A huge hug and big thank you to everyone who shared their opinions with me on this post.
In keeping with this blog's usual privacy procedures, no names have been used. The initials denote the contributor.
If you would prefer to have your name added or your initials removed, please let me know!
Cheers! x
Undergrad consisted of some of the best years of my life. I made some fabulous friends, and looking back, it would appear that only those with positive attitudes and behavioral weirdness were allowed. The late night- early morning- midday- like all the time- ridiculosity the junk food, the giggles. It really was the best. And though my friends' and my conversations were silly, we sometimes touched on some very salient topics. Such as the topic for this post:
Why are accents so sexy, though?
In keeping with this blog's usual privacy procedures, no names have been used. The initials denote the contributor.
If you would prefer to have your name added or your initials removed, please let me know!
Cheers! x
Undergrad consisted of some of the best years of my life. I made some fabulous friends, and looking back, it would appear that only those with positive attitudes and behavioral weirdness were allowed. The late night- early morning- midday- like all the time- ridiculosity the junk food, the giggles. It really was the best. And though my friends' and my conversations were silly, we sometimes touched on some very salient topics. Such as the topic for this post:
Why are accents so sexy, though?
I've had this conversation with so many people - all of my college roommies, most of my Flava Fam, my study abroad family, and all of my friends here in Ireland now - and I'm sure you have to. We all have, let's be totally honest. Something about Jude Law or those boys from Our Lips Are Sealed (yes, I'm talking about the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie) has always got our tummies fluttering with foreign butterflies. But here's the bigger question: is love better with an accent?
Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about role playing or anything. But there is definitely a level of attractiveness involved in foreign accents - at least certain ones for certain people. But what accents attract us and why? Is love better with an accent?
I asked a bunch of my friends their opinions on accents and whether or not they're sexy. Here's what I got:
"So sexy accents right?" TB
Haha
Just kidding. There's more!
"Accents can make or break the deal, Sarah," I was told. AG
Which might be one of the most shallow things a friend has ever said to me.
But when it comes to sexy accents, maybe we're all a bit shallow.
"I wonder if American accents sound as sexy to foreigners as theirs do for us." KM
(I can answer that one, as the official American living abroad. No.)
I know that I have a thing for accents, but an accent definitely does imply a certain language or cultural barrier. The stronger the accent (and let's face it, the stronger, the sexier) also means the harder to understand. And if your Significant Other has an accent, it probably means that the two of you are from a different place, and believe me, cultural barriers ARE a thing! That Aussie is going to say something one day to make you go WHAT?! no matter how many times you watched and memorized Our Lips Our Sealed.
I know that I have a thing for accents, but an accent definitely does imply a certain language or cultural barrier. The stronger the accent (and let's face it, the stronger, the sexier) also means the harder to understand. And if your Significant Other has an accent, it probably means that the two of you are from a different place, and believe me, cultural barriers ARE a thing! That Aussie is going to say something one day to make you go WHAT?! no matter how many times you watched and memorized Our Lips Our Sealed.
That being said, we seem to find accents attractive if they're somewhat similar to our own, aka if they're understandable.
"Pretty much all types of accents, but mostly English and Irish. I don't know what it is about them but they're so sexy amiright?"KM
"Most any foreign accent is attractive. So if you take a normal looking girl and then you find out that she has a British, french, [P]anamaian accent, they've just become so much more interesting/attractive she becomes." TB
Some people have argued that we're hardwired for genetic diversity-
"There have been studies showing that women find the smells of men who have different genetic codes more attractive than those that have codes that are more similar to their own. An accent is just a short cut for us to note that they are from a different gene pool. Mate with them and you[r] offspring will have more genetic diversity than if you mated with someone of a similar background. This... strengthens the group in case of hardship." TB
And an interesting way to think about accents as an indication of cultural diversity: cue the dialect!
"Depending on the dialect (if that's the appropriate term to use)." TE
"For me there is something about these accents that makes me want to know more about them." RV
"Similarly, people find the accents as a signal of exoticism, the unknown, which is attractive, somewhat forbidden. Another personal preference: I don't [...] find other types of American accents sexy, even Canadian. Maybe because I don't really identify those other groups as foreign?" TB
Also, just so you know, just because I have an Irish boyfriend doesn't mean that I'm honed in only on the Irish accent. As one friend so directly stated:
"Moving on to the UK accents, which I'm sure you you're going to write about." (Quick pause while I correct my friend about his ignorance of the location of Ireland) "... Irish and Scottish accents always seemed more friendly to me, more approachable." TB
I totes agree with that one, but then again, sometimes I think I have a bit of an Irish "twinge" (actual word someone used to describe my accent once....).
"I like an accent, I'm a lot more likely to carry on a conversation I wouldn't normally entertain with a guy with an accent. But only if I can understand his accent. " CL
"British accents hold a connotation of intelligence to Americans. I'm not sure how that started but I'm sure it comes from the media or something like that. But companies always send out spokespeople with British accents as experts." TB
But the media exposure isn't always a good thing, in fairness:
"I find that people with an accent outside the USA or Caribbean ingesting. I think that has to do with the fact that I live in the Caribbean and all my media entertainment comes from America." DS
This thinking kind of explains why we thought the boys in Our Lips Are Sealed were so attractive... or why Mary-Kate and Ashley kept going to places where they spoke English, with a heavy accent....!
"[U]nfortunately, sooo much judgement happens on how someone speaks. Different accents definitely mean different things but [I] really try to look past that and reserve judgement. An example ... I cringe everytime [I] hear a South African accent because [I]'ve watched blood diamond too many times and it freaks me out to hear it. I feel like a slave on the run (bizarre [I] know)... Don't really like Southern English accents because it is the accent of an oppressor (some of my best friends speak like it but [I] hate it). Something about posh [E]nglish people makes me want to slap them. They talk with such a superiority complex." EA
But still, I suppose some of us like those fancy-schmancy sounds:
"I think accents are sexy... I like a good d4 Dublin accent on a lady, or posh English. Or German. In fact, I just like women with accents.... I like women." JR
"I honestly melt at a Southern accent because it reminds me of a southern gentleman, riding a horse in a green valley, with the Blue Ridge mountains ahead and clouds overhead with an endless amount of territory to explore. Southern accents show that a man has mystery, kindness, subtle intelligence, confidence, etc. Plus, a southern accent reminds me of westerns and John Wayne and my family. Cigar smoke and campfires. Jack Daniels and cowboy boots. Singing and guitar-picking. The list is continuous." BH
Sometimes accents just make us harder to understand; it's like a mini language barrier.
"I find [accents] initially attractive and exciting because they are different, but I would get annoyed after while." BH
"Girls with accents from different languages are terrifying and indicative of a communication problem I will probably have. native English speakers with an accent, be it from the south or Scotland, are super attractive, as long as it isn't a northern Baltimore accent. That accent is just atrocious." DF
"And I'm probably in the minority, but I actually like Boston accents a lot! And growing up so far into the north, there's something endearing and charming about a little southern twang." PM
And please note, the Southern accent isn't for everyone...
It's a cult classic -- it seems either you absolutely love it, or you absolutely, totally hate it.
"Southern accents make me want to punch babies in the face." TE
Life's funny ways will probably have those of us who feel this way married to Dolly Parton's great grand-daughter.
"Girls with accents are more attractive. Except for too much of a southern accent I can't handle." WE
The theme here seems to be Americans, Irish, Caribs, we all seem to love the Irish one....
"Northern Ireland especially makes me swoon. Remember those bachelors from Belfast?" RM
Thanks again to everyone!
Cheerio x
On meeting an accented stranger:
"So yes, if a man has an accent I will have a physical attraction, and if it is in Trinidad I hear it, [I] want to know what they are doing there!" DS
"I don't know any [accents]. But when [I] daydream of talking to Australian girls they sound really good in my head." JL
"In sum, most of the time, any girl with a foreign accent becomes more attractive. It's not a silver bullet, but she definitely gains an edge." TB
"I think the smiling faces play into the accent...if their smiling, drunk, and happy. Stereotypical. Women love the company." SC
I totes agree with that one, but then again, sometimes I think I have a bit of an Irish "twinge" (actual word someone used to describe my accent once....).
"I like an accent, I'm a lot more likely to carry on a conversation I wouldn't normally entertain with a guy with an accent. But only if I can understand his accent. " CL
"British accents hold a connotation of intelligence to Americans. I'm not sure how that started but I'm sure it comes from the media or something like that. But companies always send out spokespeople with British accents as experts." TB
But the media exposure isn't always a good thing, in fairness:
"I find that people with an accent outside the USA or Caribbean ingesting. I think that has to do with the fact that I live in the Caribbean and all my media entertainment comes from America." DS
This thinking kind of explains why we thought the boys in Our Lips Are Sealed were so attractive... or why Mary-Kate and Ashley kept going to places where they spoke English, with a heavy accent....!
"[U]nfortunately, sooo much judgement happens on how someone speaks. Different accents definitely mean different things but [I] really try to look past that and reserve judgement. An example ... I cringe everytime [I] hear a South African accent because [I]'ve watched blood diamond too many times and it freaks me out to hear it. I feel like a slave on the run (bizarre [I] know)... Don't really like Southern English accents because it is the accent of an oppressor (some of my best friends speak like it but [I] hate it). Something about posh [E]nglish people makes me want to slap them. They talk with such a superiority complex." EA
But still, I suppose some of us like those fancy-schmancy sounds:
"I think accents are sexy... I like a good d4 Dublin accent on a lady, or posh English. Or German. In fact, I just like women with accents.... I like women." JR
"I honestly melt at a Southern accent because it reminds me of a southern gentleman, riding a horse in a green valley, with the Blue Ridge mountains ahead and clouds overhead with an endless amount of territory to explore. Southern accents show that a man has mystery, kindness, subtle intelligence, confidence, etc. Plus, a southern accent reminds me of westerns and John Wayne and my family. Cigar smoke and campfires. Jack Daniels and cowboy boots. Singing and guitar-picking. The list is continuous." BH
Sometimes accents just make us harder to understand; it's like a mini language barrier.
"I find [accents] initially attractive and exciting because they are different, but I would get annoyed after while." BH
"Girls with accents from different languages are terrifying and indicative of a communication problem I will probably have. native English speakers with an accent, be it from the south or Scotland, are super attractive, as long as it isn't a northern Baltimore accent. That accent is just atrocious." DF
"And I'm probably in the minority, but I actually like Boston accents a lot! And growing up so far into the north, there's something endearing and charming about a little southern twang." PM
And please note, the Southern accent isn't for everyone...
It's a cult classic -- it seems either you absolutely love it, or you absolutely, totally hate it.
"Southern accents make me want to punch babies in the face." TE
Life's funny ways will probably have those of us who feel this way married to Dolly Parton's great grand-daughter.
"Girls with accents are more attractive. Except for too much of a southern accent I can't handle." WE
The theme here seems to be Americans, Irish, Caribs, we all seem to love the Irish one....
"Northern Ireland especially makes me swoon. Remember those bachelors from Belfast?" RM
"Agreed, those [B]elfast boys, only two of them were good looking but its something about the accent... the moral of the story is yes accents do attractive make." KA
Guess I got lucky.
It's okay, y'all. Just come move with me to Ireland for a while!
Guess I got lucky.
It's okay, y'all. Just come move with me to Ireland for a while!
Thanks again to everyone!
Cheerio x
On meeting an accented stranger:
"So yes, if a man has an accent I will have a physical attraction, and if it is in Trinidad I hear it, [I] want to know what they are doing there!" DS
"I don't know any [accents]. But when [I] daydream of talking to Australian girls they sound really good in my head." JL
"In sum, most of the time, any girl with a foreign accent becomes more attractive. It's not a silver bullet, but she definitely gains an edge." TB
"I think the smiling faces play into the accent...if their smiling, drunk, and happy. Stereotypical. Women love the company." SC
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