Why I Love Accents
So I love a good accent...
My very favorite accent is the Irish followed closely by British and Australian but really I love any accent. When I moved here 15 years ago from Detroit, I noticed a distinctly Central PA accent in the locals and people here have often commented that Mike and I speak a little differently...they seem to think we ennunciate more clearly and are very "proper" in the way we speak which we find really amusing.
Yesterday morning I shared a short elevator ride with a well dressed chap who responded to my small talk of "it's a nice balmy morning" with, "right, oh, but a bit more sun and warmth would do quite well too" with the most delightful Australian accent! It really kind of made my morning. I wondered how he got here, in Central PA, and what it was like growing up in Australia. Do they really eat vegemite and wrestle crocodiles? I wished I could have asked this and a million other questions.
It got me thinking about what an impact our voices and accents have on first impressions and the assumptions that can be made based on a voice alone. Think about the harsh New York accent versus the slow smooth Southern drawl and you'll get my drift. I guess I love a different accent because it represents something completely different from the norm (my norm)...maybe that's the frustrated traveler in me who wants to visit faraway places...maybe someday. For now I'll live vicariously through the ones who have traveled far to get here and I'm lucky enough to interact with.
Here are some photos of my very favorite people in the whole wide world who I want to visit all those faraway places with someday...perhaps Mexico will be first. Ole!
posted by Vangie @ 11:52 AM
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