What is New York really like? And what would you say are the things a tourist should look out for around your way?

The pizza is really good. So are the hot dogs for that matter.

Question to Americans--which accent is more difficult for you to understand--
British?
Australian?
or Scottish?

I have to admit I think most of us have a difficult time differentiating between the various English accents. If it doesn't sound like Tony Blair I think it sounds cockney . Australian is unique enough so that I can usually pick out an Australian from a crowd. Scottish is in a class by itself though...we all kind of have an idea of how Scots talk but I've seen Scottish programs on TV with everyday Scottish folks just talking to one another and I needed subtitles to understand what they were saying.

Question to Americans--which accent is more difficult for you to understand--
British?
Australian?
or Scottish?

For me It depends on how thick it is. My dad watches tons of English soccer and I can understand most of it. But there is always That one guy I can't understand. I can understand It most of the time but not all the time.

I agree. If it's a light accent, I can usually make out what's being said. If it's a combination of accent thickness and the use of special slang I don't understand then I'm a goner. I also like to have subtitles on when I'm watching a British or Aussie made movie to make sure I understand everything the characters are saying.

Does anyone notice differences between Canadian and American accents?
I guess there are various kinds of Canadian and American accents, but sometime I do notice a difference, but only when I hear the two accent back-to-back.

I'm not sure what it is about standard Canadian and American accents that sounds so different, but yes, I have no problem noticing the differences.

Does anyone notice differences between Canadian and American accents?
I guess there are various kinds of Canadian and American accents, but sometime I do notice a difference, but only when I hear the two accent back-to-back.

I notice the difference especially when Canadians say "mouse" or "house", any word with the phonetic "OW" sound....or say words such as "been" with the British pronunciation.

Are there Americans who pronounce their "ou" sounds that way? And their "sorry" like "sore-ry"? Because my American lit teacher speaks that way and I just think it would be weird to be a scholar of American literature if you were Canadian. (Though I suppose us Americans do it in British lit all the time).

Maybe your prof's a transplanted Canadian? Though I think I have heard some Americans pronounce the "OW" like a Canadian would....

Question to Americans--which accent is more difficult for you to understand--
British?
Australian?
or Scottish?

For me, British accents are the hardest for me to understand overall (at least with the English people I've met).
I've never had trouble (so far) understanding someone with an Australian or a Scottish accent.
Something interesting: if I hear someone with an Irish accent, I can't tell if it's an Irish accent or a Scottish accent. But if I hear someone with a Scottish accent, I know for sure it's a Scottish one. Funny .

I can never recognize a Canadian accent when I hear one, I don't know why . I notice it alright, but can never place it. After I talk to them, I'm thinking "what in the world was that?! Where could they be from??" lol

Saw this today on Yahoo. Thought only the first bits about how Prince William will sound more 'normal' and less 'posh' were interesting.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_royals/20 ... ngs-speech

Question to Americans--which accent is more difficult for you to understand--
British?
Australian?
or Scottish?

Definetly Scottish. The British and Australian people I've met, I've had no problem understanding. The one guy I've met who was Scottish came to swim at the pool where I worked. He wasn't too hard to understand but definetly harder than the British or Aussies were. I think I might have had to have him repeat one thing but I don't remember.

Question to Americans--which accent is more difficult for you to understand--
British?
Australian?
or Scottish?

Well, I have an easier time with discerning accents because of my military up-bringing, I have no trouble understanding any of the above...however, sometimes it's difficult to understand what they're talking about. Certain phrases commonly used in Scottland, Britain or Australia either mean something entirely different here, or nothing at all. I'll say this, it's difficult for me to discern between Irish and Scottish unless I sit there and listen for a few minutes. Asian accents are some of the most difficult to understand, and it's basically impossible for me to discern between a Japanese, Chinese, or Taiwanese accent.

Just a random inquiry - are there any Swiss folk (or people who know them) in the room? If so, just some random questions:

1.) In general, how does the Swiss media cover all of the revolution that is happening in the Middle East?

2.) Do you feel that your country is safe from the economic downturn that a lot of the world seems to be going through?

3.) And for a more random question, do a notable number of Swiss folk enjoy pipes?