Why do Americans (from the U.S, anyway) always refer to "a" British Accent?

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

There is no such thing as "a British accent". You realise when you say that you are encompassing three separate countries as well as literally hundreds of very different regional dialects, right. VERY different. So different that there are many other places in England alone where I almost cannot understand what people are saying.
It also seems to refer to what we'd call The Queens English accent, which extremely few people actually have. I guess because when Americans on TV play someone from here they always do that accent? Nobody talks like that! Apart from, annoyingly, English people in some movies :/

Not having a go, it just irks me.

 

[empeebee]

'Cos dey don' know better, innit mate

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

'Cos dey don' know better, innit mate

Actually, if you guys have seen Billy Elliot (the movie, not the play/musical) the leads are all from my city or close to it so it's very much like how I sound.

 

[JackoftheWood]

There is no such thing as "a British accent". You realise when you say that you are encompassing three separate countries as well as literally hundreds of very different regional dialects, right. VERY different. So different that there are many other places in England alone where I almost cannot understand what people are saying.
It also seems to refer to what we'd call The Queens English accent, which extremely few people actually have. I guess because when Americans on TV play someone from here they always do that accent? Nobody talks like that! Apart from, annoyingly, English people in some movies :/

Not having a go, it just irks me.

Because we're mostly familiar with that fake upper class posh accent, and many Americans never travel internationally so they're never exposed to other types of British accents.

 

[PtahTek]

Cause it's fun, mate.
Otherwise it may be a case of identity crisis. Lol

 

[empeebee]

@ChemicallyEnhanced, not sure this thread was a good idea. M' thinks thee’s got’n where thee cassn’t back’n hassn’t

 

[nznity]

scottish accent is so fucking hard to understand.

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

scottish accent is so fucking hard to understand.

Took me about an hour to read the first 10 pages of Trainspotting. Once I got into it it was much easier, though.

 

[CFC]

Brits do exactly the same to Americans, tbf. We also accuse Canadians of being American, which is arguably a far more heinous crime iirc.

 

[alasdairm]

^ indeed.

to a british/european ear, a boston accent and an alabama accent probably sound very similar - a generic "american" accent- when they're, to a local ear, very different.

alasdair

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

^ indeed.

to a british/european ear, a boston accent and an alabama accent probably sound very similar - a generic "american" accent- when they're, to a local ear, very different.

alasdair

No, I can easily tell the difference between Canadian and American and different parts of America.
Boston and Alabama sound VERY different to me.

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

Brits do exactly the same to Americans, tbf. We also accuse Canadians of being American, which is arguably a far more heinous crime iirc.

I don't know what you're talking aboot. Soary.

(my terrible attempt at a Canadian accent).

 

[Flower Fairy]

I'm from the UK and I hate it when Americans put on an English accent in films, WE'RE NOT ALL FUCKING POSH TOFFS I don't even know if anyone actually talks the way Americans think we do,

It would be funny if you could have a sound chip on Bluelight and we could hear what each other sounds like

 

[CFC]

^ I heard an American take on a Westcountry accent recently, it was pretty good. Can't remember what I was watching tho...

 

[sewerslide.666mg]

Americans and dumb asses me included,
I get where u all are coming from, kinda like not every one from the us lives on a farm and fuck there cousin... except my cousin

 

[Flower Fairy]

I heard an American take on a Westcountry accent recently, it was pretty good. Can't remember what I was watching tho...

You need to remember as I'm from the Westcountry lol and I want to hear if it's any good

 

[sewerslide.666mg]

I love accents , I've always wanted travel

 

[alasdairm]

I can easily tell the difference between Canadian and American and different parts of America.

you can. not everybody can...

(in the same way that i gave some american friends who can differentiate u.k. regional accents and others who can not).

alasdair

 

[Stark]

I can easily tell the difference between Canadian and American and different parts of America.

Just not the different parts of Canada, apparently.

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

Just not the different parts of Canada, apparently.

Nope. We get very little media from Canada so not heard much of it.