How do Americans feel about UK spelling?

[Sparrow]

It's easy to speak like an Aussie, just make every sentence sound like a question.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

He does rather well, I remember being surprised he was British and even more surprised he was the Blackadder servant character. I hope no one tells me he doesn't really walk with a cane.

He doesn't really walk with a cane.

Hugh Laurie isn't the servant character. Baldrick, Blackadder's servant, is played by Tony Robinson. Hugh Laurie plays The Prince of Wales in Blackadder III and Lieutenant George in Blackadder Goes Forth.

You might also know him from the excellent adaption of P. G. Woodhouse's Jeeves stories, in which he plays Bertie Wooster to Stephen Fry's Jeeves.

[crich70]

He also played Mr. Little in the Stuart Little movies.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

He doesn't really walk with a cane.

Hugh Laurie isn't the servant character. Baldrick, Blackadder's servant, is played by Tony Robinson. Hugh Laurie plays The Prince of Wales in Blackadder III and Lieutenant George in Blackadder Goes Forth.

You might also know him from the excellent adaption of P. G. Woodhouse's Jeeves stories, in which he plays Bertie Wooster to Stephen Fry's Jeeves.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

He doesn't really walk with a cane.

Hugh Laurie isn't the servant character. Baldrick, Blackadder's servant, is played by Tony Robinson. Hugh Laurie plays The Prince of Wales in Blackadder III and Lieutenant George in Blackadder Goes Forth.

You might also know him from the excellent adaption of P. G. Woodhouse's Jeeves stories, in which he plays Bertie Wooster to Stephen Fry's Jeeves.

Ahhh Yes! I remember now. It's been awhile since I saw any of those, and at my age. . .

[NickSpalding]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Maybe younger people have grown up hearing American accents more frequently than the older people and feel more comfortable doing it. In the 1960's and 1970's it was HARD to watch a Brit play an American. It's been a while since I've had a truely cringeworthy moment.
.

I'd have to say we do a better job at American accents than American actors do at British accents. Gwyneth Paltrow ain't too bad but other than that it's usually horrific.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

How does Hugh Laurie do in House? Being British, I'm not qualified to judge how well he does an American accent.

Hugh Laurie is a voice artist so he does an American accent very well although it's not the accent spoken in New Jersey.

But you'll notice crossover actors use short sentences with limited emotions. No long narratives.

A good example is the FOX tv show Fringe. The 2 main characters are Australian and yet one speaks fewer than 6 words at a time and the other changes pitch and prepares herself before speaking.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

It's easy to speak like an Aussie, just make every sentence sound like a question.

Huh. On that basis, I could say:

It's easy to sound English - just slag an Aussie every chance you get.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by NickSpalding

I'd have to say we do a better job at American accents than American actors do at British accents. Gwyneth Paltrow ain't too bad but other than that it's usually horrific.

I wouldn' know about that I have no frame of reference. But I didn't think other than Gwyneth Paltrow and what's her name that did Bridgett Jones, there was all that much going in the other direction.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Hugh Laurie is a voice artist so he does an American accent very well although it's not the accent spoken in New Jersey.

But you'll notice crossover actors use short sentences with limited emotions. No long narratives.

A good example is the FOX tv show Fringe. The 2 main characters are Australian and yet one speaks fewer than 6 words at a time and the other changes pitch and prepares herself before speaking.

Which two actors on Fringe? The techniques you describe are really interesting. Maybe what we see and hear is the ILLUSION of an accent!

Yes I know that Laurie's accent isn't New Jersey, but is consistent with educated Americans almost everywhere, which is what he plays in the show. I think though for awards shows, there should be a law that all actors have to remain in character. I'd love to see the character Charlie Sheen plays in 'Two and a Half Men' meet up with the character of Kate from 'Lost'.

[Sandra Edwards]

Most Americans (that I know anyway) realize that UK English has different spellings for certain words. (Again, this is just the people I know) It doesn't bother us. We don't look at it and say, "that's spelled incorrectly."

So, spell it however you want. We are pretty adaptable :-)

Sandy

[NickSpalding]

Of course, I have to say that anything not spelt in the manner of the Queen's English is incorrect, no matter what country it's in.

Gawd bless ya, yer Majesty.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I wouldn' know about that I have no frame of reference. But I didn't think other than Gwyneth Paltrow and what's her name that did Bridgett Jones, there was all that much going in the other direction.

Here's a selection:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...9.photogallery

And who could forget Christian Slater's Winston Churchill?

[Freeshadow]

Laurie in House: I remember having read somwhere (german magazine) that he actually has got a special training, to be able to "swich" his accent off.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Which two actors on Fringe? The techniques you describe are really interesting. Maybe what we see and hear is the ILLUSION of an accent!

The lead actress Olivia and the mad scientist Walter Bishop who was in Lord of the Rings.

She plays the tough FBI agent. Very monotone but fits the unemotional FBI persona. She once said "chair" and "garage" and gave herself away. They must be hard to pronounce.

And Walter speaks deliberately like a distracted partially insane scientist so can hide his Australian origin well. He plays his part very well.

Of course, the show is based in Boston and no one in the show has a Bostonian accent and that's what irritates me the most.

[GraceKrispy]

Speaking as an American, I really prefer that books are written using the spelling and phrasing that is appropriate to the setting as well. Or appropriate to the situation. If the main character is Australian and has relocated to America, I'd rather see the Australian spelling because it's from the point of view of an Australian. I love reading books written with UK or Australian (or some other English-speaking country) phrasing and words. My husband probably doesn't like it as much, as I tend to then speak like that for a while.

One thing that really does throw me off, however, is the single quotes for speaking. I have greater difficulty looking past that. I much prefer double quotes.