As one can imagine I spend an inordinate amount of time discussing my accent. Well, defending it more than discussing it. First, people are shocked that I don't have a Southern accent. Once again, Kansas is not in the South... rather, the Midwest. Yes, "mid-west" makes absolutely no sense considering Kansas is right, smack in the middle of the states... but, still it's the mid-west. When first landing on this small island I was appalled when people would mention my "accent." Midwesterners have the flattest of all United States' accents. News anchors, celebrities and politicians are taught to speak like my people! In fact, soldiers from the Mid-West were used as code talkers during the wars because they were deemed most understandable. In my mind, I didn't have an accent. Of course, I sounded much different than the Scots but I figured my accent was truly nothing to be excited about. How wildly incorrect this innocent thought has panned out to be.
My accent, more specifically my pronunciation of words, has been at the center of many a party discussion, has been the butt of quite a few jokes and believe it or not has even received a few compliments. A flat warming party Friday meant that after a few drinks complete strangers felt comfortable enough to question American pronunciation. Generally, parties at one point or another force me to become the voice of America. Being the only American in the room I find myself defending particular customs or practices from the United States that I A.) know nothing about or B.) find the custom/practice just as ridiculous and bizarre as the non-Americans (Valet Parking is the most recent example I can think of). This party mockery led me to examine the words that Americans say differently than other English speakers. There are quite a few so I have narrowed the list to the most interesting. I will try to phonetically translate these differences but both myself and my History of the English Language professor can attest to the fact that phonetic translations are not exactly my strong point.
1. Oregano--- American Pronunciation: Oh-Ray-Ga-No Worldly Pronunciation: Or-A-Gaa-No
2. Basil-- American Pronunciation: Bay-Sil Worldly Pronunciation: BAA-Sil (The pronunciation of "A" is one of the greatest differences in American and British accents.. Americans generally pronounce the letter "A" as "Eh" whereas the Brits pronounce "A" as "Ahh." Although, the Scots accent is a bit different and their pronunciation of "A" leans more towards the American pronunciation than the English).
3. Leisure-- American Pronunciation: Lee-Sure Worldly Pronunciation: Lait (think of the French word for milk)-Shur
4. Zebra- American Pronunciation: Zee-Bra Worldly Pronunciation: Zeb-Bra.. Like the "A" sound the "Z" sound is completely different. In fact, it's not even called "Z" it's a "Zed"
5. Schedule-- American Pronunciation: Sked-Well Worldly Pronunciation: Sched-Ell
6, Arkansas v. Kansas--- I have heard that American pronunciation and it's inaccuracies can be summed up in the differences of pronouncing Arkansas and Kansas. Kansas is pronounced "Can-Ziss" whereas Arkansas is pronounced "Ark-Can-Saw"... it makes no sense, just go with it.
And finally the latest edition to this list, the word that caused me much mockery at a party and certain individuals have carried the mocking throughout the week........
7. Jaguar--- American Pronunciation: Jag-Wire Worldly Pronunciation: Jag-uAR
After a serendipitous occurrence my classmate Joe, his girlfriend Jacqueline, Richard and I all had tickets to the same play on the same evening. Therefore, it was decided by Joe and I that we should go on a double date of sorts to dinner and the play. However, half of my half of the date worried about the validity of this social gathering and the term "double date." To which I renamed it a social gathering in which we converse with another committed couple, which was deemed more appropriate. Shockingly enough, the dictionary uses almost this exact definition to define double date... Double Date: "A social engagement in which two couples go together, as in They went on a double date with her brother and his girlfriend" To save my fingers extra grief I will use "double date" only because the dictionary itself validates this term. The writing of this paragraph was interrupted by yet another debate about the word "date" apparently it's an American term.
After a nice dinner we made our way to the play "All New People." The play was written, directed and starred Zach Braff (That guy from Scrubs). Joe, a Zach Braff aficionado, filled us less knowledgeable play-goers in about the play over dinner. Zach Braff has always wanted to write and perform a play in London. He wrote "All New People" which was first performed a few times in the US. He did not star in the US productions as he wanted to be an audience member and tweak particular parts of the play. The play is showing in three cities in the UK, including London, and the writer will be performing in all UK performances. While, I really had no previous opinion of Zach Braff I will admit that it was pretty exciting to see a "famous person" perform. While I will admit to being excited I certainly was not as excited as many of the Braffinities seated around me. The play opened, as do most, with the curtain slowly pulling apart to reveal the stag. Standing on a chair was Zach Braff and the audience burst into applause and shouts of excitement. I enjoyed the play and while slightly over the top, found it funny.. but, I am fairly certain that many of the audience members would have been perfectly happy if Braff just stood on the stage for an hour and a half.
This week I made another trip to Edinburgh and another trip to the National Gallery for my class in art history. I am always amazed that two cities so close together can be so different. I love Glasgow for many reasons (many of these reasons are actually people) but can never dispute the fact that Edinburgh is gorgeous. The first time I came to Scotland I only travelled to Edinburgh. After, having travelled to Edinburgh a few times since that initial visit and having lived in Glasgow, I believe every traveller to Scotland needs to visit both cities. Edinburgh for it's beauty and history and Glasgow for it's people and a more authentic Scottish feel.
Ten Things You Will Find in Edinburgh but Not in Glasgow:
1. The Union Jack- Yes, I am sure if you look hard enough you will find plenty in Glasgow. However, it is much more common to see the Saltire (Scotland's flag). Glasgow's buildings usually fly the Saltire where Edinburgh's buildings generally fly both.
2. A Castle
3. Ten Thousand Tourist Shops
4. The One O'clock Gun Shot
5. Hundreds of Tour Buses
6. More foreign accents than Scottish accents
7. Small, cobble stoned, winding roads leading to a castle
8. A Nessie Hat, a High-Land Cow Hat, thousands of kilts (again, things that are probably in Glasgow just hidden).
9. Exercisers consistently walking up and down the staircase leading to the castle
10. Bagpipers on every corner.
And, now I must go about my scheduled daily activities which include leisurely feeding my zebra, from Kansas, basil and my jaguar, from Arkansas, oregano.--Aren't language differences fun?
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