Irish People Attempt American Accents
October 13, 2016 7:52 PM   Subscribe

 
The red-haired woman could pass.
posted by Miko at 7:56 PM on October 13, 2016 [5 favorites]


But who gave them a script with "car park" in it?
posted by Miko at 7:57 PM on October 13, 2016 [5 favorites]


But who gave them a script with "car park" in it?

As someone from Newport, RI... what the hell is a cowpork?
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:59 PM on October 13, 2016 [3 favorites]


Why does Doug Henning have an Irish accent?
posted by Chuckles at 8:03 PM on October 13, 2016 [7 favorites]


But who gave them a script with "car park" in it?

Someone whose favourite parks are car parks.
posted by betweenthebars at 8:09 PM on October 13, 2016 [4 favorites]


I feel like there was a 3 drink minimum. That's ok.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:10 PM on October 13, 2016


I LOVE this Youtube channel

Probably because 95% of it is busting on ridiculous Americana, like political ads, regular ads, Spam, Pop Tarts, weird Lays potato chip flavors, Fox news, and Donald Trump. Their look at weird international kids shows is also a good one.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:11 PM on October 13, 2016 [12 favorites]


Where do we get to do our Irish accents? I demand reciprocity!
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:12 PM on October 13, 2016 [3 favorites]


... and this gives me reason to, yet again, miss Justin Wilson.

.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:13 PM on October 13, 2016 [3 favorites]


that brief Owen Wilson impersonation was dead on, though.
posted by floweringjudas at 8:14 PM on October 13, 2016 [15 favorites]


Where do we get to do our Irish accents? I demand reciprocity!

As a matter of fact...
posted by datawrangler at 8:20 PM on October 13, 2016 [5 favorites]


Reminds me of an episode of Difficult People where Julie auditions for a role using the accent of an Australian person trying to do an American accent, since that seems to be the way actors talk in prestige cable dramas.
posted by stevil at 8:59 PM on October 13, 2016 [2 favorites]


The leather jacket twins are the worst. Not just at accents, but at everything, ever.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:05 PM on October 13, 2016 [5 favorites]


Oh no this is fine anyone can do a Cork accent you just say everything without strong consonants and also like you're about to stab someone.
posted by The Whelk at 9:12 PM on October 13, 2016 [5 favorites]


You think County Cork is tough, try Woonsocket, wheyah we trow you down the stayes a pilla, afoah we go pok ah caz side by each atta anospital.

(Woonsocket, where we throw a pillow to you down the stairs, before we go and park our cars in a row at the hospital. Butchu caneven proof nettin on us's.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:27 PM on October 13, 2016 [11 favorites]


We once had a bunch of French teenagers as guests, who were all pretty fluent in colloquial American English because their dad had lived here for a chunk of his childhood and now works as a translator for American authors. Spending time with them was a delight in general.

Sitting around the table one night at dinner, I asked them to "do an American accent". I'd describe the results overall as "Texas by way of Chicago". It was adorable. Recognizably American, if not actually a recognized regional accent from anywhere particular.

But then the youngest kid pulled out a spot-on "I'M WALKIN HERE" and I lost my shit entirely.
posted by padraigin at 9:32 PM on October 13, 2016 [14 favorites]


I'm impressed that they know of—let alone can attempt—regional US accents. Most Americans can't tell Received Pronounciation from General Australian, fer chrissakes.

On preview, "Texas by way of Chicago" is a good description of what comes out of every Brit I've heard trying to mimic an American accent.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:42 PM on October 13, 2016 [10 favorites]


As a matter of fact...

See, datawrangler, now I just want to do 'Bane, James Bane' for Halloween.
posted by sysinfo at 9:45 PM on October 13, 2016


I was surprised how mild their actual Irish accents were. When I was in Ireland, half the people I spoke with I couldn't understand.
posted by 2N2222 at 9:46 PM on October 13, 2016


I also enjoyed Irish People Taste Test American Sandwiches.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:00 PM on October 13, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'M WALKIN' HERE!
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:16 PM on October 13, 2016


One of the best things about living in various foreign countries is getting to hear people do American accents. This is so fun and charming.
posted by amanda at 10:23 PM on October 13, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Julie auditions for a role using the accent of an Australian person trying to do an American accent"

The worst, worst offender is Jesse Spencer on Chicago Fire, who not only does not have a city-issued mustache (although the show is rife with Chicago cop/fire mustaches in general) but who sounds like HIS ENTIRE MOUTH IS FULL OF MARBLES and I find the show hard to watch because I'm constantly afraid he's about to choke on one of them.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:55 PM on October 13, 2016 [2 favorites]


I've been following Facts. channel for a year now. It's basically Buzzfeed with a brogue, but that's a gimmick that goes for me.

In a similar way, there's also Kream Kulture (South Koreans reacting to American/ Western culture).
posted by LeRoienJaune at 11:10 PM on October 13, 2016 [1 favorite]


Their Canadian accents are appalling.
posted by peppermind at 11:17 PM on October 13, 2016 [4 favorites]


Grey sweater. Grey sweater is a man of the world. Grey sweater has seen some shit.
posted by tracert at 11:29 PM on October 13, 2016 [9 favorites]


Their Canadian accents are appalling.

There's no such thing as a Canadian accent. There's not even a pan-Canadian language. What they're reproducing is the Canadian stereotype, and they're doing a ridiculous job of it, which means they're doing it right, because it exists only for the purpose of cheap laughs.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 12:21 AM on October 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


I'm impressed that they know of—let alone can attempt—regional US accents. Most Americans can't tell Received Pronounciation from General Australian, fer chrissakes.


We grow up hearing US accents on tv and in film in a way that isn't really reciprocal - even Irish accents on tv tend to be other nationalities doing (often bad) impressions oh dear lord don't start me on sons of anarchy. We can broadly do say a Boston or New York or Southern accent while knowing they are all huge generalisations. It is slightly worrying me, though, how often I hear my little nieces slipping into "American" accents when they're playing together, because of the amount of kids tv shows they watch, which is way beyond what I had access to growing up before the invention of dedicated kids channels and YouTube.
posted by billiebee at 2:54 AM on October 14, 2016 [5 favorites]


because of the amount of kids tv shows they watch,

My son watches quite a lot of Peppa Pig and has this same thing going on but in reverse. Especially in his inflection when he asks questions.
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:53 AM on October 14, 2016 [6 favorites]


Gray sweater-dude is an accomplished actor... or just damn good at this.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:23 AM on October 14, 2016


My (American) daughter is a huge fan of several Australian pop stars and YouTubers, and her Australian accent is shockingly good. I'm quite certain she could pass. It's amazing what watching thousands of hours of video will do for your mimicry skills.

Also, Germans try to pronounce 'squirrel'. That is all.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:43 AM on October 14, 2016 [13 favorites]


I get the sense that the woman in the Slytherin shirt would be very good, with practice.
posted by uncleozzy at 4:50 AM on October 14, 2016


Their Canadian accents are appalling

Well they'd have exposure to a range of American accents via American television, but I don't know where they'd hear a genuine Canadian accent. Nobody watches Canadian television (unless it's in fauxmerican drag, eg all science fiction shows), not even Canadians!*

Ok, Trailer Park Boys, and your mom is into Republic of Doyle but speaking of stereotypes, eeesh
posted by rodlymight at 5:25 AM on October 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


Interesting that they all managed to get a reasonable handle on stereotypical aspects of the various regional accents, and then completely choked on the Boston accent. This is something I find true of most Americans as well.
posted by slkinsey at 5:32 AM on October 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


Well they'd have exposure to a range of American accents via American television, but I don't know where they'd hear a genuine Canadian accent. Nobody watches Canadian television (unless it's in fauxmerican drag, eg all science fiction shows), not even Canadians!*

You'd be surprised at the international reach of The Littlest Hobo and Degrassi High, both of which contain some pretty hardcore Canadian accents.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:47 AM on October 14, 2016 [5 favorites]


My son watches quite a lot of Peppa Pig and has this same thing going on but in reverse. Especially in his inflection when he asks questions.

I believe we may have discovered the origin of rising intonation amongst our youth.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:26 AM on October 14, 2016


Interesting that they all managed to get a reasonable handle on stereotypical aspects of the various regional accents, and then completely choked on the Boston accent. This is something I find true of most Americans as well.


I was born in Boston and lived there for 30 years. I often fuck up when I am trying to put on a Boston accent.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:46 AM on October 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


I ended up watching a bunch of the candy ones, too. These Irish, they are very charming.
posted by dame at 6:51 AM on October 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


wow where did they find the hesher dude, 1984?
posted by entropicamericana at 7:06 AM on October 14, 2016


What they're reproducing is the Canadian stereotype, and they're doing a ridiculous job of it, which means they're doing it right, because it exists only for the purpose of cheap laughs.

The hoser stereotype reads to me as an exaggerated version of nonmetropolitan Ontario. Example: everyone in Project Grizzly.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:08 AM on October 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


Yeah, I was going to say. The "Canadian" accent is actually an Ontario accent which is as far as I can tell pretty much the same as a Minnesota accent. I know this accent exists because my co-workers here in Seattle keep making fun of me for it ;)
posted by quaking fajita at 7:17 AM on October 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, the Canadian one is really SCTV-hoser/Ontario. Having just spent a week calling places in Newfoundland, I'm quite familiar with that one (and the wonderful expressions - I couldn't reach one guy because he's "in and out like a dog's stomach). My region (Maritimes) can have a pretty strong accent.

Full marks for starting out with an apology, though. That's bonus Canadian marks right there.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 7:26 AM on October 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


Oh no this is fine anyone can do a Cork accent you just say everything without strong consonants and also like you're about to stab someone.
It's an accent in which "sorry?" can be an invitation to hostilities and "c'mere, c'mere, c'mere... fuck off" is a completely unremarkable way to address a stranger. I mean, what's not to love?
posted by Zeinab Badawi's Twenty Hotels at 7:42 AM on October 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


My son watches quite a lot of Peppa Pig and has this same thing going on but in reverse.

My kids don't do the accents so much, but I've heard them use the term "clever clogs" in conversation, which I know they could only have picked up from that show.
posted by nickmark at 8:22 AM on October 14, 2016


To my west coast US ear, west coast Canadians have a lovely accent, a musical lilt that is not unlike an Irish accent. This would be outside the Vancouver area mostly. Of course there's lots of ehs and a-boats but all the vowels seem a little stretched out and sentences end with just a slight upturn in pitch, which invites the other to respond. Not as pronounced as the annoying Valley Girl upturn that turns every statement into a question. Also it's possible that I've just run into a lot of Irish expatriates on vacation on Vancouver Island, sort of similar to how everyone at a Canadian ski resort has a British or Australian accent.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:57 AM on October 14, 2016


The "Canadian" accent is actually an Ontario accent which is as far as I can tell pretty much the same as a Minnesota accent.

Mostly but not quite. But yeah, it's basically the Hoser accent. BC is kind of hard to put your finger on but clearly it's not a Newfoundland or Quebec accent. I'd like to see people attempt their versions of a Quebecer accent (English of course - I can't tell French accents apart so that not nearly funny enough)
posted by GuyZero at 8:57 AM on October 14, 2016


Also I've never heard anyone besides Bob and Doug Mackenzie use the word "hoser." This exists?
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:59 AM on October 14, 2016


The "Canadian" accent is actually an Ontario accent which is as far as I can tell pretty much the same as a Minnesota accent.

They're very, very different, actually. Like, to the point that most of us up here find it bizarre that people always say that. Stereotypical Minnesota is very tight in the mouth and throat, very melodic, and doesn't do th's, much like the Scandinavian and Irish accents that helped shape it. Hoser -- which, it must be said, is a very particular accent, and by no means standard Canadian -- is much more relaxed and monotone.

Really, though, lot of Ontario accents (and there are a lot, based on location, age, and cutural influence) are mostly like the American accents they're closest to -- Western New York and Southern Michigan especially -- but for a few GIANT differences here and there. This'll suss a bunch of them out: "How's that pasta? Too hot?"

Having just spent a week calling places in Newfoundland, I'm quite familiar with that one

That's not one accent, it's a bunch, and the people in this video pretty much speak one of them natively.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:00 AM on October 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


It exists among people who used to watch a lot of SCTV. It's a parody that became reality.
posted by GuyZero at 9:00 AM on October 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


Really, though, lot of Ontario accents (and there are a lot, based on location, age, and cutural influence)

Having just got back from south of Ottawa, yeah, that Ottawa valley accent is a thing that is really different from the rest of the province.
posted by GuyZero at 9:01 AM on October 14, 2016


Damn, that Owen Wilson one. I like how the dude's first reaction is to make his face go from zero to high as a kite when he does the burrito line too.

> Especially in his inflection when he asks questions.

On a tangent, I seem to remember a comment here pointing out that British people have a downward inflection on questions a lot of the time. Does anyone remember where that showed up?
posted by lucidium at 9:02 AM on October 14, 2016


I was surprised how mild their actual Irish accents were. When I was in Ireland, half the people I spoke with I couldn't understand.

In rural areas we're still making em with strong accents.
posted by kersplunk at 10:59 AM on October 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


The world is a flaming dumpster fire but I just laughed out loud watching Germans try to say squirrel thank god for this thread.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:30 PM on October 14, 2016 [4 favorites]


So is Letterkenny an Ontario accent, then? It sounds vaguely Minnesotan.
posted by small_ruminant at 7:13 PM on October 14, 2016


When I was in Ireland, half the people I spoke with I couldn't understand.

Where were you? I've been all over southern ireland and it vastly differs. My hypothesis was that the more urban/city a person is (as opposed to rural), the easier they are to understand. I once had dinner with a distant relative and his wife in Clare. I could understand her fine but with my cousin I was forced to ask him to repeat 90% of what he said. She works in Ennis in the service industry, he's a farmer. Go figure.
posted by axiom at 9:27 PM on October 14, 2016


Vancouverites doing Kingston/Tamworth accents. (Bonus points if you can spot the Harmer.)
posted by maudlin at 10:10 PM on October 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


This seems like an apt moment to remind everyone of the O'Donovan brothers' existence.
posted by LMGM at 11:47 AM on October 15, 2016


Also, Germans try to pronounce 'squirrel'. That is all.

As a Row Dye Lander, itz pronanced "Sackwill."

Ya welcum.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:06 PM on October 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


« Older OMG OMG OMG   |   ♪♫ One of modern history’s most reviled inventions... Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments