Not being a Brit, I can't tell you for sure. That said, I do believe some of those across the Pond might be more inclined to be all posh (as they say ), just for tradition's sake... Although you'll most certainly find that everywhere. I'm sure in MI6 and Buckingham Palace they're all formal, but if you go talk to everyday people, you'll probably find as many that speak informally as you'd find in North America.
Not to mention a British accent just makes things sound more formal, anyway...
Having been told on numerous occassions by almost everyone that I have a generic BBC Scotland accent, I guess I'm pushed into the "do" side whether I like it or not.
I'm always pleased to hear an English accent. Especially when its formal. Nothing against Cockney, but it seems to be the only one a majority of folks over here might recognize.
There's this little over-played commercial with a talking Gecko that makes Michael Caine sound like Olivier.
It's pretty simple: the Brits speak English like Brits; Americans speak English like Americans. "Formal" is a kind of snobbish distinction, usually applied to the Oxbridge accent to indicate that this is the way to speak English. Accents and dialects vary by region--none is more formal than other. So put that in your pipe and smoke it, 'Enry 'Iggins!
It's pretty simple: the Brits speak English like Brits; Americans speak English like Americans. "Formal" is a kind of snobbish distinction, usually applied to the Oxbridge accent to indicate that this is the way to speak English. Accents and dialects vary by region--none is more formal than other. So put that in your pipe and smoke it, 'Enry 'Iggins!
So which US actor does your voice resemble most, hb, as there are so many different American accents?
I've had people tell me I have "no accent," which basically means it's the kind of flat, midwest accent you hear in most American TV newscasters. I have no idea which actor I sound like. . .every time I hear my voice when I let the answering machine pick up, I cringe!
Heard Bob Hoskins lately? ) Now 'at's s'm riot propa tawk, 'at is
Channeling the Artful Dodger, are we?
Yeah, and it's just as hard to write phonetically as it sounds ). I hope I'm not being insulting. I think Hoskins is a terrific actor. Does a really good American accent, too. I know when Michael Caine gets in touch with his roots, in something like The Man Who Would be King or Alfie, I really have to concentrate to understand everything he's saying.
There is some awkward footage of a youngish Hoskins talking all posh and pretentious at a late 60s actors' gathering. Not sure if that means his cockney is a fake or he was trying on ingratiate himself with the posh nobs he was with...
Americans tend to use slang in their conversation. They also tend to swear a great deal. I wonder if Brits do the same thing.
Some do, some don't would be the simple answer (feeling of deja vu)- much the same as anywhere else, I'd think. Obviously many people vary their speech patterns (whether consciously or not) according to circumstance- less swearing and slang at the office than in the pub for example.
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Not to mention a British accent just makes things sound more formal, anyway...
Roger Moore 1927-2017
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/index.php?topic=28994
Having been told on numerous occassions by almost everyone that I have a generic BBC Scotland accent, I guess I'm pushed into the "do" side whether I like it or not.
There's this little over-played commercial with a talking Gecko that makes Michael Caine sound like Olivier.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I've had people tell me I have "no accent," which basically means it's the kind of flat, midwest accent you hear in most American TV newscasters. I have no idea which actor I sound like. . .every time I hear my voice when I let the answering machine pick up, I cringe!
And, Alex, dude, chill! B-)
Heard Bob Hoskins lately?
Yeah, and it's just as hard to write phonetically as it sounds
Roger Moore 1927-2017
More like Dick Van Dyke ... the owner of the worst cockney accent ever captured on celluloid
How about the worst accent, period?
Barbara Bach's Russian accent is positively Oscar-worthy by comparison.
Cor, Luv a duck!
Americans tend to use slang in their conversation. They also tend to swear a great deal. I wonder if Brits do the same thing.
Some do, some don't would be the simple answer (feeling of deja vu)- much the same as anywhere else, I'd think. Obviously many people vary their speech patterns (whether consciously or not) according to circumstance- less swearing and slang at the office than in the pub for example.