phases that make me want to smack someone

[critter crazy]

We are saying the statement was not racist. "I hate people who have Spanish accents" would be racist (sort of) but "I'm not fond of Spanish accents" is not.

Whatever! I am not arguing with any of you!!
I was offended! Sue me for crying out loud!!

I guess I am not supposed to be offended by someone Saying they want to slap me cause of the way I talk!!!

[Lady's Human]

1) What, praytell, do y'all consider a "middle European" accent? There are a lot of countries, languages and dialects (hence accents) in the center of Europe.

2) Castillian Spanish accents are extremely rare in the United States. Y'all should watch on 'o them thar formerla one races to hear a true spanish (as opposed to hispanic)accent.

3) Which Mexican accent do you find offensive? There are several. I had several employees from Mexico, and I had one who spoke to me and translated the others for me. I could understand Miguel, but couldn't understand three of his compatriots (also from Mexico) as they had a different accent to their Spanish. I almost got into an altercation with them one day because of a misinterpretation, after which I relied on Miguel.

[Karen]

The accent thing doesn't just apply to Spanish-speakers speaking English, that's for sure. I have a friend from Argentina, who, when we first met, asked "You speak Spanish?" When I replied, "No, Francais - mais un petit peau," he replied, "Ah, no Francais, me. You speak Mexican?" Clearly to Argentinians, they speak Spanish, Mexicans speak their own language.

There's pretty much nothing folks normally say that make me want to smack them. Fight the urge to correct them? Sure. (In instances that I DON'T correct them that is.) Smack anyone? Nah.

[caseysmom]

I actually enjoy accents, my daughter has a friend from the south that says "yes mam" to me all the time, I think its endearing.

[Cincy'sMom]

The accent thing doesn't just apply to Spanish-speakers speaking English, that's for sure. I have a friend from Argentina, who, when we first met, asked "You speak Spanish?" When I replied, "No, Francais - mais un petit peau," he replied, "Ah, no Francais, me. You speak Mexican?" Clearly to Argentinians, they speak Spanish, Mexicans speak their own language.

There's pretty much nothing folks normally say that make me want to smack them. Fight the urge to correct them? Sure. (In instances that I DON'T correct them that is.) Smack anyone? Nah.

I don't know why, but this reminded me of a story. We had a Euchre (card game) tournament through work as a fund raiser. A friend of mine brought a couple they are friends with, and the woman was not orginally from the US. We would change tables and partners on the outcome of each game. At one table, the freind started speaking Spanish. One of the guys at her table was getting impatient, wanting to play. He told her you can speak English, or your native language, I don't care, let's just play.

She asked him why he thought Spanish was her native language. He said, well, you have an accent, and you are darker complected. She let him dig himself a nice little hole with the conversation. Then said, by the way, I'm not Hispanic, I'm from Romania, I just teach Spanish!

One thing that took me some getting used to is the pronunciation of Aluminum. In our little corner of the world, it is generally pronounced
A-lum-in-um. The chemistry manager at work always says Al-u-min-ium, which I believe is a more European pronunciation(?). Totally confused me what he was talking about!


There are phrases that I find unusual, or pronunications that make me heisitate, but certainly nothing that makes we want to slap anyone!!

[shais_mom]

Whatever! I am not arguing with any of you!!
I was offended! Sue me for crying out loud!!

I guess I am not supposed to be offended by someone Saying they want to slap me cause of the way I talk!!!

I was confused up until you said you were offended by her Mexican/Spanish comment b/c I thought you 2 just had a running commentery going on and maybe had become friendly off board. B/c it seemed like everything you said she thought was funny.
I understand you were offended. You have every right to be offended. Just b/c someone else was not offended doesn't make her statement less offensive. Someone telling you are wrong to feel that way - is just as wrong as what she said.

[shais_mom]

When I was in high school I used to say
"I seen" all the time - until one of my friends and my mom corrected me everytime it came out of my mouth. It took me a long time to break the habit and I would have to think everytime I attempted to say it.
Now I say I have seen or I saw. And now its just a slight annoyance when I hear it.

[critter crazy]

I was confused up until you said you were offended by her Mexican/Spanish comment b/c I thought you 2 just had a running commentery going on and maybe had become friendly off board. B/c it seemed like everything you said she thought was funny.
I understand you were offended. You have every right to be offended. Just b/c someone else was not offended doesn't make her statement less offensive. Someone telling you are wrong to feel that way - is just as wrong as what she said.

I was trying to make it funny, her original statements about wanting to slap people did make me mad, but I just tried to let it go, and make it a joke. But this comment about mexicans has made it worse, and I am indeed offended. Its not funny anymore.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Whatever! I am not arguing with any of you!!
I was offended! Sue me for crying out loud!!

I guess I am not supposed to be offended by someone Saying they want to slap me cause of the way I talk!!!

I agree, I think pretty much all of the statements made are offensive. The way people talk (many times this has to do with where a person grew up) has nothing to do with intelligence or "class." I think the notion of actually hitting someone based on the way they talk is a lot less "classy" than anything anybody could say.

[caseysmom]

I agree, I think pretty much all of the statements made are offensive. The way people talk (many times this has to do with where a person grew up) has nothing to do with intelligence or "class." I think the notion of actually hitting someone based on the way they talk is a lot less "classy" than anything anybody could say.

Well said.

[IRescue452]

I don't think anybody literally wants to hit somebody for the way they talk.

[Blue_Frog]

Not so much a phrase, but I do a lot of training around the states, and bring my Canadian accent with me. I often get a good natured mocking from whatever group i end up training. The last group was in Atlanta, who kept asking me to say 'Aboot' and 'Eh' ... happens all the time, and actually works pretty well to loosen up a really serious group sometimes.

I also picked up the subulties of Y'all being for one person, and All Y'all for a group of someones, back when I was doing phone support at my last job - i might be one of the few people up here that pop it into conversation. Its just one of those uncommonalities up here, so i usually get laughed at my by friends when i do

[petslover]

I agree, I think pretty much all of the statements made are offensive. The way people talk (many times this has to do with where a person grew up) has nothing to do with intelligence or "class." I think the notion of actually hitting someone based on the way they talk is a lot less "classy" than anything anybody could say.

Thank You. This really needed to be said. I agree 100 percent.

[critter crazy]

I agree, I think pretty much all of the statements made are offensive. The way people talk (many times this has to do with where a person grew up) has nothing to do with intelligence or "class." I think the notion of actually hitting someone based on the way they talk is a lot less "classy" than anything anybody could say.

Thank you, i agree completely! 100%!!

[Lady's Human]

"My Fair Lady" anyone?