The Leeds accent abroad

grumpytramp · Post by **grumpytramp** » Mon 27 May, 2013 1:38 am

I have been very fortunate over the years to have had the opportunity to travel quite extensively in the Rockies mostly skiing but also doing a wee bit of fishing. The blessing of a Leeds accent has often been a point of entertaining conversation.Indeed once in the car park of a Montana ski centre, I was chatting to a local who after only a few moments conversation had correctly identified that I hailed from North East Leeds (he had lived and worked in West Yorkshire for a few years and had become a student of accent/dialect).Anyway to the point, I have just been for a few pints with an ex-collegue and great pal who originally hails from East End Park. He is just back from three month stint on an gas rig in North Dakota. His accent appears to have had an entirely new impact on the good citizens of the USAHe lost count of the number of times in bars or stores folk would say something like "Jeez you sound like you are straight of Games of Thrones" or "Hell, winters coming"

Patexpat · Post by **Patexpat** » Mon 27 May, 2013 9:22 am

many of the people I meet overseas seem to think I speak very quickly in comparison the other English speakers .. is that a Leeds/Yorkshire thing I wonder? Or just me .... who speaks fast?

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Mon 27 May, 2013 10:28 am

Patexpat wrote: many of the people I meet overseas seem to think I speak very quickly in comparison the other English speakers .. is that a Leeds/Yorkshire thing I wonder? Or just me .... who speaks fast?

No,I have found I have to speak slower when talking to foreigners as my Northern accent throws them (i have a Manchester accent although overlaid with Yorkshire now).Americans are usually baffled at first but gradually attune if i speak slowly to them.

Loiner1960 · Post by **Loiner1960** » Mon 27 May, 2013 11:13 am

Ever noticed that where ever you may go in the world, someone from Leeds will be there too! Many years ago, I worked in Saudi and at a party in the works compound, got chatting to two nurses. One from Bramley and one from Pudsey. Just chit chat about home and stuff. Next day my Californian work colleague was baffled. "I sounded like English but I couldn't understand a word!"

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Mon 27 May, 2013 12:10 pm

Steve Jones wrote: Patexpat wrote: many of the people I meet overseas seem to think I speak very quickly in comparison the other English speakers .. is that a Leeds/Yorkshire thing I wonder? Or just me .... who speaks fast?

No,I have found I have to speak slower when talking to foreigners as my Northern accent throws them (i have a Manchester accent although overlaid with Yorkshire now).Americans are usually baffled at first but gradually attune if i speak slowly to them. I'm a bit of a Frasier fan, (sad isn't it?) I've often wondered what the Americans made of Daphne's accent - allegedly Mancunian, but sounding very Yorkshire to my ears - possibly not Leeds though. I believe the actess who played her, Jane Leeves was from the South anyway. If Corrie's anything to go by Southerners can't tell Leeds from Manchester from Hull.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 27 May, 2013 12:11 pm

I have problems getting through the many various accents here in Leeds! I suspect that a Leeds accent will still persist for very many years but will gradually die out. Mind you, I have to strain hard to understand what people are saying on their mobile phone chats in public! Sorry for slightly wandering off this Leeds accent abroad thread.

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Mon 27 May, 2013 2:34 pm

Leodian wrote: I have problems getting through the many various accents here in Leeds! I suspect that a Leeds accent will still persist for very many years but will gradually die out. Mind you, I have to strain hard to understand what people are saying on their mobile phone chats in public! Sorry for slightly wandering off this Leeds accent abroad thread. I know that people from North Leeds, in particular Adel, have a tendency to sound "o" at the end of words as "ow" (cow)

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Mon 27 May, 2013 4:35 pm

I used to go out with someone from near Pateley Bridge (Glasshouses she lived, very nice little village/hamlet too) and her kids used to laugh at my accent. They used to bring their mates into the house and say 'Chris, say summat for us'

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Mon 27 May, 2013 8:52 pm

Steve Jones wrote: Patexpat wrote: many of the people I meet overseas seem to think I speak very quickly in comparison the other English speakers .. is that a Leeds/Yorkshire thing I wonder? Or just me .... who speaks fast?

No,I have found I have to speak slower when talking to foreigners as my Northern accent throws them (i have a Manchester accent although overlaid with Yorkshire now).Americans are usually baffled at first but gradually attune if i speak slowly to them. I'd agree with Steve (although not the Mancunian bit..! )Americans and Canadians especially seem to struggle with with alleged speed and then with actually placing the accent. Accusations of being from the Antipodes aren't unknown and then apparently we all sound like Hugh Grant / Stephen Fry....with a Yorkshire accent? Really?The Game of Thrones reference is an interesting one - despite being an American production several of the main characters hailed from Yorkshire (including Sean Bean - Sheffield, Lena Heady - Huddersfield and Mark Addy - York), although none from Leeds that I know of.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Mon 27 May, 2013 9:47 pm

Born and bred in Leeds but often asked if I'm from Scotland when in America.