Accentuate the Positive
My little English Princess. Well, my little half-English/half-American Princess to be specific. She is hilarious, my girl. The other day I finally heard how I sound to my daughter.
It’s been 6 years since I moved permanently to the England. Being from the Midwest of the US, I didn’t have a particularly strong “American accent”. In fact, for the most part, my accent is one that used to be most desirable for news presenters/readers/reporters back in the day before ethnicity ruled. A flat accent without influence from region was the optimal accent as then you couldn’t necessarily tell where the person was from. Not terribly exciting, mind you, but there you go.
Since moving to the UK in 2005 I have tried to blend into the woodwork so to speak. It’s been so long now that sometimes I forget that I don’t have an English accent. I’ll find myself talking to someone I don’t know or haven’t met before and suddenly they aske me “Where are you from then?” and I remember “Oh, that’s right, I don’t speak like you.” I’ll NEVER have an ENGLISH accent so to speak but some of my words have definitely changed and my accent generally is softer and veers more toward English than it used to. I hear an accent from my home state of Wisconsin and can hardly believe my ears now! It sounds so different.
Since becoming a Mum I have tried to model the English language and accent as much a possible for Ella’s sake. I don’t mean that I put on some fake, posh, English accent. That would be ridiculous! But I use English pronunciations and words for Ella’s benefit and as a result, Ella’s accent is perfectly English much to the delight of my American family. The other day, however, I finally heard what I sound like to Ella as she repeated my accent back to me. Here is the video evidence for you! Enjoy!
Related Posts
-
A week ago today…
Posted on Apr 23, 2012
-
A New US Citizen
Posted on Apr 13, 2012
-
Happy Easter!
Posted on Apr 9, 2012
-
Snow 2012
Posted on Feb 6, 2012
Tags
Share This
Oh Karin, she’s just so so SO adorable! x
So cute ! She’s a natural !
Aww she’s adorable, Karin. What a little cutie and so confident in front of the camera.
What a riot that she hears the distinction….good ear for languages. You should begin throwing in a few of those French phrases now. Thanks for sharing….I do have a darling granddaughter who reminds me so of you at that age…
Really cute video! She’s adorable. I’ve always thought you had quite a strong accent by the way!
She is SUCH a little cutie!!!
Mammys Kitchen,
Thank you! We think so too!
Karin
Rosie Scribble,
Thanks Rosie! So, by strong accent, does that mean strong American accent? Darn…;)
Karin
Grandma Kathy,
Glad you enjoyed the video! 
Kar
Yes, I know, I should start speaking French exclusively now, maybe??
Carolin,
Well, it was a topic she quite enjoyed so we didn’t have to work too hard. One take and everything!
Karin
Annie,
Like mother, like daughter??
Karin
SAHMlovingit,
Thank you Heather! We’re quite fond of her as well!
Karin
SOOO cute!!
My dad was from the north of the UK (well Cheshire, so not that north
), and my mum from Essex and we grew up in North London. And we thought his accent was ‘so strange’ we called him a ‘foreigner’ 
Elena,
You know, I keep trying to tell English people (like my MIL) that we ALL have accents! Everyone does. Just because you’re English doesn’t mean that you don’t! I’m quite amused with how Ella has suddenly started mimicing me…not sure why all of a sudden but it is rather funny to hear my accent in her voice.
Karin
She is so cute
Lucinda,
Thank you. We think so too!
Karin xx
How adorable! I know what you mean about your accent changing due to living in England. I moved here permanently in 2003, and I’ve been the laughing stock of my whole family for years. They chide me constantly about my “English accent,” though I don’t think it’s particularly strong. I think it’s more to do with using English words and phrases. At this point, I have to really think hard to figure out what words ARE American and which are English. That said, my English accent has faded a little since I met my fiance. Having been married to an Englishman for 8 years, it had got qutie strong, but now that I’m with another American, I think that Dexter will have more of an American twang. I hope so anyway! When I was a kid, I lived in South Texas and had a thick MEXICAN accent. When I moved to Pennsylvania, I was made fun of mercilessly. So for his sake, I hope he’ll pick up the American accent so that when we move back to America one day he will not have too hard a time.
Katie,
I think the earlier one returns to one’s “homeland” the sooner the original accent is lost. I would guess that Dexter will very quickly pick up an American accent PROPERLY when you move home. 
Karin
It is funny how our kids pick up certain things. Ella is definitely hearing and mimicking my accent a lot more now. I’m keen to blend though so this is a whole new game for us!
Thanks for stopping by to comment…lovely to find you!