Is it normal that i don't understand the british accent fetish issue?

So, I am not a native English speaker, but I have studied it for several years. I learned British English at institutes and later practiced by watching American films and series.

Personally, I never liked the British accent and I always tried to get rid of it. Without getting into any arguments, I just think that American sounds more "neutral" and draws less attention.

However, after moving to Europe, I realized for the first time that people actually have a weird fetish for British accents. I have seen that in movies before, but I honestly thought they were being ironic.

Well, first of all, I think liking any person for their accent is kind of stupid and extremely superficial. But my main questions are (to British people or people with British accent), are you self-aware of your accent?, what do you think about it? and, what do you think of people that have a kink for your accent?

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67% Normal
Based on 39 votes (26 yes)
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Comments ( 14 )
  • PinkCloud

    You always say it wrong. When you say “British accent” you mean English… and at that Southern English dialect. The usage of (short) A’s and clearly pronounced T’s. Whenever someone (usually American) speaks in delight of these accents they mean soft, girly, hyper feminine English female voices with no twang or rasp. Now when it comes to English male voices, oh boy, they mean what, deep, velvety, and perhaps… posh?

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    • kingofcarrotflowers

      Yeah I never understand " British accent " Scottish, Irish, welsh and English sound very different, well each place has massive variations in vocal mannerisms alone

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  • modernism

    I'm not British, but I really like the accent - though that doesn't mean I necessarily like the person themselves. That's a different story. It's like telling someone they have nice hair, for example. I might like their hair, but it doesn't mean I like them.

    I'd just say be grateful. I don't really see a point in complaining about people liking your accent. It's normal to not understand it though - everyone has different tastes.

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  • Avant-Garde

    I don't mind the English accent. I don't like American accents. What I don't understand, is people preference for the French accent. Ugh!! There are some exceptions but, most of what I've heard is just UGH!!!

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  • charli.m

    I think when you say "fetish", you mean "preference".

    Unless you actually mean that so many people find British accents sexually arousing.

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    • I actually did mean that, have seen lots of people squirming at it.

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      • charli.m

        I really doubt it is the majority.

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  • Darkoil

    Please explain to me what a British accent is? Scottish? Irish? Welsh? Cockney? Brummie? Geordie? Scouse? Mancunian? Cornish? Devon? Yorkshire? Lancashire? Glaswegian?..........is it all or any of the above?

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  • PinkCloud

    I speak with a type of English voice that impresses Americans if only for how soft and light it sounds on their ears - plus clear pronunciation with my T's. I saw an American doctor (in San Diego) and he was quite delighted by my voice alone, so there you go...

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  • kingofcarrotflowers

    The accent around my area is horrible, actually no, it's more an inflection than an accent, generic english chav, horrible, people say I have more of a London accent but that's only 20-30 odd miles away so I don't know what that means, I'd love to live in London, well, new York, then a place I visited in brittany france , but in the UK it'd be London

    I'm trailing off subject, obviously I can't say anything being British myself but I love a lot of accents,French, a lot of american accents, Russian, yeah, I'm an accents man

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  • dirtybirdy

    I don't think anyone likes another person based solely on their accent. That's just silly to assume. However, people tend to like unfamiliar things. I happen to love foreign accents. But what do I know, I'm just a mercan bird.

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  • reminiscent

    Im not british
    however people tend to like certain accents because it is pleasing to the ear.
    its not really that superficial...
    its like if you liked someone because thye are short or tall or any other physical characteristic.... doesnt meen your shallow. And most likely not the only reason you like someone.
    I like pretty eyes but its not the only deciding factor. And nether is an accent.
    also british isnt the only accent people like.
    there is French...spanish... scotish...ect

    In America accents differ depending on if your in the north or the south...they even can differ from state to state... there isnt a universal American accent.

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  • RoseIsabella

    I actually find myself wondering about Welsh accents. What do Welsh accents sound like?

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  • KeddersPrincess

    I like cockney accents.

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