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I wish I was British (who doesn't ♥ Heidi's momma and gramma?) >> brain talk
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~Geektastic~
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May 05, 2011 10:27AM
Sometimes it's just not fair. All of my favorite books, movies, bands, and tv all come from Britain. Plus, American accents suck. There, just had to get that off my chest. Sorry to offend any of the "love it or leave its." Actually, I'm not.
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Hm. I can see England's pros and cons. I'm not a Beatles person. But now there's someone hot who might be the queen. Pros and cons.
I was once told that there are two types of people in the world: Elvis people and Beatles people. So if you don't like the Beatles, do you like Elvis? Or has my entire worldview just come crashing down?
I like both the Beatles AND Elvis, Amber. But not in the same way.
Barb wrote: "Uh oh ... what if you're not particularly fond of either. Do I exist?"No!
BunWat wrote: "You wanna be British, what's stopping you? Oh right, pesky immigration laws. Grrr."I could go about it someday I suppose, but there's still the accent problem. I don't want to be a poser like Madonna with her crappy faux-Brit posturing, so I'm doomed to my flat-accent fate.
BunWat wrote: "There are two types of people in the world, those who believe there are two types of people in the world, and those who do not.;)
There are two types of people in the world. Those who eat k..."
HA! Love it.
Amber wrote: "Plus, American accents suck."I don't know... I think some Southern dialects are pretty damn charming. I'm probably biased, though. ;)
Plus, you should SEE the crowds who gather around my Cajun grandmother to hear her talk when we're on vacation together. She can charm the pants off some people by just talking.
You need to get your grandmother and Javier Bardem together Heidi :-)
Jim wrote: "You need to get your grandmother and Javier Bardem together Heidi :-)"NOOOO!!! She's still entirely too spunky. She'd probably try to steal him away from me!
She's 88 years old and still likes to go out Cajun two-stepping to zydeco at least once a week and she can kick my butt at a fast paced game of Bourre AND she's the gardening queen of all time. AND she wipes the floors with everyone's butts at a game of Wii Bowling.
Well to you southern is a relative term isn't it?:-)
I wouldn't mind being an ex-pat. Although I have friends who met on the internet and got married - she's Welsh, he's from NC. After discussing all the pros and cons, she's the one who relocated.
Personally, I like Canada - it's a nice compromise between the two of them and I get to love/hate them both equally.
Heidi wrote: "Amber wrote: "Plus, American accents suck."I don't know... I think some Southern dialects are pretty damn charming. I'm probably biased, though. ;)
Plus, you should SEE the crowds who gather a..."
When I was a kid, my accent was pretty southern but somehow it's been smoothed out over the years. Too many prejudices- people think a Southern accent makes you sound stupid. Honestly, out of all of the American variations, I think it really is the most charming. Comes from that long tradition of Southern hospitality I guess.
Heidi wrote: "Jim wrote: "You need to get your grandmother and Javier Bardem together Heidi :-)"NOOOO!!! She's still entirely too spunky. She'd probably try to steal him away from me!
She's 88 years old a..."
Grandmas are the best.
Amber wrote: "When I was a kid, my accent was pretty southern but somehow it's been smoothed out over the years. Too many prejudices- people think a Southern accent makes you sound stupid. Honestly, out of all of the American variations, I think it really is the most charming. Comes from that long tradition of Southern hospitality I guess."There are many Southern dialects, Amber. Sure, some don't seem too bright (although, let me assure you that the dialect can oftentimes mask high intellect and education) and others have a lovely cadence and rhythm that seems regal and yet approachable.
Heidi wrote: "Amber wrote: "When I was a kid, my accent was pretty southern but somehow it's been smoothed out over the years. Too many prejudices- people think a Southern accent makes you sound stupid. Honestly..."Problem is, being from Virginia, the "southern" accents are so muddled and undefinable. Louisiana and Georgia accents are fantastic.
Amber wrote: "Sometimes it's just not fair. All of my favorite books, movies, bands, and tv all come from Britain. Plus, American accents suck. There, just had to get that off my chest. Sorry to offend any of th..."I agree television shows in UK are way better. They use actors who can act not just those who look good. American culture (tv wise anyway) are just copies of the British versions.
Since I grew up in the north watching CBC I have a Canadian accent which I can't seem to shake even though I now live in the south.
Amber wrote: "Heidi wrote: "Amber wrote: "When I was a kid, my accent was pretty southern but somehow it's been smoothed out over the years. Too many prejudices- people think a Southern accent makes you sound st..."I think the same could be said about British dialects, as well.
Heidi wrote: "Amber wrote: "Heidi wrote: "Amber wrote: "When I was a kid, my accent was pretty southern but somehow it's been smoothed out over the years. Too many prejudices- people think a Southern accent make..."True, I'm sure they have just as many prejudices concerning pronunciation and social class as we do. They have the best slang though.
Heidi wrote: "Amber wrote: "Heidi wrote: "Amber wrote: "When I was a kid, my accent was pretty southern but somehow it's been smoothed out over the years. Too many prejudices- people think a Southern accent make..."In fact, if I'm not mistaken, dialects in Britain can often be used to indicate where people fall in the social class structure. Bun could probably say more about that.
So can Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. :)
I think we should all invite Heidi's grandmother out bowling. She looks like she'd be a blast to meet.
i'm glad i am not. i like having good teeth and meaning footwear when i say boot
BunWat wrote: "Accents in Britain can be used to determine where you live within a fifty mile radius at least, as well as near equally precise distinctions of social class and level of education. Check the movie..."I studied linguistics (in a limited capacity) while at college, so I have a decent grasp on dialects, I just wish I could travel more and have first-hand experience.
On a side note, I had a rather rude and clueless friend who once asked a customer (we worked together) if he was British, due to his accent (he was Welsh, which I could have told him later if he had kept his mouth shut). But anyway, the guy was a really good sport, and played a guessing game with us where he mimicked accents from all over the UK to have us guess where they came from- he did a really awesome Liverpool. I was actually pretty spot-on with most of them, so I think we often make geographic associations without even noticing (granted, as my initial post said, I inundate myself with Brit/UK culture, so I think the subtleties are becoming more pronounced).
Kevin "El Liso Grande" wrote: "i'm glad i am not. i like having good teeth and meaning footwear when i say boot"Lol. I actually like that Brits aren't obsessed with orthodontry and bleaching. Teeth are part of what give the face personality (there are limits, of course).
Heidi, your grandmother looks like she is serious about her Wii! Aren't we lucky to have spunky grandmothers?
ms.petra wrote: "Heidi, your grandmother looks like she is serious about her Wii! Aren't we lucky to have spunky grandmothers?"
Petra, isn't that just the neatest?!! Y'all, I wish I could share my grandmothers with all of you. They are just the neatest women ever! I'm so proud to call them "family." My mom bragged on my grandmother when she saw those pics posted on FB. Apparently my grandmother was a league bowling champion back in the day. I had no idea about that.
She also helped me sneak a note onto my mom's back at Disney World back in '97ish, "I PICK MY NOSE." We giggled about it all day. Mom had noooo idea I did that. We finally told her about it on the plane when we were leaving. She thought it was funny.
My grandmother has THE best stories. Her face and hands are animated when she's telling a story... or even listening. Cajuns are a great captive audience. She gets so excited, like a kid.
In fact, I'd say our whole family does that - the Cajun side of the family, not the Arkansas side of the family... they're laid back and hospitable. Cajun family - exuberant and hospitable. :)
Point in case:
mother talking with cousin -
[image error]
[image error]
See what I mean?!!
BunWat wrote: "Accents in Britain can be used to determine where you live within a fifty mile radius at least, as well as near equally precise distinctions of social class and level of education. Check the movie..."YES!!! See?! I knew you'd know what I wanted to say, Bun. You said it perfectly. :)
Jackie "the Librarian" wrote: "So can Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. :)"HA!!! Yes they can. :)
Yay! Heidi got my My Fair Lady reference! :):::hugs Heidi:::
Jackie "the Librarian" wrote: "Yay! Heidi got my My Fair Lady reference! :):::hugs Heidi:::"
It's tied for favorite with Mary Poppins, Jackie. :)
"MOOOOVE YEH BLOOUUUMIN ARRSE!!!"
(hee)
/\ /\Awesome. Really classes up the joint. :-)
I need a mind condom when watching Jersey Shore; I'm afraid I'll contract a mental STD. It's called stupid and apparently it's contagious.
I'm not watching that. I'd wear the pepper hat first. ;)
Speaking of accents-Did you hear about the woman from Oregon who went in for oral surgery and came out with a British accent?
Mary wrote: "Speaking of accents-Did you hear about the woman from Oregon who went in for oral surgery and came out with a British accent?"
No. Tell me about it.
Also, I love my mom and grandmother. I'm biased, though. :)
Heidi wrote: "Mary wrote: "Speaking of accents-Did you hear about the woman from Oregon who went in for oral surgery and came out with a British accent?"
No. Tell me about it.
Also, I love my mom and grandmo..."
Seen on the today show-56 year old woman went in for an operation, when she woke up from the anesthesia she had a British accent.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42912831
Mary wrote: "Speaking of accents-Did you hear about the woman from Oregon who went in for oral surgery and came out with a British accent?"
Just heard about that this morning on CNN. They actually call it "foreign accent syndrome." When I get some time, I want to research it; I don't know how changing the mouth can affect the accent so profoundly since it's a learned thing not determined by physiology. As a syndrome it must be related to the brain more than the mouth.
If you have to "suffer" from a syndrome, at least this is probably the best you could hope for.
my memory tells me she's not actually speaking in a foreign accent, it just sounds that way to us. a syndrome related to the speaker's mouth and the audience's brain. if i'm not mistaken. bun will correct me.
BunWat wrote: "Janine is entirely correct. It is a syndrome often caused by some sort of brain damage in the speaker, which produces an odd pattern of speech. Not enough damage to produce a full on speech imped..."I figured it wasn't genuinely "foreign," but some of the examples I heard this morning sounded more area-specific than others, which was kind of interesting. I'm just amazed that this was caused by oral surgery; it must have been very extensive to affect pronunciation so much (since the various language sounds come from so many different areas of the mouth and throat).
BunWat wrote: "Yeah just I listened to it, that's not a British accent, that's a speech impediment. And I would bet anything it wasn't caused by the oral surgery it was caused by the anesthesia. She had a mini ..."After I posted I thought about the anesthesia; that would make more sense. The human brain and it's capacity for change and adaptability is really astounding, but it's also frightening that with so much complexity there are so many ways it can be damaged.
This brain-talk makes me think of Gabrielle Giffords. I know she is trying to learn how to write with her left hand because her right has been affected by the left-hemisphere damage.Regarding the "foreign language syndrome" earlier, I'm finding it more and more fascinating. I've had several friends tell me that I have a funny way of pronouncing some words but I've never heard what they're talking about- apparently my Rs are "weird"; I wonder just how much of ourselves we actually hear and how much of our own speech we just assume sounds like we intend, but in fact does not. I need to find some books on speech pathology now.
BunWat wrote: "Have you read any of Oliver Sacks books, Amber? He writes really interesting popular science books and essays about neurology. For example in [book:The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other..."I've heard of that one in a vague sort of way; it's definitely being added to my to-read list.
Just lie and tell people you're British.I used to tell people I was from a small ice village outside Sitka. Sometimes it was Lithuania. It can be fun messing with people.
Once I told a bunch of drunken coworkers I was left on the doorstep of a Catholic orphanage, which was why I didn't know what race I was. I'm a rotten liar so I didn't think they would believe it or even remember, but a couple of years later people were discussing what to get their mothers for Mother's Day, and then one of them began shushing the others when I approached. "She's adopted," one of them stage-whispered. "Who told you that BS!?" I almost spat, and then I remembered. I did. I fell down laughing. No wonder so many of them would act so motherly and protective of me. I always thought it was because I was the youngest.
BunWat wrote: "Have you read any of Oliver Sacks books, Amber? He writes really interesting popular science books and essays about neurology. For example in [book:The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other..."This sounds very interesting.
I plan to add it to my list
