Here is a photo of a sunrise behind a few yachts safely moored in the harbour. A pleasant, serene image to start the week.
Some time ago (September 22, to be exact), I launched an all new whizz bang revolutionary new globally interactive Blog-cept: question of the day. I promised to reflect on the results, so here I go.
The first topic involved accents. As I said way back then, I know what I like and dislike in accents, but had little idea how people in other parts of the world gauge different accents. So I devised three questions. That sought to explore the concept in greater depth. The questions were:
- What is your primary language, and do you have a regional accent?
- Do you speak any other languages?
- [Most importantly] What do you think is the sexiest accent or language to your ear?
Rather than whip up some spreadsheets, bar charts and pie graphs (umm, pie), I thought that's I'd indulge in a little blue sky thinking and mediate on the responses. Things that I learned include:
- A lot of native English speakers responded. Shocking, I know, on an English language blog and all!
- I have a few American English accents, ranging from the brutalist Noo Yawker, Californian teen, flattened Midwesterner, hybrid US/French/Serb (that, I'd love to hear), a little Southern lilt, as well as a couple of softer American tones less identifiable by region.
- Similarly, we seem to have a couple of 'non-descript middle England' as well, which is a shame, as I would love a real "Nowt thaan laaddd git er oop rooaad n darn pit like" Huddersfield beauty to throw in the mix.
- Of our non English speakers, we've also got some native Japanese speakers, Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and German respondents. Given the quality of their answers, I can assure you that their English is infinitely superior to my German.
- My word we have a lot of multilinguists out there. Reinforcing my suspicions, Australians are very slack when it comes to second languages.
- (Obviously), our non-English readers are pretty confident with their English skills (or should be).
- The Indian readers are a talented bunch as a group. I guess living in a nation of such diversity, you have no choice but to engage with lots of languages!
- Those who speak English as a second language are more likely to have a third, or forth language too!
- Of our English speakers, people seem keen to try their hand at Spanish, Italian, French, and German, but perhaps are a little [ahem] slack in their studies.
- We have a nice nod to Central Europe though, with some native English speakers able to get around with some decent Hungarian and Romanian.
- I am intrigued to hear of 'West Japanese'. I shall be looking that one up!
The most intriguing question for me concerned sexiness. Of 22 responses, most seemed to agree that the accent alone was not enough, and that a hottie speaks a universal sexiness. That said, there were some interesting (not to mention rather revealing) responses. I needed to take a cold shower after Blackie's revelation.
In order of votes, I tallied up the following:
- FIVE for French (plus one for a Frenchman speaking English);
- FOUR for Irish (I do hope that it was a Cork thing rather than a grubby Belfast accent);
- THREE for German (plus one German speaking French);
- THREE for Australian (they can't have met Pauline Hanson);
- TWO for Italian (plus one for southern Italian, which is sure to piss off Berlusconi);
- TWO for Scottish (although I think that they mean a 'nice' one and not an urban Glaswegian. Surely not?);
- the Russian, generic British, Spanish and South African (!) all got ONE vote;
- as did the wonderfully specific "native Kyoto lady speaking Japanese" and "cultured Hungarian fellow speaking BBC English";
- in a turn up for the books, the dulcet tones of Cornwell also got a vote. I love the West Country accent, don't get me wrong, but more in a "makes me smile" than "stirs my loins", kind of way.
So there we have it! What did we learn?
LOTS!
If you didn't partake in the questions, feel free to have a crack, and I'll get around to crunching the numbers of the other four shortly!
Comments
I think an Australian accent --or barring that, British, is pretty sexy, a lot sexier than American. American accents aren't sexy at all!
[But my husband, a native Detroiter (American all the way), is pretty sexy.]
Oh and I answered you accent question. =)
I certainly meant 'nice' Scottish (I'm pretty sure I specified "not Glasgow"! My local drunks are hilarious and polite, but not remotely tempting I'm afraid).
Speaking of accents: when "Louis" lived in France, he was once speaking French to two women in a chocolate shop in Normandy. Speaking French, not English. "Louis" had lived in California for 30 years before moving to France. One of the women asked him Habitez-vous en Texas?
Bonjour, y'all!
1 .- Spanish. In Murcia there is a dialect called "Panocho" but is no longer in use. There was talk for many years in the Huerta of Murcia.
2 .- English. I understand better than I speak.
3 .- French, without a doubt. Although it would also have to mention that the Spanish of Argentina.
I'm enjoying your linguistic research. I'm still mulling the third question, although in the rarefied atmosphere of the past few days, I might venture the answer: Obaman.
Priyanka, well, you excel as a group. No wonder that India is on the rise!
Layrayski, no filter, I did fiddle with the contrast just a touch, but generally it was all mother nature at work.
Blackie, I generally try to view those occasions as character building.
Jackie, I will admit to finding the thick Aberdeen accent amusing, if not sexy.
Louis, I will admit that this is what drew my eye too!
Your EG Tour Guide, I like them too. There has been a lot of work tracing the roots of what is quite a distinctive accent. It’s really interesting to see how they can isolate specific regional Irish accents within various Canadian accents!
My wife does a handy little number in ‘outback’ Argentinean Spanish.
USelaine, I hope that I don’t miss out.
Dina, is Yiddish considered sexy these days?