ganeshran Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Do people (specifically Indians) pick up a foreign accent subconsciously while working abroad for not so long periods of time? The reason I am asking this is in my previous company - even people who used to go for 3 months on a business visa used to return back with a videshi accent :hmmm:
Temujin Khaghan Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Do people (specifically Indians) pick up a foreign accent subconsciously while working abroad for not so long periods of time? The reason I am asking this is in my previous company - even people who used to go for 3 months on a business visa used to return back with a videshi accent :hmmm: when people see something they think is cool... then they subconsciously try to imitate it. thats my theory.
Brainfade Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Do people (specifically Indians) pick up a foreign accent subconsciously while working abroad for not so long periods of time? The reason I am asking this is in my previous company - even people who used to go for 3 months on a business visa used to return back with a videshi accent :hmmm: After having spent 19 years in the US, it is obvious that it just comes down to the individual. Broadly 3 categories: (1) Some people obtain a strong accent within a short time - an accent that is neither here nor there. For example, they will say "Masters" and "can't" like an American, but will give it away with "pyaaper." (paper in Vizagi-telugu). They will say "skedule" even when they speak to other Indian people. But "petrol-bunk" to an American. (2) There are others who do not develop an accent at all. They maintain their Indian-ness at all times. (3) A third category is the ones who can switch depending on the audience - they have a solid American accent - slang, pronunciation, the whole 9 yards - when the audience is American, but can switch to a complete, natural desi accent when the audience is desi. They get really confused in a mixed audience!
cowboysfan Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 i dont notice any change in my accent but dad seems to think it has changed.
punjabi_khota Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 You gotta do it if you wanna get laid :dontknow: :P
The Outsider Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 After having spent 19 years in the US, it is obvious that it just comes down to the individual. Broadly 3 categories: (1) Some people obtain a strong accent within a short time - an accent that is neither here nor there. For example, they will say "Masters" and "can't" like an American, but will give it away with "pyaaper." (paper in Vizagi-telugu). They will say "skedule" even when they speak to other Indian people. But "petrol-bunk" to an American. (2) There are others who do not develop an accent at all. They maintain their Indian-ness at all times. (3) A third category is the ones who can switch depending on the audience - they have a solid American accent - slang, pronunciation, the whole 9 yards - when the audience is American, but can switch to a complete, natural desi accent when the audience is desi. They get really confused in a mixed audience! There is a 4th category as well in my experience - where you shed a lot of the idiosyncrasies of your Indian accent, but don't really acquire an American accent - the neutral accent as it's called.
Brainfade Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 i dont notice any change in my accent but dad seems to think it has changed. The thing is that - even when your pronunciations don't change, your expressions do. For example, you may spontaneously say "Man ... that sucks ... big time." with no accent. But it's still a give-away.
Params7 Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 You gotta do it if you wanna get laid :dontknow: :P Funny because when it comes to European accent (Irish, German, French) or Russian, people like it and their natives don't try to mimic American accents. Whole other story with pure Indian accent though.
Brainfade Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Funny because when it comes to European accent (Irish' date=' German, French) or Russian, people like it and their natives don't try to mimic American accents. Whole other story with pure Indian accent though.[/quote'] Even a Hispanic accent is considered "sexy" ... but not the Indian accent. Always puzzled me.
akshayxyz Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Do people (specifically Indians) pick up a foreign accent subconsciously while working abroad for not so long periods of time? The reason I am asking this is in my previous company - even people who used to go for 3 months on a business visa used to return back with a videshi accent :hmmm: 3 months!, some people start faking it the moment when they sniff an opportunity to travel. And some people stay natural even after spending years abroad. Btw - compare SunnyG's accent to Vijay Amritraj's :)
The Outsider Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Even a Hispanic accent is considered "sexy" ... but not the Indian accent. Always puzzled me. My 'theory' is that an Indian accent makes words sound harsher and so is not considered 'sexy'. For example, the Ts and Rs come out harsh in an Indian accent, but in a French accent, the Ts and Ds come out much softer and sound better.
Brainfade Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 My 'theory' is that an Indian accent makes words sound harsher and so is not considered 'sexy'. For example' date=' the Ts and Rs come out harsh in an Indian accent, but in a French accent, the Ts and Ds come out much softer and sound better.[/quote'] You're on to something. I haven't heard anyone say a Dutch or even a German accent, which make things sound harsher, are "sexy."
Ram Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Your vocabulary, usage of words and commonly used phrases definitely change, but I can’t imagine how your accent can possibly change, especially if you moved abroad past the age of 20. I couldn’t speak in an American accent even if somebody put a gun to my head, I just cant. (not that I want to either).
punjabi_khota Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Your vocabulary' date=' usage of words and commonly used phrases definitely change, but I can’t imagine how your accent can possibly change, especially if you moved abroad past the age of 20. I couldn’t speak in an American accent even if somebody put a gun to my head, I just cant. (not that I want to either).[/quote'] Lol cmon man, its not uncommon. My accent has definitely neutarlized in 6 years I have been here. But its stable now, and I like it this way.
Brainfade Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Your vocabulary' date=' usage of words and commonly used phrases definitely change, but I can’t imagine how your accent can possibly change, especially if you moved abroad past the age of 20. I couldn’t speak in an American accent even if somebody put a gun to my head, I just cant. (not that I want to either).[/quote'] Believe me, I know people who have moved here in their 20s, and if they spoke in an American accent on the phone, and you didn't know they were Indian, you could easily be fooled into thinking they were Americans through-and-through.
Ram Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Lol cmon man' date=' its not uncommon. My accent has definitely neutarlized in 6 years I have been here. But its stable now, and I like it this way.[/quote'] Dude – I am not talking about neutralization. I can understand that. I am talking about a complete makeover.
Holysmoke Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 3) A third category is the ones who can switch depending on the audience - they have a solid American accent - slang, pronunciation, the whole 9 yards - when the audience is American, but can switch to a complete, natural desi accent when the audience is desi. They get really confused in a mixed audience! That would be me. Fortunately now I'm back in desh so no more accent shackscent :--D
punjabi_khota Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 My cousins back home make fun of my changed accent, but then I shove refurbished Ipods in their faces and they stfu.
akshayxyz Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Do people (specifically Indians) pick up a foreign accent subconsciously while working abroad for not so long periods of time? The reason I am asking this is in my previous company - even people who used to go for 3 months on a business visa used to return back with a videshi accent :hmmm: Ganesh preparing for MS, and coincidentally talking about accent.. NRI marriage proposal :hmmm:
ganeshran Posted June 28, 2011 Author Posted June 28, 2011 Ganesh preparing for MS' date=' and coincidentally talking about accent.. NRI marriage proposal :hmmm:[/quote'] :headshake:
Recommended Posts