Anyone know?

[susandennis]

The Geiko lizard appearing in commercial lately has a British accent. He sounds like he's from the same area as Bob (Jennie's husband on Related)... Anyone know what area of England they are from?

Comments

[judith.livejournal.com]

The latest lizard has an accent that sounds to me more Australian than British.

[susandennis]

I thought so, too, at first but he just sounds so much like the guy who plays Bob who definately is British... Maybe you are right.

Doh, could look him up...Callum Blue... http://thewb.warnerbros.com/web/show_bio.jsp?id=RL-E-CBlue-Cast%20Bio native of London... hmmmm

[judith.livejournal.com]

Well, I've never seen the show so I can't comment on that. But he's playing a Brit so I guess one would assume he's sounding like one.

does he sound like me

[ossie.livejournal.com]

Im from East London and I am a Cockney , our accents are different than Hugh Grants

check any of my phone posts and see

have fun
Ossie

Re: does he sound like me

[susandennis]

A brilliant idea! I did just that. Some words are spot on - morning and little - for instance. But, generally you enunciate way more clearly than the actor or the lizard.

Here's really dumb question probably but your comment made me remember the people in the TV show East Enders (I think that's what it's called). Is that East the same as your East London?

Is Cockney more than an accent? I mean when you say you are Cockney what does that mean exactly? I've heard it all my life but never actually knew what it meant.

Re: does he sound like me

[bluedrum.livejournal.com]

Traditionally, a Cockney is a person born within the sound of Bow bells, that is the bells of the Bow Cathedral.

M

Re: does he sound like me

[susandennis]

ahhhh... thanks!

Re: does he sound like me

[ossie.livejournal.com]

to be a cockney you need to be born in a certain part of East London

http://www.thevalkyrie.com/clubhouse/cockney/index.htm

has a little bit about it

I am a Cockney, the Eastenders show was also from that area

when I make a phone post I try to speak a little slower than I do usually
and a lot slower than I did before I arrived in the US in 1975

if I spoke as fast as I did before you wouldnt understand me

the new Lizard speaks with a Cockney accent (Eastenders) the old one had a different accent,

I should read the Geico commercial in a phonepost one day


have fun
Ossie

Re: does he sound like me

[susandennis]

Excellent and yes, your Florida influence does come through in your phone posts but I went back and listened some more and I can hear the lizard. You have definately cracked the case. And made me smarter in the process.

And just to be clear, the reason I am so interested is that I love the accent. I just finsihed watching a thing on our PBS about Windsor Castle and then switched the channel and the next up was that Geiko lizard in a commercial. He sounds way funner than those castle people!! Even if I do have to listen harder to make out what he is saying.

Thanks so much for helping me out here!

[vasilatos]

The gecko sounds like London to me.

[susandennis]

But, not Hugh Grant London.

[vasilatos]

Nope. Prince Charles London.
Or Jeeves the butler London.

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

Do Americans think that Hugh Grant and Jeeces the butler have London accents?

Nooo , Hugh Grant has a typical Public school accent ie *proper Queens English ;) This is the accent of the upper classes ;)

[susandennis]

Since most Americans think the Queen lives in London, they think that yeah, she has a London accent. Plus, here, public schools are our free schools we would more inclined to equate the Queen's accent not to people in public schools but to the rich people in private schools.

I did not get the distinction between the upper class accent and 'general London'. Interesting.

Lanugages and accents are so interesting to me. I think in my next life, when I get tired of being a super model, I'm going to learn a bunch of languages and study up on accents.

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

Ahh, interesting. London has it's own accents ..West London is very different to East for example ...

But the upper class accent is nothing to do with where someone lives , more to do with where they went to school ;)

[susandennis]

And it's so different here. Accents are almost always defined by geography. There are differences in accents in New York city - Brooklyn vs mid-town Manhattan, for instance... but not that much AND where a person goes to school makes zero difference.

Interesting stuff.

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

Well, the school thing only really works for the upper classes LOL The rest of us have regional accents like the Cockney (and there is MOCKney as well, but that's another story *g*) *I* have a standard accent as I was bought up in an RAF environment, means I didn't really get to stay anywhere long enough to pick up a broad Lincolnshire/Wiltshire etc etc one :)

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Why does the Geico lizard have an accent at all? Seems to have nothing to do with the insurance. I don't get it.

[susandennis]

What cracks me up here is your implication that the lizard - with a different accent - is perfectly suitable for selling insurance.

But, seriously folks, my guess is that the accent draws the American ear in to listen more carefully to what he is saying - plus it's just odd which is also attracts focus.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

I guess so. That somewhat explains it.

English Accents

[nezbitthecat.livejournal.com]

Got an afternoon to spare? Good. Here is a collection of recordings of regional accents of the UK. Enjoy!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/recordings/index.shtml

Re: English Accents

[susandennis]

very cool! Thanks!!

GEICO gecko

[(Anonymous)]

I thought the GEICO gecko sounds just like Callum Blue (Bob- Ginny's hubby on "Related") too! It's been driving me crazy!!!!

Re: GEICO gecko

[susandennis]

I love that there is someone else who watches that show! And I love that whoever your are, you made the accent connection. Nice to know I'm not the onely one!