I can't tell the difference!

Hi ya ElicBxn I don't think you are the only one so don't worry. I am English through and through but find it hard to tell the difference between some Canadian and American's haha. The only tip I would give you is to look out for the lingo they use. Canadian's are more likely to use American words and there is a difference between words Aussie's use to the English. Can't think of many examples off the top of my head but say between American English and Queen's English would be that you guys say pants and we say trousers. Hope this helps X

I can tell Canadian sometimes because they say "ho-sss" instead of "house", pronounce their "ou" like a long "o". Something like that. English and Aussies sound a lot alike to me just because I haven't listened to them side by side. South Africans often have a kind of music to their speech so I can sometimes guess right between them and the English and Aussies but not always. It's very difficult, so don't feel bad! It would be like them trying to tell a resident of New England from a Californian, probably.

I wouldn't worry too much....I'm English and I can't even tell the difference between some regional English accents, from within the UK, let alone English speaking countries from outside the UK. I can't tell the difference between, say, an American and a Canadian accent. In the UK, to me, a Geordie accent sounds like a Welsh accent and vice versa, plus a Norfolk accent to me sounds the same as a Somerset/West country accent.

I'm from the U.S. and I'm actually pretty good and knowing the difference between U.S. accents, and Aussie,Canadian accents. I like listening to the way people speak it's fun I think certain accent are cool and sexy hahaha but don't feel bad there are a lot of people that don't really notice the difference between accents it's no big deal no worries As for learning the secret to deciphering accents its just a sound and tone and the way people with accents use their words, it's not easy to explain.

Australian's and British accent is almost the same. I wouldn't know about South Africans because I haven't dealt with them, at least not on a regular basis. I think it's better if you don't trouble yourself with this unless you're planning to be an investigator.

Although I am exposed to several in my area I can honestly say I can't tell the difference in accents either. I sometimes feel one has to have a knack for it because my boyfriend can instantly tell the differences. He laughs at me all the time when I mix them up. I do not think it is about being dense, maybe we just did not "hang around" so to speak with enough of them to differentiate between them.

I can tell the difference myself. I think it is great that you do not know how to tell the difference. that goes to show that you are not judgemental.

I can generally pick out South African, and I can definitely pick out British (and generally which region too. But I can't tell the difference between Australia and New Zealand, or between American and Canadian.

Personally i haven`t been exposed to either of the accents you have mentioned since we do not run into foreigners very much in my country and my city.However having heard these accents on TV,especially those related to cricket where we get to hear English,Australian,South African accents when the commentators speak relating the events taking on the field.It is quite easy to distuinguish all these accents seperately as they have very distinct intonations and pronunciations.I haven`t heard the Canadian accent so will not be able to really know how they speak but te other 3 are quite easy to make out and i have no difficulty in identifying them individually.

ElicBxn, Don't feel bad...many people can't! I still get confused sometimes between an Australian accent and an English accent. I don't really think you can do much to practice, but I guess you develop a "hearing" for it after listening to many accents for a while. South African accents usually sound like a mix between an American and an English accent. It's like someone American's trying to attempt an English accent, but is kind of failing at it (no offense to any South Africans :)). Canadians usually don't have very heavy accents...they usually sound like Americans, except extremely northern Canadians. They sound like the kind old grandmas talking in old movies...with that upward sound. They're fairly different from the other accents. English accents usually sound more "proper" than Australian accents...Australian accents have more of a twang, if you know what I mean. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. It just comes with hearing people with different accents a lot. Happy mylotting!

At the college I work at we have international students. I also work with a woman who is from Moldova. So I know some accents! I know a few accents. My friend from Moldova has a thick Russian accent. I have no trouble picking a German accent out,either. I can pick out a French accent,too. Besides French,Russian and German other languages have been heard. Like Korean,Chinese,Japanese and the language from Malawi,Africa. In the city I live in I hear spanish and Hmong all the time plus the accents. So I can tell some accents from others.

Hearing is different in people. And even though maybe you don´t have that ability, you might have others. I am not good with accents either, but I know a lot more than most people I know about body language. I can "feel" if someone is angry, sad, or happy. Don´t worry.

This is not an easy job but here in India we can identify easily who comes from which State by the way they pronounce. Here is a link that will help you about how people in the world speak http://alt-usage-english.org/audio_archive.shtml

I think there is no problem with not knowing where people are from by their accents. As long as you understand what they are saying in a conversation, then I guess you are fine.

I have a problem with Asian accents, but I recognize all the accents from English speaking countries, the former Yugoslavia, and any Germanic language.

You'd better add New Zealand to the mix then too I'm guessing. There are different states of America that have different accents too don't forget. Also, there are quite a few English dialects.

Funny you should mention accents... I just had to ask a fellow today where he was from, because I couldn't place his accent. (He was from South Africa.)

After working in several large teaching hospitals, I pretty much picked up on all kinds of accents. Interns, doctors, nurses and other staff come from all over the world to these institutions. You kind of get a feel (ear) for placing people after a few years. There's no secret to it. You just have to be around and listening for an extended time.

Some people just have a better ear for accents than do others. I can pick out a number of accents. However, if I'm chatting with the person, I usually have drawn all the basic details out long before I'd be able to decipher where the person is from based on her/his accent. Certain words do offer good clues. However, there will always be people like me who use words that come from various regions and cultures (i.e., "I decided to bunk class since I had to schlep to the doctor's this afternoon."). Plus, my accent is pretty well informed by American television--meaning, the accent itself is rather generic.

You are not alone! A lot of people, including myself, can't tell what kind of an accent people have. I am from outside of Pittsburgh, and they say we have an accent. I lived in upper Pa. for awhile and everyone knew where I was from. It didn't seem that they talked any different from me. That was only a few hours away, and they could tell I wasn't from around there. The only thing I could tell was that they used different words than we do.