Comments on: Accents

By: John H

John H — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:13:17 +0000

My UK cousins pronounce library as “lie-bree”, which is two syllables. I pronounce it as “lie-brair-ee” – three syllables.

“Lie-bear-ee” drives me insane as much as “new-cue-ler” does…

By: Justine

Justine — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 12:44:31 +0000

Amanda: Hate to break it to you but there is no such thing as not having an accent.

By: amanda coppedge

amanda coppedge — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 12:15:47 +0000

Yes, I say “library” in 2 syllables but that’s kind of uncommon in the states. Li-bra-ry. Or, worse but not uncommon, li-ber-ry.

People in south Florida tend not to have an accent at all, unless they have lived somewhere else for much of their lives and still retain that accent (New York, Mexico, Wisconsin, etc.).

By: gwenda

gwenda — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:50:30 +0000

Hey, who are these people you met from the south that convinced you southern accents aren’t sexy?

By: Heloise

Heloise — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:55:30 +0000

To sum up: voices sexy not accents.

Ok. But on the other hand, I find some accents definitively unsexy. Only the sexiest voice, looks and intelligence can make up for them. They’re not ugly, I can be friend with their owner, but they’re an absolute turn-off. For example, the Swiss or Quebecian accent in French.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:59:26 +0000

lie-brair-ee?

By: Justine

Justine — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:41:56 +0000

Um. I am confused. I see no way to pronounce library that isn’t two syllables . . .

By: shelly rae

shelly rae — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:57:27 +0000

As a teacher of ESL I don’t tend to think of accents as sexy so much as being interested in where people come from. For me, it’s all about the sound of the voice. There are some people I could listen to all day long, others who inspire lust and impure thoughts, and unfortunately far more that just get on my nerves (like the woman in the pottery studio some Thur. mornings, grrrr).
Congrats on the new book. I’ll pop out and get a copy this weekend!
Anon

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:00:03 +0000

i am trying to work out how to say “library” in two syllables. li-bry? hehehehehe.

hurray, magic’s child!!!! i am so so so so so so excited. i think sarah and i should have a release party. ‘course hers is coming in the mail. but amazon is usually good about these things. lalalala, makes me smile!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:30:16 +0000

YAY for Magic’s Child on FRIDAY!!! WOO HOO!!

By: veejane

veejane — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:15:32 +0000

but whenever I know the accent that they’re putting on I’m deeply unimpressed

I will say, the Boston accent separates the true accent-chameleon from the tongue-tied. Many a Serious Acktor has attempted it, and very few have done it successfully. (I know you hated The Depahted, but there were two very good local accents in that movie — both actors from here –, and almost all the rest sucked.)

I lived in another city when Good Will Hunting came out, and didn’t even know I was homesick till I heard the (generally good) accents. It’s not that good a movie, but just listening to people say “library” with only two syllables made me happy.

By: jessiegirl

jessiegirl — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:29:26 +0000

I am not attracted to any specific accent. Yes, they are fun to listen to, and I often wish i had a more interesting one. But a perfectly good accent can be destroyed by being a great big jerk.

By: Justine

Justine — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:36:37 +0000

That’s wonderful news! Thank you for letting me know.

And I hear folks down there have wonderful accents

By: Amanda Coppedge

Amanda Coppedge — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:32:13 +0000

Hey, Justine, just wanted to let you know that Magic or Madness ended up on the Palm Beach County (Florida) Library System’s 2007 Favorite Books for Young Adults list. This list is very popular with our patrons and will be on display till about February 2008 . . . so there will be a lot of people in Palm Beach County reading your book this year.

(No 2007 love for Scott, though The Secret Hour was on the 2006 list.)

By: Justine

Justine — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:38:55 +0000

Mmm, but whenever I know the accent that they’re putting on I’m deeply unimpressed and I lose all faith in any of their accents. Yes, I’m looking at you, Meryl Streep! Your Lindy Chamberlain was the worst Aussie accent attempt of all time. “A diiingoe’s gort mai babee.” Aaarggh!!

I’ve never heard anyone but a New Zealander do a convincing Aussie accent. And I’ve never heard anyone get a New Zealand accent right cept a New Zealander.

By: veejane

veejane — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:29:08 +0000

I find accents interesting but not sexy per se. Well, interesting in the sense that the first time I heard NZ speech, I needed subtitles, but that repeat exposure makes everything easier.

Although, people who can winningly put on accents, those people are sexy, because they are performing a skill, like knife-fighting or freeclimbing (only with less chance of death at the end).