topic Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry? in Community Chat

Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

rolen — Thu, 09 May 2019 12:49:47 GMT

Whenever Prince Harry or Prince William are speaking on TV I have trouble understanding their words because of their accent. I understand the Queen, Prince Charles, Diana, etc quite well. But the two younger princes give me a problem.

I don't know if it is generational or a regional accent type of thing. There was one news item this morning with Mehgan and Harry the new baby Archie where there were words subtitled on the bottom of the screen. It made me wonder if there are any others that could have difficulty in understanding what he was saying.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

vermint — Thu, 09 May 2019 12:58:41 GMT

@rolen I don't have any problem understanding them. But then, on another forum here, people have often complained about not being able to understand a couple of the actors on a certain TV show (both of whom are Americans with no particular accent)--and I have no problem understanding them, either!

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

dex — Thu, 09 May 2019 13:26:01 GMT

@rolen @I think they both speak softly and that might be why.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Suzeecat — Thu, 09 May 2019 14:10:47 GMT

I always have trouble understanding British accents. I always turn on my closed captioning when I'm watching PBS.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

chrystaltree — Thu, 09 May 2019 14:36:42 GMT

I have no problems understanding them at all. To me, while they sound British upper class, they don't have strong accents at all.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

World Traveler — Thu, 09 May 2019 14:43:49 GMT

No, not at all.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Love my grandkids — Thu, 09 May 2019 14:57:01 GMT

I'm 71 and have been around many Brits from different parts of the UK and have no problem understanding them.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Winkk — Thu, 09 May 2019 15:02:01 GMT

I do too. I think it's because they speak soft I'm not sure but I can't make out some of their words. I can understand the Queen and other Brits.

I also have a problem with shows like Downton Abby and Midwives. I can barely make out what they say.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

ID2 — Thu, 09 May 2019 15:12:15 GMT

I can never understand the British. I've heard of some great tv series but once I hear the accent I'm out. I can't watch.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Bri369 — Thu, 09 May 2019 15:13:17 GMT

I don't have a problem understanding them. I think they do speak softly sometimes.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Lucky Charm — Thu, 09 May 2019 15:20:14 GMT

I think the little I've seen of Harry speak, he sort of mumbled and had his head down while talking. Maybe he's shy?

I do have trouble with accents--especially if they speak very quickly. We started to watch a show on Netflix this weekend (Flacked I think it was called) and the accent was too much we decided it wasn't worth watching. If the show was good enough I guess we'd do CC. Same thing when Daphne has lots of speaking scenes on Frasier--click it off.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

aggravated — Thu, 09 May 2019 15:42:46 GMT

I have difficulties too trying to understand. Traveling around in London couldn't understand the announcements on the underground or over the phone when trying to make reservations. The Help Desk for our IT Department is split with the US and UK offices - I need a help desk for the help desk if the Brits pick up. We watch all of the British PBS programs with closed captioning turned on. If we don't - we spend most of the time asking each other what was said and missing even more of the program.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

SeaMaiden — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:03:29 GMT

I struggle listening to strong regional accents. When I worked retail sales...I would have to ask someone to help me understand what the customer was saying when they spoke with a strong accent. Maybe it is because I grew up as a child and young adult in an area with very little to no diversity.? Anyway,

I just can not stand to listen to the BBC channel on TV. I just do not understand half of what they say.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Pqfan — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:11:34 GMT

If I am watching British tv show I understand fine but if I watch an interview with Harry,William or Charles I do have trouble sometimes.🤓

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Carmie — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:21:48 GMT

I have no problem understanding Prince Harry or most people with any other accents. Occasionally, people with accents from India will cause me to pause and ask them to repeat and also some people with thick accents from Maine, of all places, especially the older men from the local islands who catch and sell lobster by the side of the roads.

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Jinlei — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:39:25 GMT

I love the British accent, I have no trouble understanding them. I think it sounds so cultured, much better than the way Americans talk with their slang and bad English!

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Pearlee — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:45:14 GMT

@Pqfan wrote:
If I am watching British tv show I understand fine but if I watch an interview with Harry,William or Charles I do have trouble sometimes.🤓

@Pqfan Well that's OK; just ask Harry to text you later when he said! LOL!

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Pearlee — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:46:12 GMT

My father always said he thought English people sound like they talk with marbles in their mouths! (sorry @dulwich )

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

Pqfan — Thu, 09 May 2019 17:30:42 GMT

https://youtu.be/UZBSQ41jDxQ I like this guy on YouTube that teaches how to do a convincing British accent.🥰 So “upper crusty”🤣

Re: Anyone else have trouble understanding Prince Harry?

this is my nic — Thu, 09 May 2019 17:39:47 GMT

I highly recommend watching the Netflix, maybe Amazon(?) series, "The Windsors"! It's a spoof on the royals and quite amusing, especially the Camilla character. I am not a fan of the royals, other than Queen Elizabeth, and I don't think she's portrayed in the series. Everyone else is fair game!