Australian person, I'm accepting to all versions of the English accent. Many of my friends are European, and I am of Dutch heritage, I find picking up on peoples broken English is easy because I've once again, basically grown up with it, my friends etc.

It's just in certain contexts, Accents sound weird. British movies sound absolutely horrible, Americans movies are by far the best, Australian movies are alright, though some of the quality of our actors are not so good, with the exception of Nicole Kidman. I can only watch Australian Soap Operas, and for example, an Australian on the TV show 90210 sounds retarded.

Yeah, I honestly get confused...idk what half the things are. Hopefully i get it quick, just the words used are things ive never heard before...even though its the same thing in the states.

Sharp324 wrote:

Snoopy wrote:

Sharp324 wrote:err...to me Americans dont have an accent, i dont hear it, just normal talking. But Aussie, i hear the accent majorly, sometimes its hard to understand exactly what y'all are saying.

=] For me, Americans are just as easy to understand as an Australian would be, When you move here, you'll pick up on our Australian slang etc and it should become easier.

American accent is almost second nature, having grown up with it constantly on television, as you say you don't think you have an accent, I as an Australian don't think I have an accent.

@Priam, I don't know whether as an Australian person, I'm accepting to all versions of the English accent. Many of my friends are European, and I am of Dutch heritage, I find picking up on peoples broken English is easy because I've once again, basically grown up with it, my friends etc.

It's just in certain contexts, Accents sound weird. British movies sound absolutely horrible, Americans movies are by far the best, Australian movies are alright, though some of the quality of our actors are not so good, with the exception of Nicole Kidman. I can only watch Australian Soap Operas, and for example, an Australian on the TV show 90210 sounds retarded.

Yeah, I honestly get confused...idk what half the things are. Hopefully i get it quick, just the words used are things ive never heard before...even though its the same thing in the states.

I'll help you out with some of that ;p

http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html#A
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If I am watching an American program, and they have a British actor or actress on the program they always sound different (English accent) Where as the American's sound normal. Does that really make any sense, considering I am English?

Snoopy wrote:
I'll help you out with some of that ;p

http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html#A
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Wow so much to learn. Thanks for the link though.

Watching old presidential speeches, you can really hear the different accents: Carter, Kennedy, Clinton, etc.

I find it's funny that you don't find different regional accents on TV despite the actors being from everywhere.

View videos

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Sharp324 wrote:err...to me Americans dont have an accent, i dont hear it, just normal talking. But Aussie, i hear the accent majorly, sometimes its hard to understand exactly what y'all are saying.

So to you everyone in America (talking about USA, not Central/South America) speaks the same way? To me, someone from Queens or Brooklyn sounds a lot different than a "redneck" from Georgia or Alabama.

It's actually easier to understand english accent than aussies and also british. IMO