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Can you understand my Scottish Accent? Seminar Video Clips Attached - Please advise

by Riz
22 replies
I have a problem...........

I have a Scottish accent and I'm left wandering -
....can the world understand me

At the moment we run various seminars across Scotland. The way I am speaking is catered for that audience. If I was to run a seminar elsewhere I might slow my accent down.

You will notice we as Scots eat our words - example 'Do you' sounds like 'Joo'

Anyway, we are going to be professionally recording one of our seminars this weekend to sell DVD copies and also put the course online. The course is a 'Web Design, Development and Promotional Strategy course'

I would love some feedback from the following clips. These clips are from our last seminar and are shot by a basic phone camera.....

Can the non Scots understand me???? Would love and welcome the feedback

After the first 1 min 24 secs we change phone and the sound quality and visibility improves. Total length 7min 52 secs.


#accent #advise #attached #clips #scottish #seminar #understand #video
  • Profile picture of the author shockwave
    Hi Riz,

    I'm in the U.S. (the Ohio), so I'm a native English speaker. That accent is difficult to understand. I have to listen very closely, however it can be done.

    There's a reason why Apple has issues with SIRI being able to understand Scottish Accents....it's because they are hard. My advice would be to slow down your pace of speech.

    Check out this funny commercial

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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      I'm from Ohio too.

      I understand what you re saying, but when you speak rapidly, it gets garbled to me. Honestly, it isn't that bad.

      here are certain words (sounds) that are easy to misunderstand. It's easy to work on those. You already know what thy are. But speaking slightly slower would help a lot. You have good stage presence.
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      • Profile picture of the author jimbo13
        Reminds me of Rab C Nesbitt.

        Dan
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        • Profile picture of the author Riz
          Originally Posted by jimbo13 View Post

          Reminds me of Rab C Nesbitt.

          Dan
          Should I be taking that as a compliment or an offensive statement, lol!

          For those who don;t know Rab C Nesbitt, here is a short clip...

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      • Profile picture of the author Riz
        Originally Posted by shockwave View Post

        Hi Riz,

        I'm in the U.S. (the Ohio), so I'm a native English speaker. That accent is difficult to understand. I have to listen very closely, however it can be done.

        There's a reason why Apple has issues with SIRI being able to understand Scottish Accents....it's because they are hard. My advice would be to slow down your pace of speech.

        Check out this funny commercial

        Lol! That commercial was hilarious....& thanks for your input.



        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        I'm from Ohio too.

        I understand what you re saying, but when you speak rapidly, it gets garbled to me. Honestly, it isn't that bad.

        here are certain words (sounds) that are easy to misunderstand. It's easy to work on those. You already know what thy are. But speaking slightly slower would help a lot. You have good stage presence.
        I need to slow down....slow down Riz, slow down Riz.....trying to drum it into myself

        Thanks for your input and advice.

        And....thanks for the 'good stage presence' compliment - coming fro you (i've seen you on stage on one of your videos) it means a lot....
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    • Profile picture of the author mckennabrowny
      Originally Posted by shockwave View Post

      Hi Riz,

      I'm in the U.S. (the Ohio), so I'm a native English speaker. That accent is difficult to understand. I have to listen very closely, however it can be done.

      There's a reason why Apple has issues with SIRI being able to understand Scottish Accents....it's because they are hard. My advice would be to slow down your pace of speech.

      Check out this funny commercial

      Apple Scotland - iPhone commercial for Siri - YouTube
      LMAO! Shockwave you just made my day!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    I understand every word you said. But for others you should slow down just a lock and try to be conscience of pronouncing each word more clearly otherwise to us Yanks you'll sound as if you've had a few to many Volvo's.

    P.S. I know my slang is Irish because I don' know any Scottish slang. LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author patadeperro
    Non native english speaker, I got it all. Dont worry
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    • Profile picture of the author DJL
      To my American ears, most of what you said was unintelligible.
      My advice: speak slower, avoid any slang or uncommon idioms, and add subtitles.
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      • Profile picture of the author AlwaysGrateful
        Hi,

        I would also suggest slowing down a bit. I could understand what you were saying but only if I focused a lot more which means I ended up missing what was being said in total because I have to try to hard to figure out what you are saying in the first place.

        I worked for a company where the trainer for a particular software by a European company was Scottish. Unfortunately her accent was so heavy they ended up bringing in a guy from the UK. I felt bad for her because she really tried hard but couldn't adjust her manner of speaking well enough so that we could understand her.

        So try slowing down and refrain from trying to use slang terms as it doesn't go over too well.

        All the best to you
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        • Profile picture of the author jimbo13
          Originally Posted by AlwaysGrateful View Post

          I worked for a company where the trainer for a particular software by a European company was Scottish. Unfortunately her accent was so heavy they ended up bringing in a guy from the UK.
          UK to the rescue eh?

          Countries of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

          Dan
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        • Profile picture of the author Riz
          Originally Posted by Rus Sells View Post

          I understand every word you said. But for others you should slow down just a lock and try to be conscience of pronouncing each word more clearly otherwise to us Yanks you'll sound as if you've had a few to many Volvo's.

          P.S. I know my slang is Irish because I don' know any Scottish slang. LOL
          Appreciate the input Rus - that is definitely Irish as opposed to Scottish slang - the only Volvo I know is the auto-mobile


          Originally Posted by patadeperro View Post

          Non native english speaker, I got it all. Dont worry
          Surprised but happy about that

          Originally Posted by DJL View Post

          To my American ears, most of what you said was unintelligible.
          My advice: speak slower, avoid any slang or uncommon idioms, and add subtitles.
          Ohhh that's not good - thanks for the advice

          Originally Posted by AlwaysGrateful View Post

          Hi,

          I would also suggest slowing down a bit. I could understand what you were saying but only if I focused a lot more which means I ended up missing what was being said in total because I have to try to hard to figure out what you are saying in the first place.

          I worked for a company where the trainer for a particular software by a European company was Scottish. Unfortunately her accent was so heavy they ended up bringing in a guy from the UK. I felt bad for her because she really tried hard but couldn't adjust her manner of speaking well enough so that we could understand her.

          So try slowing down and refrain from trying to use slang terms as it doesn't go over too well.

          All the best to you
          That's a good point, never thought about it like that. Thank you :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Riz
    Thanks for all the responses, really appreciate the input.

    Some mixed reviews but the general consensis is:

    1) I need to speak slower if I'm going to cater for anyone other than the Scots, and

    2) Pronounce my words instead of eating them

    Will be taking that on board.

    Riz

    PS: Any other feedback from anyone else still welcome and appreciated
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    I could understand most of what you said but I could see how others might not.

    I'd suggest working to tone it down. David Tennant for example can speak in many accents including a kind of creepy American one. And American always means midwestern. It's our version of the RP. Even if you are not from the midwest if you are on TV they want you sound like you are.

    Living in the midwest that means everyone sounds like me. Till I travel around the US and realize they don't.
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    • Profile picture of the author Riz
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      I could understand most of what you said but I could see how others might not.

      I'd suggest working to tone it down. David Tennant for example can speak in many accents including a kind of creepy American one. And American always means midwestern. It's our version of the RP. Even if you are not from the midwest if you are on TV they want you sound like you are.

      Living in the midwest that means everyone sounds like me. Till I travel around the US and realize they don't.
      Thanks for the feedback Aaron.

      Gosh trying a different accent is a challenge. I just done a quick recording on my phone with my attempt at an American accent - I sound like a fool, lol!

      Riz
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    No need to take it that far I'd just try more for closer to RP. Maybe even look up acting coaches since that is one of the things you have to learn to do.
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    • Profile picture of the author Riz
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      No need to take it that far I'd just try more for closer to RP. Maybe even look up acting coaches since that is one of the things you have to learn to do.

      Excuse my ignorance but what is RP?
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  • Profile picture of the author bwh1
    I'm most probably not the best judge as I'm not native English speaking but I'm having a lot of difficulties to understand Scottish. Reminds me of a guy in Kurt's video Forum which offered access to his beta software.

    I was unable to follow the video, got maybe 50%.

    Important is what your Audience understands and if you work for your Offline clients which understand Scottish then you are good to go IMO.

    For the recordings which would be sold elsewhere too I think you have to get back your "School English" as refunds would be inevitable.

    The Apple video response was hilarious, made my day.

    G.
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  • Profile picture of the author Riz
    Thanks for the feedback 'G'

    I think the order of the day for me is to speak slower and with more clarity. I think my screencast trainings are more clear.

    I will post a link tomorrow for some feedback on that.

    Thanks again guys - much appreciated.
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  • Profile picture of the author shockwave
    Hey Riz, here's the positive of all this: You guys make GREAT scotch and invented one of the best games on earth!

    Robin Williams golf - YouTube
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    • Profile picture of the author Riz
      Originally Posted by shockwave View Post

      Hey Riz, here's the positive of all this: You guys make GREAT scotch and invented one of the best games on earth!

      Robin Williams golf - YouTube
      hahaha

      That is one of the best clips I've seen.

      Thanks for the laugh
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