Posted by Alan Hakim on August 30, 2011 at 09:53:59 user awhakim.
In Reply to: Re: Pronunciation posted by Ed Kiser on August 29, 2011 at 08:59:48:
Regrettably, what Ed says about Americans not understanding English English is all too true. And this from a man who has successfully addressed a large roomful of TARS members with no hint of being incomprehensible.
Why do WE understand THEM, while THEY don't understand US? I think the answer is Hollywood.
(I am of course leaving out questions of strong regional accents like Newcastle and Glasgow - or indeed the Lakes - which leave many residents of other parts of Britain at a loss.)
The GA is definitely Aunt Ma-RYE-a, just as police vans for carrying arrested people were Black Marias until they started painting them white. I say Jibber, but I have no authority to claim it isn't Ghibber.