[akp713]

I was wondering who out there has truly adopted the so-called Kiwi Twang and whether it was nore difficult to pick up if you are from the UK or the US. I ask because picking up the accent was priority one for me when I went to NZ. I spent some time watching TVNZ online before leaving so I had an idea of the accent. My accent was never flawless, but it was good enough that people only picked up on mistakes if they knew I was American and sat there listening for any inaccuracies, usually they would tell me some pronunciation sounded too Aussie once and a while.

Other Americans I knew tried to pick up the accent but all failed miserably. Perhaps it was easier for me because I am from Boston, a city with an accent closer to the British accent. We drop our 'R' and use a broad 'A' and use the term rubbish instead of trash and elastic rather than rubber band.

Anyway tell me if you have had any success or failure with the accent and if you think it is more advantageous to keep your native accent or develop the local one.

[Cat Woman]

I'm from the North East of England and have kept my native dialect.
Granted I do have to calm it down when talking to the locals otherwise they'd never understand a word I say!!
I have picked up a few kiwi words - for example I vaccuum now I don't hoover.

[jubjub]

I really don't think your actual accent matters, its more getting use to actually understanding the kiwi accent, the unique turns of phrase and the sense of humour.

Personally, I think trying to deliberately adopt/mimic an accent to try and fit in is a bit false, but there are also some folks that naturally pick up accents because they are with it all day long and sound a native kiwi pretty quickly!

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I found this a very odd post when I read it.

I can't say that it would ever occur to me to even attempt to pick up another accent deliberately (other than to take the mickey of course :) ).

If I happen to pick up some kiwi nuances as a matter of course now I live here, then so be it, it's only natural. I fully expect the kids to be full on 'awesome' 'sweet as' kids before I can blink. That's fine, but far from a deliberate act.

Accents are one of the things that make us all different aren't they? I don't want to look or act like someone else, so why would I want to sound like someone else?

Of course that's just me. If you feel the need to adopt an accent then go for it, if it makes you feel more comfortable, but I'll give it a miss.

[Sam B]

I sound the same as I ever did, I haven't had to try to not pick up the accent, but I am fairly determined not to change my accent. For a start, I really don't like what the kiwi accent does to vowels - sorry Kiwis! I was listening to the radio this morning, and they seemed to be going on about a competition to see who was a good "pecker", which was really puzzling me, I thought they meant short kisses - turns out it was packer of course!

The other reason is, I know it will freak out my Dad and other friends and family if I start to sound different on the phone. The kids still sound the same too, although Poppy ends her statements on a high inflection now.

At work, I have to deliberately pronounce some words the Kiwi way when I am assessing young children, as they have struggled to understand me, so it's 'cheer' instead of 'chair', 'beer instead of 'bear' and 'peer' instead of pear. I feel really weird when I have to do this, it clunks into the sentence and feels really false.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I really don't like what the kiwi accent does to vowels - sorry Kiwis! I was listening to the radio this morning, and they seemed to be going on about a competition to see who was a good "pecker", which was really puzzling me, I thought they meant short kisses - turns out it was packer of course!1

I always have a little giggle that TV 'en' 'zed' appears to be called TV 'in' 'zid' and can rarely control myself at the 'Bidpost' adverts.

I'm sure they think I'm weird too (stop it!)

I've also had real trouble trying to explain to kiwi's that my name is Sam. I have found I need to say my name is 'Sim'

Ho hum, it all adds to life's rich tappestry

[Sam B]

Hmmm, yeah, I get called Sem, most annoying!

[dharder]

It would never occur to me to try and pick up an accent deliberately.

English is not my mother tongue so I don't have my own lifelong accent going, or indeed any region that I am connected to. And I think that may be a reason why I often start to talk like the people I am talking to.

I've lived in London now for 11 years, and on the whole have a 'standard' BE pronunciation. I have been accused of sounding posh, but no one normally thinks I am anything other than British. I used to live in the States, and no one ever thought I was anything other than American...

Now I am no fan at all of the NZ English, and it irks me to think that I will probably pick that one up, too. I noticed a definite change in the way I talk just on the phone to recruitment agents!

I don't mind my children adjusting their accents, they now have an East London one, so anything is better than that, innit.

Oh, and my favourite Kiwi vowel is 'pig' as in the animal you use to fasten clothes to your washing line... :)

Daniela

[katandbob]

I have picked up a few kiwi words - for example I vaccuum now I don't hoover.

Funny that - they all say "Lux" or Luxing down here, I hadn't the foggiest what it meant, then I worked out it was short for 'Electrolux' funny how the popular make the popular slang term....

and no haven't picked up a Kiwi accent, infact I doubt I'd loose my Lincolnshire/english accent. mine was not really a certain accent anyway as I had lived abroad before.

Kat

[Jo Jo]

I have asked my friends to let me know if my accent starts changing - and then I will start listening to the BBC world service until it's back to normal!

I have noticed that my husband's accent is much stronger now - he's a Kiwi but had been in the UK for 12 years. In the UK he sounded like a Kiwi still, but now he REALLY sounds like a Kiwi.

[jackie m]

My five year old has picked it up very quickly (well once she started school) here friend Henna (Hannah to us) now dad is ded:laugh I could go on & on.
Jackie

[Mels]

- for example I vaccuum now I don't hoover.

I do my best to do neither :D

[thezorbster]

although Poppy ends her statements on a high inflection now.


After just 2 days at school Sarah (or as she is now known, "Seerah") has started doing this - it just doesn't sound right coming from her. She also really draws out the last word. Vowel change will be next. Aaagghhh!

At pets day the teacher was trying to get her attention and was calling Seerah, Seerah, Seerah time and time again, getting louder and louder. Sarah was completely oblivious and I think it was purely because the name didn't sound like hers. As soon as I called Sarah she turned around.

Personally, I would never choose to change my accent deliberately - why hide who I am or where I'm from? I'm sure that over time I will pick up various hints of an accent but that will not be by choice. I have definitely picked up hints of a Lancashire accent from the years of being with OH as he had the stronger accent, but didn't deliberately do so.

[CjChris]

I don't intend to try to take on a kiwi accent because I would feel phony, but there are times when I wish my accent wasn't so obiously American, as it's somewhat disconcerting when the 5th person in a day says, "So what part of America are you from?" or even, "You're from America, eh?" before they say anything else to me! Sometimes I haven't said more than 2-3 words when this announcement is made. :roll

It has started making me feel somewhat self-conscious to speak, and I've gotten to the point of not greeting the cashier or the waiter or whomever as I might have done before because my accent immediately puts me on the spot!

I don't necessarily take their comments or questions as anything negative, but I do find it an odd way to start a conversation! Just yesterday in the book store, things went like this:

me: "Hello, do you have a poetry section?"
kiwi: "You're an American. Are you here on holiday?"
me: "No, we moved here 6 weeks ago."
kiwi: "So, you're here permanently? What made you decide to move to New Zealand?"
me: "Oh, we just wanted to do something different."

Is that weird, or what??! But it's very typical of experiences I've had here so far. And in case you are wondering, I look like a normal person. I have a master's in English... I speak articulately enough for a southern girl :laugh (hard to control those dipthongs sometimes, though).

When we bought a car last week the salesman joked to OH about us being "yanks."

Are Americans so rare a thing here? Object of curiosity? Or am I imagining things? :confused:

[thezorbster]

Are Americans so rare a thing here? Object of curiosity? Or am I imagining things? :confused:

Don't take it personally Chris. I just think the Kiwis pick up on any accent and are just genuinely curious as to why you're here. It's not that you're American, it's just that you sound different and they're interested to find out a little more. I get the same 'are you here on holiday' question all the time but don't feel at all conspicuous over my accent. I'm British, so what and generally just grateful to talk to anyone at the moment! :)

[CjChris]

Don't take it personally Chris. I just think the Kiwis pick up on any accent and are just genuinely curious as to why you're here. It's not that you're American, it's just that you sound different and they're interested to find out a little more. I get the same 'are you here on holiday' question all the time but don't feel at all conspicuous over my accent. I'm British, so what and generally just grateful to talk to anyone at the moment! :)

Thanks for that...glad someone else is getting the holiday comment, too.

I guess I don't really take it personally, but it does make me feel like I should go off and join the circus or something ("and now ladies and gentlemen, we have a talking American girl!!") :laugh :laugh

I really miss talking to people, too. I'm quiet by nature but a good girlfriend gab would be awesome right now :D

[willowshouse]

We use certain words and phrases just for a laugh really .. "fancy a rest on the dick?"

Speaking as someone who has already lost one accent in her life .. I don't think you have too much control over whether you pick it up or not, s'just one of those things.

[gil]

Well what about this? Found it whilst googling for outdoor camp activities for leadership development... http://www.accentbootcamp.com/home :D

Gil

[Smiler]

I really can't figure out why you would purposely try and do so? :confused:

I'm me, my voice/accent is part of who I am too. In time I may pick up the Kiwi way of saying things but if my accent changes naturally, thats a different jug of fish.


Where's Carol anyway, she'll tell you how easy it is to loose your accent........ not ............whyayeeeee :p

[wilson182]

Back in the begining I wasn't sure what I wanted, but now I'm here I am happy to keep my English accent. So is my daughter, but I think hers is changing naturally anyway. Strangely though, I had to call our financial advisor in the UK a couple of weeks ago and both his secretary and himself thought I had a kiwi twang!!!!!! Coming from the South of England where the accent is not as strong as some further North I think I kindof mimic accents sometimes.

I also find that people are interested in why we are here and why we chose NZ, once they pick up the english accent.

It felt quite strange in the begining, when people used to comment on my "accent". I had to bite my tongue from saying - but I haven't got an accent, you have!!!!!!

[Moorf]

I'm not sure what's more annoying - being asked "where I'm from" here cos of my English accent or being stopped every sentence when ringing people in UK for them to say "ohh, you said that with a Kiwi accent". :laugh

[wiki]

And after 10 years of being in the UK and always being told "gosh your NZ accent is still so strong" I've been told several times in NZ that "I sound like a pommy" ... I just can't win either!

[aberdian]

Just be who you are. The accent/inflection'll change over time - after 17 years in Scotland I've picked up quite a bit of vernacular in my every day speech but 99 people out of 100 still spot that I'm from the NE of England....

My favourite Aberdonian mangling of words is a "bag bog". Or a big bag.....

Ian

[Familyofmonkeys]

Well after 12 years with OH, I no longer sound 'posh'...now have a more neutral British accent with the odd North of England word thrown in. OH now sounds Northern rather than Yorkshire. I think both our accents have mellowed over the years. Don't think we will pick up very much Kiwi though. Kids have started to pick up the odd word now we've been here 6 months. My 4 year old daugher has started saying 'yea' and 'yeis' rather than yes and sometimes 'lig' rather than 'leg'. She doesn't do it all the time though.

[CjChris]

My OH was disappointed to learn that the cashier at the local market was saying "sweet as" and not complimenting his nice backside :laugh ;)

[Caniwi]

And after 10 years of being in the UK and always being told "gosh your NZ accent is still so strong" I've been told several times in NZ that "I sound like a pommy" ... I just can't win either!

I get the same in Canada......"still sound so Kiwi", but back in NZ, "sound soooooo Canadian....."

I question why we would TRY to sound the same, or try more desperately NOT to sound the same. In Canada, I've never tried to sound Canadian (just as different from American, as Kiwi is to Australian), I may have adjusted certain words to make myself easier to understand - being that I had a very thick Kiwi accent - it just happens, you'll pick it up, and you won't even know it. As much as anyone thinks they aren't picking up an accent, they'll soon find out when they return to their place of origin, that they have, as much as they think they haven't.

Besides, if you choose to go to a different country, isn't it part of the joy of being in that place you choose, to pick up certain idiosynchrisies of that said place........???? Become a little Kiwi, Canadian, Australian, whatever......???? Embrace it!

[gil]

My OH was disappointed to learn that the cashier at the local market was saying "sweet as" and not complimenting his nice backside

:laugh:laugh:laugh

[akp713]

Well lots of interesting replies. I guess I should have clearified that I tried to pick up the accent not for constant use but for those impersonal public settings like talking to the cashier at the market or thanking a bus driver or taxi driver or ordering at the cafe or McDonalds, when I don't want to stand out as a tourist on holiday. When I'm at university or with my mates I use my natrural American accent. However, I did notice that after six months my 'I' had changed from the hard American sound to the softer Kiwi pronunciation that is often mistaken for a 'U', without any effort on my part. When I got back to the US it took a couple months to entirely lose that and I imagine it will return when I go back to NZ next year.

On the subject of accents I was also wondering if anyone had run into any discrimination because of their accent. I ask this because one of my mates in NZ was a white Zimbabwean immigrant who was virulently anti-Kiwi because of dicrimination he had faced. One story he always told was that he had a phone interview for a job at a butcher shop and only a couple questions in the interviewer stopped, commented on his accent and asked where he was from. Upon hearing he was from Zimbabwe the interviewer declared there was no job for him and hung up. I thought it was very sad especially since he's a good friend, but he plans to leave NZ permanently once he is done with Uni. Anyone else, especially South Africans/Zimbabweans, faced similar issues?

[bob_the_engineer]

My OH was disappointed to learn that the cashier at the local market was saying "sweet as" and not complimenting his nice backside :laugh ;)

LOL, i hadn't thought of that, next time somone says that to me, I'm gonna wiggle my backside and thank them.

just to add taking the pee is adictive, you do it without thinking after a while and it gets you into trouble with the wife.

wife "shall we go out to eat"

me: "hay bro yis,,, git in the ride and and we'll go with the farno for a feed,,,,,,,sweet :laugh "

wife: "SHUT UP, now"

Bob:laugh

[flatshoes]

I mostly understand it now after being here 3 years, but still have to concentrate, I can't just go on auto-pilot and listen to people, and this is tiring to the point that I find myself enjoying solitude more than company usually. If there is a running conversation with context I do not have as many problems. A comment out of the blue though I will probably not understand half the time. I find myself asking people to repeat things to me still, after all this time.
I know a nice Japanese girl here who feels the same, even though it is a language we are referring to in her case and not just an accent. That is, that it is tiring to hold conversations when you have to work to understand the other end of them. Kiwis don't have much trouble understanding ME because of all the American TV here. But I remember a sports event in the States where they **subbed the Kiwis speaking** (Kiwi husband was amused and half-outraged at the time) but not the Hispanic people.
That was because we are accustomed to the English accents of people whose native language is Spanish up there, but don't hear Kiwi accents much.
It is always interesting to meet people from different regions here and find a new accent. Education also makes a difference. The rural accent vs. Auckland, the South Island vs. North Island. Maori vs. Pakeha. It makes for fascinating study, if they'd just sit still and let me pick their brains and write it all down. ;D Generally I have had a lot of laughter and fun out of language-difference conversations. My mother-in-law can't stand the way Americans use the verb "to get" in all possible contexts and I found this funny. Jellytips though are NOT eaten in the States - they are worn on one's picker. ;D You eat Jif in the States. You do not scrub floors with it. Do NOT under any circumstances (as I did) mix up growlers and snarlers down here. They are VERY different things. I will not go into that, however.
I have modified my accent almost unconsciously to a more boring "could be from almost anywhere" accent just so not to stand out as much, and people only realize I am American after listening to me for awhile and "something slips out". :D The kids find my exhortations to "tone it down" very irritating though - they just want to be themselves. Kiwi public space is quieter though. You don't hear that chatter, yelling and laughter in public space here as much. The kids found it more warming to have that "people presence being louder" in public space though.
I will adopt a Kiwi accent on the phone sometimes to bank people and stuff just to facilitate number-reading etc. My littlest son has been here longer than he has been in the States and has retained an American accent, however, with a few exceptions like fush. :)

[flatshoes]

he plans to leave NZ permanently once he is done with Uni. Anyone else, especially South Africans/Zimbabweans, faced similar issues?

OK, I think I have mastered this quoting business finally, LOL.
South Africans here tend to hang out among their own.
Based on my Kiwi husband's attitude about them, which was very knee-jerk I must say, and NOT just to do with the Springbok thing (it's a bigger issue of attitude differences and possibly also a rather silly magnification of those differences on both sides) the idea that they do not seem to like them that much here because of the racial paradigm stuff is simplistic. My husband had said that coming from a place where you have people do a lot of stuff for you (and your being used to it...more specialization in society in general) to a place where everyone does it all for themselves to a considerable degree (a very generalist society, everyone is their own Jack or Jill of all trades with a broad skill set) says it all pretty much. The egalitarian (if you are going to be nice) or reactionary-plebe (if you are NOT going to be nice) emphasis on "no hierarchies of any sort here, everyone cleans their own toilets thank you and get your own bl**dy coffee" here stands in strong contrast possibly to the assignment-of-functions-in-chains-of-command type of society you find in some other places. That said, the SAs here whom I have met seem to be a bit cliquish and have a bunker mentality, though I found them very pleasant, intelligent and competent. Chicken/egg problem of mutual perception, maybe.

[wilson182]

It is always interesting to meet people from different regions here and find a new accent. Education also makes a difference. The rural accent vs. Auckland, the South Island vs. North Island. Maori vs. Pakeha. It makes for fascinating study, if they'd just sit still and let me pick their brains and write it all down. ;D

About six or so months ago there was quite a fascinating documentary on TV about the NZ accent. Because NZ is quite a "young" country they can trace the development of the accent right back to its origins - quite a bit of how it sounds now developed in the school playgrounds as the children of differing nationalities began to mix. (If I remember correctly:o )

[flatshoes]

About six or so months ago there was quite a fascinating documentary on TV about the NZ accent. Because NZ is quite a "young" country they can trace the development of the accent right back to its origins - quite a bit of how it sounds now developed in the school playgrounds as the children of differing nationalities began to mix. (If I remember correctly:o )

wouldn't have minded seeing that one!

[akp713]

Flatshoes, your point about Kiwis being quieter in public spaces is dead on. I always notice that at the supermarket. When my parents visited I was constantly telling my dad to keep his voice down because in typical American fashion he would yell down the aisle to me about some product or another. Also Kiwis don't talk on their cell phones like people in the states. First thing I noticed when I arrived back in Los Angeles after 6 months in NZ was everyone talking loudly on their cell phones!

On your point about South Africans I can see what you mean as well. My mate from Zimbabwe complained about how Kiwis thought it was terrible that his family had had a cook and gardener and a live-in house-keeper. They thought he was a snob or something. But he explained that with an 80% unemployment rate every person his family could employ supported a whole extended family in desperate times. Also he hated that people thought he was South African and didn't understand Zimbabwe was another country. To be fair though they have a similar history and they are neighbours. I suppose its like Kiwis hating to be mistaken for Aussies.

Oh and his view of Kiwis was that they suffered from tall poppies syndrome, too egalitarian, classless, no one strives to be the best. Maybe he was just a glutton for punishment because he also was a huge Australia fan in rugby!

[Den]

Oh no don't say that Jo Jo - my OH is a kiwi and he has been living in the UK for 12 years - I can only just at times understand him now! I hope he doesn't get too much of a stronger accent when we get over next March or I'll never understand him. PS it will take a few weeks though as he was ok - ish when we went on holiday last time.

[flatshoes]

I can't stand all the loud talking on cellphones, really, so I sure as heck do not miss that a bit. There is a public warmth though between strangers in the States that is lacking here, and my kids missed it. It is hard to describe but very distinct. My oldest boy was hardest hit by it, as he enjoys casual chat with people we meet in passing, he gets something out of it, he feels less existentially alone or something, it is odd, like an Italian who goes to Finland or something(?). LOL. Speaking of South Africa, mea culpa, I lump all those "Euro-origin-folk who moved to Africa" together in my mind because I don't know much about them except that they are either English- or Afrikaaans-speaking. A profile of the different cultures there would be really nifty if there are people from that area on the forum to contribute such an explanation. I'd be genuinely interested.

Tall poppies attitude...I have seen it here and there, yeah. You learn to keep your head low and to some extent even absorb the attitude.

[IanW99]

I can't stand all the loud talking on cellphones, really, so I sure as heck do not miss that a bit. There is a public warmth though between strangers in the States that is lacking here, and my kids missed it. It is hard to describe but very distinct. My oldest boy was hardest hit by it, as he enjoys casual chat with people we meet in passing, he gets something out of it, he feels less existentially alone or something, it is odd, like an Italian who goes to Finland or something(?).
...


That's interesting coming from the UK, we thought it was the other way around, we find people in NZ much more friendly and willing to talk than in the UK. I wonder what Americans think of the UK then?

Ian

[akp713]

That is an interesting point about the lack of public chit-chat in NZ. My experience was that Kiwis were about equally as friendly as Americans. There are many friendly people and also plenty of amazingly rude people. I remember once I was trying to decide between two newspapers on sale at a shop and the shopkeeper snapped at me to either buy it or get out of his shop. I'm pretty certain I've never had that happen in the US in my 21 years there. But on the other hand I've had many experiences of kindness that I feel would not have happened in the US, so its hard to gauge.

My we have digressed from the topic, but this is an interesting subject as well. Oh and my experiences with the Brits I met in hostels across NZ was universally positive although I had a heck of a time understanding people from Yorkshire and also Essex. I ran into a lot of anti-Americanism from other Europeans, but people from the UK never lumped all Americans into the pro-Bush category.

[craig1234564]

Still in england but recently went to an NZ Expo and the first time i spoke to a kiwi there was a language barrier.
I am from the north of england ,, anyway i was trying to ask this kiwi woman where her company was based , but to her, my BASED sounded like BEST so she kept explaining why they are best, this went on for about 4 times before i could get it through! hehheh

[benandclare]

Heard a story the other day of a Texan lady complaining to her hubby that the Kiwi lodger was trying to chat her up as every time she engaged him in conversation he was refereing to her " sweet arse".... alas it had to be pointed out he was only saying " sweet as " :D

[Lupin]

I have to consciously change my vowel sounds as when I'm in school the children becom

[benandclare]

As for finding Kiwis friendly or not all I can say is I'm finding them very friendly and only too willing to help you out when ever possible.
For example the other night in the interval at "the full monty" in Chc had very engaging conversation in the mens room about act 1, this would be very unlikely to happen back in UK!!!

[ourquest]

Looking back at the OP, and a response later on the page questioning why anyone would intentionally change their accent (this being a bit false), it isn't that different to, for example, trying one's best to speak Spanish with a good Spanish accent. You wouldn't want to speak any different language with a broad English accent would you? Maybe it isn't so far removed to fit in with a different English culture by learning the accent? An interesting philosophical point.
The discussion appears to have morphed into a "is there a bias against Southern Africans?" thread. I understand that South Africans in particular are perceived a brash and arrogant, and living as one amongst them (in South Africa) at the moment I know why. There is an unfortunate tendency amongst SA's to look after themselves first with too little regard for others. Driving in traffic is a good representation. South Africa needs "Merge like a zip" signs but I am not confident they would be adhered to! I suppose those with less of the "what's in it for me" mentality settle and integrate into NZ much more easily, rightly so.
We don't all have cheap labour working for us of course, many of us use our ingenuity around the house in ways Kiwi would be proud. It is with true humility that bank managers don't mind cleaning toilets in their spare time, and true humility allows one to live an authentic life without judging others.

[dharder]

Maybe it isn't so far removed to fit in with a different English culture by learning the accent? An interesting philosophical point.

It is indeed. I've been wondering about this, too, why it strikes me as odd to try to adjust your accent, but of course not as odd to try to speak a foreign language as well as you can.

I think it has partly to do with the fact that accents are often regional (though of course not all), and are something you acquire growing up somewhere.

I always find it strange as well when people learn a foreign language and learn a particular local accent. For some reason, I find it odd to hear someone, let's say an American, speak German with a very broad Bavarian accent. I usually expect people to learn the most 'neutral' form of a language, if there is such a thing, and avoid too many regionalisms.

Again, I think that is because if you learn a language later, or an accent, you haven't grown up with it, and trying acquire it may seem more like pretending.

But really, I don't know, just wondering too why I find one thing strange and the other not.

Daniela

[ourquest]

Hi Daniela
I have to agree with you there about the regional accent thing. It is also the case that if you speak with a neutral english accent in New Zealand you will certainly be understood, but you wouldn't if you spoke poor German in Germany (where I bet a learned Bavarian accent sounds quite unfortunate). What about strong accents though (eg north UK)? Surely you would have to moderate your accent to be universely understood in NZ, and then you might as well moderate it to a NZ accent!
Thought provoking discussion for us amateur linguists, but it certainly cannot answer if anyone on the forum has actually mastered the accent! Has this forum got voice capability?
Take care.

[akp713]

I started this thread partly because I've been very aware of differing accents ever since I took a course in Linguistic Geography at university and studied the roots of the American accent.

At one time, the mid-Twentieth Century, the most popular American accent was called the Mid-Atlantic Accent, and was supposed to be a blend of Received Pronunciation English and neutral American. People like Franklin Roosevelt were best known for using this accent. Later the advent of TV popularized the Nebraska-Iowa accent used by Walter Cronkite and Johnny Carson. So even within countries and regions people change their accents over time. There was a great commercial in Boston where the newest member of the Red Sox, a native Texan, listens to tapes of a Boston accent and practices it with little success.

Also I've been told many times that I'm a good mimic. One week on a cruise ship with a group from Texas and Louisiana and I unconsiously picked up a bit of their accent, and no offense to anyone from Texas, but its probably my least favorite accent to listen to and I would never intentionally have picked it up. Probably because I cringe everytime Bush makes a speech in it.

Oh and on a completely different note, my mom has often wished we had those 'Merge Like A Zip' signs here in Boston, though I doubt anyone would obey them here either.