sexy accents

[cheerful_deviant]

Yes, I am not planning on actually typing out the accent (each of the characters only says about three sentences anyway, if that much), but I needed something to make the two guys wake the girl's interest, and had decided one should have really pretty eyes, and the other one a cute accent (as this is about a more or less superficial one night stand I didn't want to give them too much of a complex character, and thus wanted to opt for one thing that would make them attractive to her).

I tried it in one story. THe character was a mugger and I wanted him to have a real tough, thuggish accent. "Ello Sweets. Hows about youse 'and ova you bag." Came out pretty tough to read when it was all done. The votes reflected it I think. Or maybe it was just the rest of the story that sucked.

 

[hugo_sam]

I wonder if it is really the particular accent or the deviation from the norm. I'm sure there are some that are not attractive, but a Scott would stand out in NY but not in their region of Scotland, or any other regional accent. I wonder if time and place don't have a large bearing on what is sexy.
I'm told I am terribly southern accented but also told I speak like a NY'er on occasion. Having lived in both places, I wonder if is not the difference of area and accustomed speach.
IMHO
Hugo

 

[LadyJeanne]

I wonder if it is really the particular accent or the deviation from the norm. I'm sure there are some that are not attractive, but a Scott would stand out in NY but not in their region of Scotland, or any other regional accent. I wonder if time and place don't have a large bearing on what is sexy.

Does that mean American accents might be considered sexy outside the US?

 

[cheerful_deviant]

I wonder if it is really the particular accent or the deviation from the norm. I'm sure there are some that are not attractive, but a Scott would stand out in NY but not in their region of Scotland, or any other regional accent. I wonder if time and place don't have a large bearing on what is sexy.
I'm told I am terribly southern accented but also told I speak like a NY'er on occasion. Having lived in both places, I wonder if is not the difference of area and accustomed speach.
IMHO
Hugo

Wher you are is certainly part of it. I don't feel I have a very strong accent but when I travel people have me pegged as Boston in about 5 seconds. But I don't even notice the accent of the people around me. Of course, a new england, especially Boston accent is a pretty shitty accent IMHO.

But when I was working in W.Va for a while I found I was starting to pick up the accent there pretty fast. Not completly but a few hints. I also didn't notice it when other were speaking to me.

It's probablly alot of it just being different from what you are accustomed to. And you're correct, I doubt an Irish person thinks an Irish accent is very sexy, it's just normal to them. But some accents, like NY or Boston sound shitty all the time.

 

[australwind]

Does that mean American accents might be considered sexy outside the US?

Of course......but only some of them.......there are some that are almost incomprehensible to the non native american ear.....

 

[hugo_sam]

Does that mean American accents might be considered sexy outside the US?

To an extent I am sure it can be. In some places it will probably get you killed as well. American accents seem to be more tied than many to political issues, of course that could just be the warped perception of another ghastly American.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Does that mean American accents might be considered sexy outside the US?

My French punk-rock friends thought my american accent was charming- not everyonel else did! It depends...

 

[LadyJeanne]

My French punk-rock friends thought my american accent was charming- not everyonel else did! It depends...

I may have to start hanging out with more foreigners...

 

[Munachi]

I wonder if it is really the particular accent or the deviation from the norm. I'm sure there are some that are not attractive, but a Scott would stand out in NY but not in their region of Scotland, or any other regional accent. I wonder if time and place don't have a large bearing on what is sexy.
I'm told I am terribly southern accented but also told I speak like a NY'er on occasion. Having lived in both places, I wonder if is not the difference of area and accustomed speach.
IMHO
Hugo

True, exoticness has an important part in this. As has the reputation of the speakers of an accent in another place.

Unfortunately, it is very rare that anyone considers a german accent sexy...

 

[cloudy]

I've been told my southern drawl is sexy, but I can't confirm that.

I'm also NA, but there isn't any specific Indian accent - it's all on where you're from, not what tribe you belong to.

For guys, I like just about any European accent, but I think that's just because it's different to me, that's all.

 

[hugo_sam]

True, exoticness has an important part in this. As has the reputation of the speakers of an accent in another place.

Unfortunately, it is very rare that anyone considers a german accent sexy...

BEg to differ Sweetie.
Some of the most sensual women I have known were German and fairly heavily accented. And it is not just me and personal experience, Marlene Detrich wooed an entire nation or two or three.

What part of Germany are you from?

 

[Munachi]

Does that mean American accents might be considered sexy outside the US?

They can, I guess, but as others said above, currently political issues tend to play a lot into it, and the general image of a country. Unfortunately prejudices and generalizations are everywhere, and about everything... Another thing though is, that due to Hollywood, and also maybe the music industry, an American accent is not all that exotic in a lot of places. But there are also lots of places where it probably would be.

 

[rgraham666]

Does that mean American accents might be considered sexy outside the US?

Possibly.

Whisper something in my ear and I'll firm up that hypothesis.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

As an American male, there are two accents that I absolutely love in women:

Genuine southern belle, and British.

 

[Munachi]

BEg to differ Sweetie.
Some of the most sensual women I have known were German and fairly heavily accented. And it is not just me and personal experience, Marlene Detrich wooed an entire nation or two or three.

What part of Germany are you from?

Hm okay, forgot about her... though I wouldn't think it was her accent that made her sexy. Hehe, maybe the problem is rather, that I don't particularly like German accents myself, and get annoyed when it is pointed out I have one.

I am from Berlin... or well, from near there, but consider myself a Berliner by now...

 

[hugo_sam]

Hm okay, forgot about her... though I wouldn't think it was her accent that made her sexy. Hehe, maybe the problem is rather, that I don't particularly like German accents myself, and get annoyed when it is pointed out I have one.

I am from Berlin... or well, from near there, but consider myself a Berliner by now...

Hmm....
Always wanted to go to Berlin.
Too much red tape. When I was there it was still divided. American Service men could go to W. Berlin but the red tape was enormous. Something about being in the middle of East Germany made the Army nervous.....
Maybe one day now.
Love the country immensely.
Nothing wrong about a German accent in any way. Especially as lite as it is in Berlin.

 

[Varian P]

As a U.S. girl, almost any "foreign" accent is intriguing, which becomes sexy as soon as there's other sexiness happening. For native speakers of English, most any English, Irish, or Scottish accent, whether rough or high brow, works for me, as does a South African accent or Indian.

Aussie/New Zealand accents are less enticing in a foreign mystique sort of way, but still adorable.

Almost all non-native Enlish speaking accents are dead sexy when attached to the right person.

I s'pose I'm a bit of a xenophile.

 

[Munachi]

well, you should come here... imho at least it is a great city (though I guess I am a little biased).

 

[Varian P]

well, you should come here... imho at least it is a great city (though I guess I am a little biased).

It's always good to be biased in favor of the place you dwell and or hail from.

I've been to Berlin, and from what I recall from my somewhat delusional state after spending two days in Frankfurt mysteriously vomiting nonstop, it's a fun-filled, sparkling city.

I was even impressed enough to let go of the fact that more than one restaurant offered me "vegetarian" pizza covered in ham.

 

[simply_cyn]

I'm told that my Southern drawl (Texas twang is what I call it) is sexy ...
Anytime I've heard it on a recording or something, the only thing I can think of is "14- year old girl"! lol

Oh well, goes to show ... different strokes for different folks.
Quite honestly, I wouldn't trade it for another accent.

 

[simulacre]

A scottish accent will definitely make my knees weak!!! Irish also does a lot for me! The result is there whether I understand or not what the *L* they are saying!

The southern drawl... well, that's another story entirely LOL either I don't understand a word they're saying or I get impatient because they talk too slow (short attention span? Me? ).

French accent? does absolutely nothing for me since I've got it myself!

Perhaps you should have posted this as a poll, letting people vote on different accents it might have given you a better idea if you're looking to find out which accent is recognized by the majority as being sexy?

 

[BlackShanglan]

Yes, I am not planning on actually typing out the accent (each of the characters only says about three sentences anyway, if that much), but I needed something to make the two guys wake the girl's interest, and had decided one should have really pretty eyes, and the other one a cute accent (as this is about a more or less superficial one night stand I didn't want to give them too much of a complex character, and thus wanted to opt for one thing that would make them attractive to her).

The best advice I have seen on rendering accents was from a screenwriting handbook. Their advice was not to try to type the accent phonetically in words, but to let the grammar and word choice do the work. It's good advice.

One of the most pleasing compliments I have ever had was from a reader who described my screenplay's lead as "steeped in the damp, cold wilds of West Ireland." Nowhere in the screenplay does she ever mention where she comes from, and she is never given any unusual dialect words or pronunciations or described as having an Irish accent. But when I hear her in my mind, she does.

That felt good.

Shanglan

 

[simulacre]

The best advice I have seen on rendering accents was from a screenwriting handbook. Their advice was not to try to type the accent phonetically in words, but to let the grammar and word choice do the work. It's good advice.

My latest try at a foreign accent in a story I simply used the infinitive form of the verbs instead of the conjugated form in their dialog, thinking that it is one of the most common mistake a foreigner would make. Since I wasn't sure about it, I did ask my editor what she taught, she liked it and I had no complaints about it (although I admit I was carefull not to over use it). Not sure if it would work as well in an English story though, is it also the first mistake a foreigner would make?

 

[BlackShanglan]

My latest try at a foreign accent in a story I simply used the infinitive form of the verbs instead of the conjugated form in their dialog, thinking that it is one of the most common mistake a foreigner would make. Since I wasn't sure about it, I did ask my editor what she taught, she liked it and I had no complaints about it (although I admit I was carefull not to over use it). Not sure if it would work as well in an English story though, is it also the first mistake a foreigner would make?

I've heard it a number of times from people not thoroughly familiar with the language, and I know that my own ability to speak French is heavily marked by that sort of limitation - either clinging to the infinitive, or choosing a conjugation that is simple rather than the one that is correct. I never really mastered the imparfait, either in its formation or in its grammatical role.

Shanglan

 

[LadyAria]

I need help for a story I am working on... So just a little survey, particularly to straight women, though anyone else can participate too... What accent do you think is sexy? Especially, what accents of native English speakers?

Educated Southern American accents.