Americans Don’t Understand The Welsh Accent – Experiment…
Tuesday, February 28, 2012Posted in: It's A Long Way To Tipperary It's A Long Way To Go..., stella
Tags:Kenny Doughty, Ruth Jones, Stella
So is that true?
Do you Americans have a hard time understanding Welsh dialogue?
OK, here’s one of my favourite shows on TV at the moment. It’s called Stella, and it’s set in a fictional village/town called Pontyberry in Wales. Watch the clip and tell me if you:
A: Easily understand the dialogue and get the humour
B: Understand the dialogue but don’t get the humour
C: Don’t understand a fricking word they’re saying
(This scene features Stella, her dopey ex-husband and the woman he cheated on her with)
Verdict?
Not long enough, ok, let’s try this Stella ad for the show premiere:
I take for granted my total understanding of Shows like True Blood, where the southern dialect is thicker than molasses. I just expect everybody to understand all forms of English, especially the TV kind.
So, what’s your answer, A, B, or C?
Leah Braemel
February 28
5:54 pm
In the first clip, I had to really listen heard and could understand most of it the first time around. The longer I listened, the more I could understand — and yes, I got the humor. The second clip I had no problems understanding, but again I think it was because the longer I listened the easier it was.
But — I’m not American. I’m Canadian (as if you have’t got enough accents going on, eh?) with British parents, raised on British television shows and British humor. So I may be biased. π
Brie
February 28
5:55 pm
I would say D. I had to concentrate on what they were saying, but and once I did I was able to understand them and get the humor. Iβm sure is just a matter of practice and getting used to the dialect. It looks like a fun show with a character thatβs interesting and real.
willaful
February 28
6:01 pm
D. for me as well, or maybe an E for “understood some of it” if I concentrated. I’d like to see that show!
AztecLady
February 28
6:46 pm
Understood some, not all, hat to listen a couple of times to get most of the dialogue in the first clip.
Karen Scott
February 28
7:01 pm
The first clip is as strong as the dialect gets.
@Willaful it’s such a great show, and it wouldn’t work anywhere else other than Wales.
For those who don’t know, this is what Catherine Zeta Jones used to sound like. She’s a Welsh gal.
Las
February 28
7:18 pm
I had to concentrate in the first clip, but I did understand and get the humor. Looks like a fun show.
The only English I’ve ever had a problem with is Irish. I understood, but it was more getting the gist of what was said than truly understanding all the words spoken. I’m a native Spanish speaker (Dominican Republic) and I sometimes have the same problem with certain dialects of Spanish (Argentinian in particular).
Karen Scott
February 28
7:36 pm
I think the raw Glaswegian accent is probably harder to understand than Irish Las. (Glasgow in Scotland that is)
Angelia Sparrow
February 28
7:48 pm
I can’t follow most spoken American English. This is why I have captions on the TV. And I am definitely in D, can’t understand any of it.
Patrice
February 28
8:15 pm
I got most of it and the humor. I think some of the idioms were where my understanding lapsed, like that bit about where they were when they saw the dog grooming franchise (maybe?) and what the heck did she say at the last bit while riding the bike? lol I def missed that! π But it looks funny. And who doesn’t like Tom Jones singin, eh? π
anja
February 28
8:54 pm
I’m another that needs to concentrate but I think it’s because I’m out of the habit of hearing that particular accent. It took me a while to be able to watch Gavin & Stacey (another Ruth Jones program) without a lot of effort and only part of the cast was Welsh.
MichelleR
February 28
9:52 pm
I understood perhaps 80% of it, got the humor. Seems like a really funny show.
Christine
February 28
10:27 pm
First pass of the first clip, C.
Then I watched the second clip, A.
Went back and watched the first clip and it was better.
Then went to YouTube and watched MORE clips.. so know it’s A all around.
Now Choice F. Where can I watch full episodes? π
Karen Scott
February 28
10:42 pm
@Christine Now that’s interesting, I guess your ear has to first adjust to the dialect, then the understanding of the humour comes? I like that! Seriously, this show is so great, I can’t recommend it enough.
I guess it’ll be out on DVD in the UK soon, if you have a multi regional player, get it!
Jessica
February 28
11:35 pm
A for me, but I did miss some words in the first clip and had to rewatch. Looks like a great show.
The problem with Steve Jones on XFactor was not his accent. It was his weirdness. He was just so OFF emotionally from what Us audiences expect. He seemed quite insincere (par for the curse, but still , not so obvious usually), and cold towards the contestants, saying things like “It’s all over for you now” the moment they were voted off.
Karen Scott
February 29
12:01 am
@Jessica I am so with you re Steve Jones. The funny thing is, I used to think he was ok when he was in the UK, but I realise now it was because he usually had a co-presenter who made him look good. He was so terrible on Xfactor US that I used to fast-forward all the bits where he spoke. Plus that faux transatlantic accent was just sooooo bad.
JoanneF
February 29
12:03 am
For the first clip, I’d say A. For the second clip, B. I had to really pay attention, though. I think it’s the speed their speaking as well as the accent, so we Americans have to contend with both.
The thing about True Blood is, that’s not all that thick of a Southern accent, since it’s made to be broadcast all over the US. It’s definitely there, but you’d hear a much stronger accent from natives. Plus, usually “Southern” is spoken pretty slowly. If it was spoken at a faster clip, more like NY maybe, it’d be more difficult to follow. American accents are getting less distinct and more diluted these days; perhaps from national media.
JoanneF
February 29
12:05 am
Oops, I wrote that backwards. Clip 1 – B, clip 2 – A.
Karen Scott
February 29
12:05 am
@Patrice Nadine was at Mirna’s who owns Tong’s and Tweezers, lol, it was a hairdressers shop. The end bit she says “Well can I pop over tomorrow or what?” Admittedly, that bit was quite hard to understand.
Karen Scott
February 29
12:22 am
@JoanneF But because I’m not used to hearing that southern accent regularly, to me, initially, the accents on Trueblood were really thick-sounding, but my ear adjusted fairly quickly.
Bonnie
February 29
12:57 am
C. Didn’t understand a frickin’ word they were saying.
LOL! Wow! And I have no problem whatsoever with True Blood.
Kayleigh Jamison
February 29
1:30 am
I understood it, and got the humor, but I watch a lot of British shows. I have to agree with you, Karen, that Glaswegian can be difficult. I’ve been to the UK a few times. Glasgow was really the only place where I had trouble understanding what a few people were saying. Well, and one really drunk Irish guy in Cork, but…that was more a consequence of him being hammered than being Irish.
Mariana
February 29
3:12 am
C (although I did get some words), but I’ve always had issues with different accents. English is not my first language (Spanish is), so translating it takes a second. Throw in an accent and I’m slowed down.
Funny thing, I work for a German bank and almost everyone I work with is from abroad (UK, Ireland, India, Germany, Western Caribbean)… I’ve been known to not answer phones.
katieM
February 29
3:43 am
I got it right away and I want to see the whole show. It looks great.
Sherri
February 29
9:36 am
A for me, but I watch a number of shows from the UK and listen to several BBC podcasts each week.
I’ll have to keep an eye out for this one, the show looks funny.
Mireya
February 29
2:44 pm
I feel accomplished, I did catch bits and pieces. Spanish is my first language and I have only been speaking English on a daily basis over the past 13 years or so, so yeah, I feel accomplished =) I have an accent myself, and sometimes have a hard time finding the right words or the correct pronunciation. π
I do think that catching the humor comes not only with a better understanding of the culture but also with the better understanding of the language. When I moved to the continental US, a lot of the humor would fly right over my head. When I was still in Puerto Rico, I wouldn’t watch the sitcoms because, well, I didn’t think they were all that funny. After my first few months of living in the continent, I started “getting” the humor. I now watch several. I have to show these clips to my husband, to see how he fares π
Christine
February 29
3:58 pm
@Karen I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for the show on DVD. I’m not completely sure about the mulit-regional abilities of our players (PS3 and Macs), but I was able to watch a DVD a friend sent me from NZ, so it’s promising!
Fun post!
Karen Scott
February 29
4:40 pm
@Patrice, sorry, I know which bit you’re talking about now, lol she says the woman asks her what’s put a smile on her face, and Stella answers “Wouldn’t you like to cocking know!”
Cocking is a word that’s used often:)
@Katie @Sherri – If you get the opportunity to see the whole show, you need to watch it! I’m very sad that due to the language/accent barriers you guys wont be privvy to the whole show, and not sure BBC America would show it anyway as it’s not one of their shows.
Alice
February 29
6:29 pm
I think between A and B. It was a little hard at the beginning, but then it got easier and I found myself laughing too. Now I want to watch Stella. Lol.
Cindy
February 29
6:45 pm
I’m definitely with Willaful and Joanne. I could understand parts of the words but not enough to grasp the humor or the sum of what they were saying. It wasn’t so much the accent for me, or even the slang, but the speed they were talking.
les stuart
September 2
8:42 pm
Karen,
It is interesting that you say the word ‘cocking’ is used often. However, it is only in that show and I have never heard it spoken in everyday Welsh life. Stella also calls her daughter ‘Presh’ (precious) though we would not use that term either. Words we would use are ‘butt’ or ‘butty’ (buddy) and ‘love’ as in ‘hiya love, how are you?’
Forgot to mention, I live in the area where the show is filmed.
andrew
September 5
6:34 pm
I am welsh and yes we do speak fast , even the English can’t understand us , cocking isn’t a popular saying as this is the first I heard of it said. But we do say like alot thought lol, mun,lush fabalus is also popular words to.oh and we do use welsh words in everyday conversions . diolch ,thanks and LOL can mean rubbish or Trash as you say .and ewe is a good one as well , as in love ewe mam . but my favourite is cariad meaning love/darling so a conversation would start like this Hello cariad(love) how r ewe(you) en (then) love that’s a lush coat ewe gotair (got there) mun .oh and I’ll translate the bit where stallas on the bike , :- who put that cocking look on ewer face en ( Stella) wouldn’t ewe(you) like to cocking know