Can americans notice the difference between english accents?

Question

i was just wondering if you americans can tell the difference between accents in england? like can you tell an accent from newcastle (geordie) to an accent from london (cockney)?

Answer 1

Not very well, apparently. They can't even necessarily tell the difference between English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh accents!

EDIT: Sorry. I guess I must be referrign to an exception to the rule about the difference between English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh accents. No offence meant.

Answer 2

im a cockney and i think any one would notice the difference between me and a geordie

Answer 3

Oh,  certainly !!!  Can't always tell where the speaker lives,  but the difference is quite remarkable.  What I can't tell is the difference between and American and a Canadian accent.  Maybe there isn't one.

x*x

Answer 4

of course....

Answer 5

The difference in accents is noticeable, but having never been to England I can't tell you where each comes from (except Cockney). But it's like that here too, people from different parts of the United States have a different accents, and while it may be noticeable, most foreigners can't tell you where they come from.

And I would like to point out that a good portion of Americans can tell the difference from Irish, Scottish, and English accents. Although maybe not Welsh because generally Americans aren't exposed much to it, so have nothing to compare to.

Answer 6

I do notice the accents vary, however, I cannot yet differentiate the regions from which they originate.  

As it is, I will be moving to Harrogate soon.

The English accents are pleasant and I prefer the softer English Accents.  

Answer 7

Sure, we've all seen "My Fair Lady." :-)  Seriously, I think that Americans who pay any attention can tell different English accents apart, although except for really well known ones like Cockney we may not know where they're from. Personally, I find it distracting when American actors playing British characters take a linguistic tour of England as their accent wanders all over the place.

Answer 8

I'm Australian, and I notice the difference, however, I don't know which is from which?!

Answer 9

Yes, if you can hear the difference between American regional accents, you will be able to hear the difference between British regional accents. You won't know where the speaker comes from uness you ask or unless you study the accents. It would be the same for me in America.

If you are seriously interested in British accents, you can get CDs giving examples of different regional accents. They are available from Samuel French's Theatre Bookshop on Fitzroy Street, near Euston Station.

http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/

Answer 10

well we can tell cockney from other accents, but otherwise they all sound the same.  I know that there ARE different ones but unless I've heard two different people talking at the same time.  I won't know where they come from hehe.  

have you seen that movie My Fair Lady?  in the beginning Prof. Higgins is all "oh you come from this street and that street oh and you're from here la de dah.."

can you all tell the difference between a californian accent and a bostonian one?  hehe... i wonder...