I was chatting with my neighbor a few houses down from us a couple of weeks ago. He and his wife are both PhDs from Harvard and black. Not a trace of accent whatsoever. If you didn't see him or her, they sound like news casters from our local channel 7 news. Another guy, editor for CSI, stopped by from his walk and jointed in for our sidewalk rap session. He's black also from Pittsburgh, again without any accent (with him, we know he's not from socal). Within a few second of talking about college ball, they were both a different person judging from the way they speak. I didn't say anything but continue jabbering away with them. That typical black accent was thick. I think they used triple negatives within a sentence.

When people are dreaming, thinking, or talking to themselves in silence, does it happen in their native accent without them even noticing it?

I've noticed the same. Not so uncommon, methinks.

I dated a beast of girl from the south. when she got plastered, her accent came out. sober, no accent.

Raised in Boston, high school in Oak Ridge,TN, USMC mostly in North Carolina, back to college in Boston. Many women found the Southern accent sexy. Whatever separated them from their panties. Los Angeles for 35 years. My trophy wife and 28y/o daughter some times have a Valley Girl tinge to their voices, "gag me with a spoon".

I work (daily) with people from all over the world. I have gotten pretty good at differentiating accents. Has anyone ever noticed that many Russians don't move their lips much when they talk? :)

I'm from East Tennessee - everyone else has an accent but folks from East Tennessee... ;)

I grew up in rural central TX and according to friends in college I used to have an accent. Then lived in the PNW for a few years, moved to Charleston, SC and the locals guess I'm Canadian.

I'm still not sure if I should be offended or not.

Hey wait a minute. You work at a secret government research facility and yer talkin to Ruskies! :eek:

I have observed this many times myself, particularly when mixed with trip home. Maybe it is like Nick Cage suggested in that flick, God of War; when you are under duress, you revert back to your native tongue

One time I was at Panda Express in the Colorado city I was born, raised and lived almost all of my life in and the guy behind the counter asked "That's an interesting accent, do you mind if I ask where you're from?"

I've been told I sound like I'm from Idaho, which is strange because I don't call everything a "rig"

Many of our particle physics and radiation transport experts are Russians. It is what it is. This place is full of the "best in the world" and some of them are simply the best.

Well, you're just missing out then...because just about everything is a 'rig', I thought, anyway. :)

I've been told that I have an accent but those who mention that say that they just can't peg it.
Born in North Dakota, left at the age of 18, lived in KA for 45 years...maybe that's it...dunno.
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I was going to post "you should listen to Mark Wilson talk." You sound like a character from Lonesome Dove.!SmileWavy

we don't have an accent in South La. all you guys do

Just for fun: 21 Accents - YouTube

And the American accents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NriDTxseog

That's entertaining. She's good!

I moved to Texas while I was in high school. One of my best friends there had a very thick East Texas Piney Woods Accent. It got to where I could mimic him very well. While in college I took a summer job as a life guard at a summer camp in northern New Hampshire. At the beginning of each weekly camp session all the new campers would have to line up at the beach on the lake and get the standard safety lecture before they could enter the water. I would pour on my best imitation of a "Texas" accent and leave the poor kids really confused. "What did he say?" Then I would speak real slow and answer their questions till they were satisfied and got to go swimming. Of course my nick name after that was always "Tex". Little did they know I was really a Cheese Head from Wisconsin.

"Little did they know I was really a Cheese Head from Wisconsin."
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The hell, you say.
You betcha, by golly.
I'll tell you one thing, By God!
Yep. Yep. Yep. That's the way it goes, ya know.
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I was born 'n raised in North Dakota.
I can fit right in up there, still. ;)

My mom was English and people loved to hear her talk. I could not hear any accent other than some subtle pronunciations here and there. I think exposure has much to do how we perceive a spoken accent.

I got a buddy from the great white north and he's completely lost his accent, until he has to say oot or aboot.