The 5 Hardest British Accents to Understand!

Smashing English! Free and Fun English Lessons!

9 Apr 202112:52

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn this informative video, the host explores the complexity of British accents, focusing on the five most challenging ones for non-British listeners. Starting with the host's own Black Country/Birmingham accent, the video delves into regional variations like Geordie from Newcastle, Scouse from Liverpool, the Glaswegian accent from Scotland, and the Cockney accent of London. With examples and resources for further listening, the video aims to demystify these accents and encourage understanding and appreciation of the UK's rich linguistic diversity.

Takeaways

🌍 The video discusses the diversity of British accents, emphasizing that a 'British accent' can vary greatly across the UK.
🗣️ Received Pronunciation (RP) or Standard English is the accent most commonly referred to as 'British', but it's important to distinguish it from other regional accents.
🏙️ The Black Country and Birmingham accents are highlighted as challenging for non-British listeners, with unique vowel sounds that differ from RP.
📺 Watching TV shows like 'Peaky Blinders' can help familiarize viewers with the Birmingham and Black Country accents.
🎭 The Geordie accent from Newcastle is characterized by distinct vowel sounds, such as pronouncing 'away' as 'are-wee'.
🎵 The Beatles have a Scouse accent from Liverpool, but their accent may not be as strong as other native speakers from the area.
🍗 The Scouse accent is unique for its 'k' sound, which can be pronounced as a 'chhh' in certain words, like 'chicken'.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳 The Glaswegian accent from Glasgow, Scotland, is noted as particularly difficult for non-UK listeners due to its distinct vowels, consonants, melody, and intonation.
🎬 Scottish comedians like Kevin Bridges and Billy Connolly can provide examples of the Glaswegian accent for listeners to practice understanding.
🎼 The Cockney accent from London is known for its rapid linking of words, which can make it difficult to understand for those unfamiliar with the accent.
📚 Learning about linking sounds and word connections in English can greatly improve comprehension of the Cockney accent and others.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is about the five hardest British accents to understand for non-British people.
Why does the speaker suggest using 'Received Pronunciation' (RP) or 'Standard English' instead of 'British Accent'?
-The speaker suggests using 'Received Pronunciation' (RP) or 'Standard English' because the term 'British Accent' is too broad and does not accurately represent the wide variety of accents found within the UK.
What is the first accent discussed in the video and why is it significant to the speaker?
-The first accent discussed is the Black Country/Birmingham accent, which is significant to the speaker because it is the speaker's homeland and the place of their people.
How does the Birmingham or Black Country accent differ from the expected British accent in terms of pronunciation?
-The Birmingham or Black Country accent differs in terms of pronunciation by using different vowel sounds, such as pronouncing 'bus' as 'b-oo-s' and 'right' as 'raaa-eet'.
Which TV show is recommended for practicing listening to the Birmingham and Black Country accents?
-The TV show 'Peaky Blinders' is recommended for practicing listening to the Birmingham and Black Country accents.
What is the term used to describe the accent from Newcastle?
-The term used to describe the accent from Newcastle is 'Geordie'.
How does the Geordie accent differ in pronunciation from other British accents, particularly with the word 'away'?
-In the Geordie accent, the word 'away' might be pronounced as 'are-wee', which is a completely different sound from the more commonly learned 'uh-way'.
What accent is often associated with the Beatles and how does it compare to the original Liverpool accent?
-The Beatles are associated with the Scouse accent from Liverpool. However, their accent may not be as strong as some Scouse accents because they have traveled and possibly not lived in Liverpool all their lives.
What sound is unique to the Liverpool accent and how does it affect the pronunciation of the word 'chicken'?
-The Liverpool accent, or Scouse, is unique for its 'k' sound, which can be pronounced with a 'chhhh' sound in the throat, as in the word 'chicken'.
Which Scottish accent is considered one of the hardest to understand for non-UK residents and why?
-The Glaswegian accent from Glasgow is considered one of the hardest to understand for non-UK residents due to its distinct vowels, consonants, melody, and intonation.
What is the reason that makes the Cockney accent difficult to understand according to the video?
-The Cockney accent is difficult to understand because of the linking of words, which results in a long strain of words with different vowels that are not easily separable.
What advice does the speaker give for improving understanding of the various UK accents?
-The speaker advises immersing oneself in all the different accents by listening to various resources and possibly watching shows or videos with subtitles to improve understanding.

Outlines

00:00

🇬🇧 Introduction to British Accents

The video script begins with a warm welcome and an invitation to subscribe for regular content updates. The main topic is the diversity of British accents, focusing on the five most challenging ones for non-British speakers to understand. The speaker clarifies that the term 'British accent' is misleading due to the wide variety of regional accents within the UK. The script emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between Received Pronunciation (RP) or Standard English and other regional accents, and introduces the concept of accents being so distinct that they might not seem to belong to the same country.

05:00

🎥 Exploring Regional Accents: Black Country and Birmingham

The script delves into the Black Country and Birmingham accents, highlighting the unique vowel sounds that differentiate them from RP. The speaker, hailing from the Black Country, explains the pronunciation differences, such as 'bus' being pronounced as 'boos' and 'right' as 'raa-eet'. The TV show 'Peaky Blinders' is suggested as a resource for listeners to familiarize themselves with these accents. Additionally, a separate video on the Birmingham accent is mentioned for those interested in learning more.

10:05

🗨️ The Unique Sounds of Geordie and Scouse Accents

The script moves on to discuss the Geordie accent from Newcastle and the Scouse accent from Liverpool. It provides examples of how words like 'away' and 'better' are pronounced differently in these accents, with the Geordie accent featuring a split 't' sound in words ending with '-ter'. The Scouse accent is noted for its distinctive 'k' sound, which can be replaced with a 'chhh' sound in some instances. The script suggests listening to recordings and celebrities like John Bishop and Jodie Comer to better understand these accents.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴 The Glaswegian Accent: A Challenge for Non-UK Listeners

The Glaswegian accent from Glasgow, Scotland, is presented as particularly challenging for those unfamiliar with it. The script provides an example of the accent and notes that it differs significantly from RP in terms of vowels, consonants, melody, and intonation. It suggests that understanding the Glaswegian accent could serve as a key to grasping other Scottish accents. Resources such as Kevin Bridges and Billy Connolly are recommended for listeners to practice.

🎬 Cockney Accent: Hollywood's Take vs. Reality

The final paragraph discusses the Cockney accent, prevalent in London, and its portrayal in Hollywood films, citing examples from actors like Dick Van Dyke and Michael Caine. The script points out the difficulty in understanding Cockney due to the linking of words and rapid speech. It recommends learning about linking sounds in English and listening to native speakers like Michael Caine and Micky Flanagan to improve comprehension. The script concludes by emphasizing the importance of immersing oneself in the diverse accents of the UK.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Accents

Accents refer to distinct ways of pronouncing a language peculiar to a particular region or social group. In the context of the video, the term is central as it discusses the variety of British accents and their difficulty for non-British speakers to understand. The script provides examples of different British accents, such as the Black Country/Birmingham and the Geordie from Newcastle, to illustrate the diversity and unique characteristics of each.

💡British Accents

British Accents encompass the range of pronunciation styles found throughout the United Kingdom. The video emphasizes that the term 'British accent' is often misused to refer to a single style when, in fact, there are many regional accents. The script clarifies that what is commonly referred to as a 'British accent' is more accurately termed 'Received Pronunciation' or 'Standard English', which is the accent used by the speaker in the video.

💡Received Pronunciation (RP)

Received Pronunciation, often abbreviated as RP, is a standard accent of English traditionally associated with the southeastern region of England, particularly the upper middle class. The video suggests that when people refer to a 'British accent', they might actually be referring to RP, which is the accent the speaker uses. RP serves as a point of comparison to highlight the differences in the other regional accents discussed.

💡Black Country/Birmingham Accent

The Black Country/Birmingham Accent is a regional accent from the West Midlands of England, particularly around the city of Birmingham. The script describes it as one of the hardest British accents to understand due to its unique vowel sounds, such as pronouncing 'bus' as 'boos' and 'right' as 'raa-eet', which differ significantly from RP.

💡Geordie

Geordie is the term used to describe the accent from Newcastle upon Tyne in the Northeast of England. The video script provides examples of how words like 'away' and 'better' are pronounced differently in the Geordie accent, with 'away' becoming 'are-wee' and 'better' pronounced as 'be-ta', showcasing the distinct vowel and consonant sounds characteristic of this regional dialect.

💡Scouse

Scouse refers to the dialect and accent of people from Liverpool. The video mentions that the Scouse accent is known for its unique 'k' sound, which can be replaced with a 'chhh' sound in certain words like 'chicken'. This distinctive feature, along with its melody and intonation, makes the Scouse accent challenging for non-locals to comprehend.

💡Glaswegian

The Glaswegian accent comes from Glasgow, Scotland, and is noted in the video as one of the hardest accents for non-UK residents to understand. The script points out that the Glaswegian accent is characterized by its unique vowels, consonants, melody, and intonation, which differ significantly from RP. Examples from the script include the peculiar use of 'how' instead of 'why' in questions.

💡Cockney

Cockney is an accent traditionally associated with the East End of London. The video script highlights that Cockney is difficult to understand due to the way words are linked together, with little separation and a long strain of sounds. Examples given include the speech of Michael Caine and Micky Flanagan, which are characterized by this linking of sounds.

💡Vowels

Vowels are one of the speech sounds in English that are produced without significant constriction of the breath flow. The video script discusses the importance of vowel sounds in distinguishing regional accents, such as the unique 'oo' sound in 'bus' in the Birmingham accent and the 'ah' sound in the Geordie pronunciation of 'better'.

💡Consonants

Consonants are speech sounds characterized by a closure or narrowing of the vocal tract. The script uses the term to highlight the differences in pronunciation between accents, such as the 'k' sound in Scouse being replaced with a 'chhh', and the unique 't' sounds in the Geordie accent.

💡Intonation

Intonation refers to the rise and fall of pitch in speech. The video script mentions that the intonation of certain accents, like Scouse, contributes to their distinctiveness and can make them harder to understand for those not familiar with the accent's melodic patterns.

💡Linking

Linking in linguistics is the process where a sound at the end of one word influences the beginning sound of the next word, often resulting in the words running together. The script points out that in Cockney, words are linked in a way that makes the accent particularly challenging to understand for those not accustomed to it.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of British accents, emphasizing the diversity and complexity within the UK.

Clarification that the term 'British accent' is often misused and should be replaced with 'Received Pronunciation' or 'Standard English'.

Explanation of the regional variations in accents, illustrating how different they can be from one another.

Introduction of the Black Country/Birmingham accent, highlighting its unique vowel sounds.

Use of the TV show 'Peaky Blinders' as an example for practicing the Birmingham and Black Country accents.

Description of the Geordie accent from Newcastle, noting its distinct vowel sounds and the 't' sound.

Recommendation of resources such as the dialects archive for learning about the Geordie accent.

Introduction of the Scouse accent from Liverpool, with a focus on the unique 'k' sound.

Use of celebrities like John Bishop and Jodie Comer to illustrate the Scouse accent's variations.

Introduction of the Glaswegian accent from Glasgow, Scotland, as one of the hardest to understand.

Recommendation of comedians like Kevin Bridges and Billy Connolly for understanding the Glaswegian accent.

Discussion of the Cockney accent from London, emphasizing its difficulty due to word linking and vowel sounds.

Use of examples from Michael Caine and Micky Flanagan to illustrate the Cockney accent.

Emphasis on the importance of immersing oneself in the various UK accents for better understanding.

Encouragement for viewers to engage with the content through likes and following on social media.

Promotion of one-on-one online English lessons with the host or partner as a practical application.

Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

Why does the speaker suggest using 'Received Pronunciation' (RP) or 'Standard English' instead of 'British Accent'?

What is the first accent discussed in the video and why is it significant to the speaker?

How does the Birmingham or Black Country accent differ from the expected British accent in terms of pronunciation?

Which TV show is recommended for practicing listening to the Birmingham and Black Country accents?

What is the term used to describe the accent from Newcastle?

How does the Geordie accent differ in pronunciation from other British accents, particularly with the word 'away'?

What accent is often associated with the Beatles and how does it compare to the original Liverpool accent?

What sound is unique to the Liverpool accent and how does it affect the pronunciation of the word 'chicken'?

Which Scottish accent is considered one of the hardest to understand for non-UK residents and why?

What is the reason that makes the Cockney accent difficult to understand according to the video?

What advice does the speaker give for improving understanding of the various UK accents?