forum British or zimbabwean culture, serial killers, life as a teenage female and depression

Started February 18, 2019 by @Tiani

tune

I know quite a bit about or am all of the things in the title so don't be afraid to ask questions even if it feels embarrassing, I'm here to help

What do the different American accents sound like to British people?
I have a character from Europe (undecided on where yet) who has to work with a group of people from the Midwest (namely Wisconsin) which is where I live so I can't describe the accent at all.

I need to write a main character who has depression and considered committing suicide when they were around…15. What can you tell me about how people with depression think?

What do the different American accents sound like to British people?
I have a character from Europe (undecided on where yet) who has to work with a group of people from the Midwest (namely Wisconsin) which is where I live so I can't describe the accent at all.

honestly the Wisconsin accent sounds pretty normal to me, it's not obnoxious or funny and I think it's probably the closest to and English accent unless it is SUPER thick. one thing I did notice is that the accent kind of goes up and down so they kind of end up finishing a sentence on a higher pitch a lot of the time. They also drag out their vowel sounds a little bit. Also some of the words that would sound odd or weird to a british person would be coffee, route, salmon, caramel, fire, coupon, water ( they pronounce the "t" like a "d"), pajamas, aluminium but all of these are more apparent with a stronger accent. I hope this helps :)

I need to write a main character who has depression and considered committing suicide when they were around…15. What can you tell me about how people with depression think?

Well it differs but from my experience it was hating myself. I think it's sometimes a misconception when people think that the reason people are suicidal is because they hate everyone or that things are unfair because in that case they would rebel or try escape these things. Suicide is an escape from the inescapable. Yourself. Sometimes it is that they hate their personality or the way they look or how they make people feel. Sometimes they'll feel worthless and lonely, sometimes they can feel mad at themselves and everything around them. they can get suspicious that the people around them don't like them or are talking about them behind their back. they can feel extremely unmotivated and sometimes just don't see the point in doing everyday things. They can have conflicting feeling like wanting to have friends so they don't feel lonely but then not having the energy to socialise and this can be really frustrating. They don't have the energy to do the things they used to love and end up hating themselves for it. You would think they would feel a sense of worry when everything is falling apart around them but they don't even have the energy to care. It's when they are feeling the most alone and the most hatred towards themselves is when they genuinely consider suicide. And it is a dark time of confusion, sadness, anger and self-pity. They might even taunt themselves, call themselves names. they might feel the need to scream at the top of their lungs. Mostly, they might feel like they want to cry. A lot. And when they start to cry it isn't a short thing either. Once the first tears come, the emotions just pour out. Every bit of resentment can be felt all at once and the most drastic actions can be taken in these times.

to both of you, if you have any more questions or queries, please ask, I'll be happy to try answer :D xx

Thank you so much, this should really help to flesh out my character.

Glad to help :D

What do the different American accents sound like to British people?
I have a character from Europe (undecided on where yet) who has to work with a group of people from the Midwest (namely Wisconsin) which is where I live so I can't describe the accent at all.

honestly the Wisconsin accent sounds pretty normal to me, it's not obnoxious or funny and I think it's probably the closest to and English accent unless it is SUPER thick. one thing I did notice is that the accent kind of goes up and down so they kind of end up finishing a sentence on a higher pitch a lot of the time. They also drag out their vowel sounds a little bit. Also some of the words that would sound odd or weird to a british person would be coffee, route, salmon, caramel, fire, coupon, water ( they pronounce the "t" like a "d"), pajamas, aluminium but all of these are more apparent with a stronger accent. I hope this helps :)

Wait…how do British people pronounce coffee and fire?

Cough- ee. But in a British accent. And fire it's just that with the accent it is more exaggerated and longer.

Huh. I've never not heard it pronounced 'cough-ee', but then again I've never really been outside the Midwest.

Yeah there are just certain words that we pronounce differently and I find it funny that people think we are posh when we really aren't haha