when speaking with an accent

[ljplicease]

I was in an argument once long ago with a friend of mine. Here is how it started. (My fault mainly). I said something about “those people” who think that there is such a thing as speaking “without” an accent. She told me that she was one of “those people”. This is something that really gets to me though, because how can you say that people in England speak with an accent^[1] and people in the Midwest do not, when people in England literally (not in the Chris Traeger sense of the word) invented the language when the only thing invented in the Midwest was cow tipping^[2]!!!

We've gone to the movies three times in as many weekends, which is a lot for us. I don't like to go to the expense of an actual theater unless it is certified fresh on rotten tomatoes (RT). (I am such a lemming)! When we watch a preview that looks good she will get excited, and I will say “I don't want to commit to that movie without reviews”. (Because I am a dork). If we DO go to see a movie next weekend and make it 4/4 then it will be Suicide Squad. I am a little on the skeptical side, because so far the DC universe movies have all been consistently terrible. On the other hand the preview looks kinda fun. So we will wait for the RT score. And decide then.

While I wait I do a little research, and discover that at least two of the main characters are played by Australians. You don't notice them until you take a close look, because they fake the American accent for their roles, but Hollywood is crawling with Aussies. It seems. As an example, LA Confidential was literally 2/3rds Aussie leads^[3] for a movie set entirely within 1950s LA County. It's funny because there are literally zero Aussie roles in Hollywood. Tell me though, when the Aussies are doing their best American impression, are they speaking with an American accent? Or are they suppressing their god given Aussie accents?

For the record, I speak with a classic Midwestern accent. It is very boring. But it is still an accent! I have that right!

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1. Ignore for arguments sake that there are multiple English accents
2. Also invented in the Midwest, but not mentioned because it conflicts with my argument:
   • Powered flight
   • Assembly line
   • Cat litter
   • Corn flakes
   • Kool-aid
3. Mostly, depending on if Aussies or Kiwis want to claim Russell Crowe. I have mixed feelings myself.

Comments

[oakfarm2.livejournal.com]

Chicago is midwest? How could you not mention the skyscraper? Haha

[plicease]

Chicago is definitely in the Midwest. I am not sure they invented the skyscraper? Or did they? Also they invented deep-dish pizza, but most people outside of Chicago don't think that is much of an invention.

[oakfarm2.livejournal.com]

I checked my sources, if it interests you, the Home Insurance building in Chicago from 1885 is sometimes said to be the first skyscraper. However that could apparently be disscusted.

[plicease]

I agree that it is arguable. I think it depends on how you define the term. In the modern popular sense I don't think anyone would call that a skyscraper today (assuming it was still there). But then I am not an architect so who knows :P