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What kind of accent is this?
Since I think I posted this in a dead thread, I'm posting it again. I believe I disclosed my place of origin elsewhere so it's not much of a guessing game. The text is the same Cesar used for his own sample.
http://media.putfile.com/sample-87
I assume the speaker isn't a native English speaker or an English accent I never heard in me entire life.
It sounds non rhotic accent so I would cross out it being from the US or Canada. Probably the speaker learnt British English. Who knows? God would only know.
The BBC make a right old cockup over a mistaken identity. Have your sound system switched on but look at the guy's facial expression when the female interviewer introduces him as somebody else, and the way he plays along with the whole thing.
He seems to have a French accent, but according to latest reports he was not a minicap driver but a guy who had been invited to the BBC in London for a job interview as an accountant, but somebody else thought he was an expert on the law relating to music downloads onto the net and whisked him into the recording studio to gives his expert advice to an unsuspecting interviewer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scvOL%20rO-CiY With the seconds ticking down to a studio discussion about a court case involving Apple Computer and The Beatles' record label, a floor manager had run to reception and grabbed the man, thinking he was Guy Kewney, editor of Newswireless.net, a specialist internet publication. Actually, he was a minicab driver who had been waiting to drive Mr Kewney home. Baffled, but compliant, the driver was fitted with a microphone and allowed himself to be marched in to the studio. Cameras rolled, and he was quizzed live on air by consumer affairs correspondent Karen Bowerman - who missed the cabbie's panic-stricken expression when he realised he was being interviewed. Despite knowing nothing about the case - a judge ruled that the computer company could continue to use the Apple symbol for its iTunes download service - the man gamely attempted to bluff his way through and, speaking in a strong French accent, sustained a(somewhat illogical) form of conversation. Meanwhile, the real Mr Kewney watched indignantly on a monitor in reception. A tape of the exchange, broadcast on Monday morning, has become a classic among BBC workers. It starts with the mystery man's horrified expression as Ms Bowerman introduces him as a technology expert, followed by his plucky attempt to answer her question on whether he was surprised by the verdict. Yes, he says with feeling. It was a 'big surprise'. After an increasingly confusing exchange, the presenter cut with relief to the BBC's equally puzzled reporter outside the court, while the taxi driver was hurried out of the studio. The BBC apologised, saying the mistake occurred because the man was wearing Mr Kewney's name tag. Mr Kewney said: "Everyone seems to think he was a taxi driver waiting in reception to take me home. But no one knows for sure." He added: "There were several surprising things about 'my' interview. Judging by my performance, English wasn't my first language and I didn't seem to know much about Apple, online music or The Beatles." He said the taxi driver "seemed as baffled as I felt". Last night, the driver's identity remained a mystery. None of the taxi firms regularly used by the BBC would admit to employing him.
LOL that's hilarious.
BTW, I think his accent was Mauritian. (French is spoken in Mauritius).
BTW, I was referring to Damian's link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scvOL%20r0-CiY
Confused was right. I'm a non-native speaker. I was taught British English, trained to be an English teacher, and then recently moved to the US.
Do you think the accent would elicit positive or negative reactions from native speakers (both British and American)?
My guess would be sub-continental. It sounds quite neutral, so should produce no negative reactions. It is clearly identifiable as a non-native-English-speaking-accent, but is easy to understand.
That man did a good job and tried to answer the questions. Good on him.
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