h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

FS, it has puzzled me too how she didn't use the word before she arrived in the UK. But she says 'pudding' with a definite northern English accent. She grew up during the great depression in a very poor household so that might provide some explanation - maybe she only heard the word regularly after moving here.

Sadly she has dementia now so I can't ask her about it, she doesn't produce many recognisable words nowadays. Conversations I wish I'd had...

Mol

It occurs to me that perhaps it was the difference between savoury and desserts, American pudding is usually more like British custard, maybe she thought it was a different word? It is sad that that you can no longer communicate with her, Alzheimer's is a terrible thing.

To respond to the op, I was born in western New York, but have spent the vast majority of my life in West, central Florida. I do not normally pay any attention to my accent, but when I am in north Florida, or the deep south, I often try to add a bit of drawl only to slow down my words and make them more understandable to the locals.

When I was in Pompey, I met a Royal Navy officer and we talked at the pub for three evenings in a row. It was only on the last night I knew he was from Liverpool, and then only because he told me. I think many of us are only conscious of local accents - In a foreign country we all expect everyone to pronounce words a little strangely (to us).

F S

I'm with Broelan in that while most of us can't help adjusting our speech to those we are talking to, or to fit the surroundings we are in, it does seem rather artificial and as if you're even "talking down" to the natives - the equivalent of shouting to make someone understand a language they don't speak.

It probably doesn't come across as that at all. People are probably thinking "How cute, they are trying to fit in" or "Great - we are infiltrating their subconscious" or something.

I'd rather not let them infiltrate my subconscious. .

My deep, dark secrets are not ones I'd wish to have out in the open.