How well do you cope with languages and accents?

[tom_123]

Hi!

I live in the UK and thus am exposed to many languages and accents on a daily basis. The accents in England alone differ greatly, not to mention the close contact we have with other parts of Europe.

When I was younger, I used to really struggle speaking my mother tongue and was a late starter, not to mention other languages. However, in the last three or four of years, I have started to pick up languages really well and now speak five languages.

I was wondering if you have had similar difficulties in the past, and was also wondering how you feel about speaking and language now.

By the way, I've seen your videos on you tube and accent is really cool, a novelty for us in the UK!

Tom

[Remission]

I can barely understand accents from non-English speaking countries.  I also think Aspergers Girl has a hot voice.   

[jman]

I really hate when I have to call tech support, and get an Indian call center, and they can barely speak English and I can't understand what they're saying.  I also sometimes have trouble understanding people who have strong accents even from english speaking such as Scotland and Whales.

[tom_123]

I agree to an extent with the Scottish and Welsh call centres; it often takes me a couple of minutes to become 'reacquainted'!

Sometimes, the main problem I have is understanding some local phrases, especially when non-literal.

Tom

[SquarePeg]

Yeah, sometimes it's really hard for me to understand thick-accented English, especially over the phone! (I have a hard enough time with American English speakers sometimes.) But my grandparents are Italian immigrants, and it is sometimes hard for me to understand what they are saying.

[MM]

I pick up on them very well but its all about practice.  Sometimes its hard but I find it easier sometimes to communicate to these people then I do with people in society.  As long as they have some english ability for me its not too hard.   I find indian people to be very easy to understand although I do find it very difficult not to laugh especially when they have a really thick accent.