On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 10:27:17 -0000, "David W.E. Roberts"
wrote:


"Nick Wagg" wrote

Frogleg wrote:

How can people from a an area half the size of
California with more regional accents than France has cheeses believe
there's such a thing as an 'American' mode of speech?

The fact that most of us can spot one a mile off means that this
must be the case, even if we often think that Canadians are
Americans too - well strictly speaking they are.

Coming late to this discussion - well, I've been in Cyprus for two weeks
complaining about the weather (I take it all back) - many is the time when
stopping in an hotel in the US that I've been told by the staff "Hey, there
are some of your guys over there" only to wander over and find they are
Aussie/Kiwi (occasionally SA).

Yep. You all sound the same. From Steve Irwin to Tony Blair. All
talking English 'funny.' :-)

My original point was that I was 'complimented' for "not sounding
American" which was a puzzle. AFAIK my speech is consumately (US)
American, fashioned early by New England parents and then long periods
living in New Mexico, California, and Virginia.