What the Hell Is That Accent?: Difference between revisions

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Other times this will be the character's natural accent. They may be an alien from Planet Z or perhaps just from another country. Odds are good other aliens won't use the same accent, though.
Other times this will be the character's natural accent. They may be an alien from Planet Z or perhaps just from another country. Odds are good other aliens won't use the same accent, though.


Not to be confused with [[Not Even Bothering With the Accent]] where a character is supposed to be from Country Y but sounds just like the rest of the cast. May overlap with [[Just a Stupid Accent]] or [[As Long As It Sounds Foreign]]. If the accent ''starts'' recognizable but then inexplicably jumps on a cross-country road trip, then it's [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping]].
Not to be confused with [[Not Even Bothering with the Accent]] where a character is supposed to be from Country Y but sounds just like the rest of the cast. May overlap with [[Just a Stupid Accent]] or [[As Long as It Sounds Foreign]]. If the accent ''starts'' recognizable but then inexplicably jumps on a cross-country road trip, then it's [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping]].
{{examples}}
{{examples}}


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== [[Film]] ==
== [[Film]] ==
* ''[[Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade]]'' has Indy trying to do a Scottish accent that comes off sounding more like Chekhov of ''[[Star Trek]]''. This is strange considering that the character grew up with a Scottish father. The butler he's talking to isn't fooled in the slightest. "If you are a Scottish lord then I am [[Mickey Mouse]]!"
* ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' has Indy trying to do a Scottish accent that comes off sounding more like Chekhov of ''[[Star Trek]]''. This is strange considering that the character grew up with a Scottish father. The butler he's talking to isn't fooled in the slightest. "If you are a Scottish lord then I am [[Mickey Mouse]]!"
* ''[[Moulin Rouge]]'' has Christian's father with an accent that comes off best described as German-Scottish.
* ''[[Moulin Rouge]]'' has Christian's father with an accent that comes off best described as German-Scottish.
* Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt in ''[[Watchmen (Film)|Watchmen]]''. In public Veidt has an American accent, and it slips in and out of his native German accent when he lets his guard down, so it is intentionally meant to be a mixture in certain circumstances.
* Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt in ''[[Watchmen (film)|Watchmen]]''. In public Veidt has an American accent, and it slips in and out of his native German accent when he lets his guard down, so it is intentionally meant to be a mixture in certain circumstances.
* ''[[Harry Potter (Film)|Harry Potter]]'' films.
* ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'' films.
** Michael Gambon as Dumbledore was going for the late Richard Harris' accent, who did the part before him, as well as his native Irish accent.
** Michael Gambon as Dumbledore was going for the late Richard Harris' accent, who did the part before him, as well as his native Irish accent.
** Also Bill Nighy as Scrimgeour. He sounds like he's a Scotsman whose accent got lost in London, slept with Yorkshire, before going for drinks in Devon and waking up naked in a skip in Dublin., but at least it's consistent.
** Also Bill Nighy as Scrimgeour. He sounds like he's a Scotsman whose accent got lost in London, slept with Yorkshire, before going for drinks in Devon and waking up naked in a skip in Dublin., but at least it's consistent.
** Isn't it just meant to be Welsh?
** Isn't it just meant to be Welsh?
* For ''[[Highlander (Film)|Highlander]]'', Christopher Lambert went to a lot of trouble to develop a mixed non-specific accent appropriate for an immortal who'd lived everywhere over the course of his centuries-long life. The intention is underlined by an early dialogue exchange when a cop tells MacLeod, "You talk funny," and asks where he's from. MacLeod answers, "Lots of different places." However, his straight Scottish accent in the Flashbacks is also a muddle. Lambert himself is from a French family and spent his early life in Switzerland.
* For ''[[Highlander]]'', Christopher Lambert went to a lot of trouble to develop a mixed non-specific accent appropriate for an immortal who'd lived everywhere over the course of his centuries-long life. The intention is underlined by an early dialogue exchange when a cop tells MacLeod, "You talk funny," and asks where he's from. MacLeod answers, "Lots of different places." However, his straight Scottish accent in the Flashbacks is also a muddle. Lambert himself is from a French family and spent his early life in Switzerland.
* ''[[The Room (Film)|The Room]]'': Where the ''hell'' is Johnny supposed to be from? That voice is vaguely French, but not ''quite'' enough. Actor Tommy Wiseau is using his real life accent, but refuses to state his country of origin, claiming to be Cajun. One reviewer's best guess was Walloon (part of Belgium).
* ''[[The Room]]'': Where the ''hell'' is Johnny supposed to be from? That voice is vaguely French, but not ''quite'' enough. Actor Tommy Wiseau is using his real life accent, but refuses to state his country of origin, claiming to be Cajun. One reviewer's best guess was Walloon (part of Belgium).
* The girlfriend from ''[[Werewolf (Film)|Werewolf]],'' who sounds like Tommy Wiseau.
* The girlfriend from ''[[Werewolf (film)|Werewolf]],'' who sounds like Tommy Wiseau.
* Hannibal Lecter's accent in ''[[The Silence of the Lambs]]''. He has bits of everything in it. This is easier to explain when considering his origin (something we only learn of in the book, to be fair). He was born in Lithuania and spent time in several countries, learning several languages in the process. His accent is bound to be a little bit of everything. [[Word of God|Anthony Hopkins said]] he was going for a cross between [[Truman Capote]] and [[Katherine Hepburn]].
* Hannibal Lecter's accent in ''[[The Silence of the Lambs]]''. He has bits of everything in it. This is easier to explain when considering his origin (something we only learn of in the book, to be fair). He was born in Lithuania and spent time in several countries, learning several languages in the process. His accent is bound to be a little bit of everything. [[Word of God|Anthony Hopkins said]] he was going for a cross between [[Truman Capote]] and [[Katherine Hepburn]].
* Watson from the silly martial arts film ''[[Razor Sharpe]]''.
* Watson from the silly martial arts film ''[[Razor Sharpe]]''.
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* Poor [[Christian Bale]] in ''[[Newsies]]'' actually does a pretty decent New York accent. Only, New York has a lot of accents. Bale doesn't so much not pick one as pick all of them. Most of the other actors don't pick any of them at all.
* Poor [[Christian Bale]] in ''[[Newsies]]'' actually does a pretty decent New York accent. Only, New York has a lot of accents. Bale doesn't so much not pick one as pick all of them. Most of the other actors don't pick any of them at all.
* ''[[Star Wars]]'': Darth Vader. As Anakin Skywalker he sounds either Midwestern American (childhood) or upper-crust New England (adolescence). Once in the black armor, he sounds like a roboticized [[Scary Black Man]] (courtesy of [[James Earl Jones]]) speaking in a Mid-Atlantic accent. When Luke removes his mask at the end of ''Return of the Jedi'', he inexplicably gains a British accent just before he dies.
* ''[[Star Wars]]'': Darth Vader. As Anakin Skywalker he sounds either Midwestern American (childhood) or upper-crust New England (adolescence). Once in the black armor, he sounds like a roboticized [[Scary Black Man]] (courtesy of [[James Earl Jones]]) speaking in a Mid-Atlantic accent. When Luke removes his mask at the end of ''Return of the Jedi'', he inexplicably gains a British accent just before he dies.
* Ernest Stavro Blofeld when he was played by Donald Pleasance in ''[[You Only Live Twice (Film)|You Only Live Twice]]''.
* Ernest Stavro Blofeld when he was played by Donald Pleasance in ''[[You Only Live Twice]]''.
* [[Nicolas Cage]] in ''[[Vampires Kiss]]'' appears to affecting [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcJUl39iiA something between California surfer accent and that of an English gentleman] (when it's not [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping|slipping]]). What it ''actually'' is meant to be is hotly contested. Cage explained that the accent is supposed to be a nonsensical affectation that Loew uses to seem cultured and to impress others.
* [[Nicolas Cage]] in ''[[Vampire's Kiss]]'' appears to affecting [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcJUl39iiA something between California surfer accent and that of an English gentleman] (when it's not [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping|slipping]]). What it ''actually'' is meant to be is hotly contested. Cage explained that the accent is supposed to be a nonsensical affectation that Loew uses to seem cultured and to impress others.
* Edna Mode from ''[[The Incredibles]]'' has a... German/Japanese accent, which forced Brad Bird to play the role himself, as no one else could do the accent properly.
* Edna Mode from ''[[The Incredibles]]'' has a... German/Japanese accent, which forced Brad Bird to play the role himself, as no one else could do the accent properly.
* The title character in ''[[Coffy]]'' uses a rather strange accent when [[Dirty Harriet|posing as a prostitute]].
* The title character in ''[[Coffy]]'' uses a rather strange accent when [[Dirty Harriet|posing as a prostitute]].
* The jury is still out as to what accent Jude Law was going for in ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]''. It isn't his native British accent, it isn't an accent for someone who grew up in the midwestern United States like his character... the best guess is that it's a deliberate affectation from a self-loathing individual.
* The jury is still out as to what accent Jude Law was going for in ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]''. It isn't his native British accent, it isn't an accent for someone who grew up in the midwestern United States like his character... the best guess is that it's a deliberate affectation from a self-loathing individual.
* [[Kiefer Sutherland]] may have found out what happened to his girlfriend in the remake of ''[[The Vanishing]]'', but no one has ever been to find out where the heck Jeff Bridges' character was supposed to be from. France? Belgium? Holland?
* [[Kiefer Sutherland]] may have found out what happened to his girlfriend in the remake of ''[[The Vanishing]]'', but no one has ever been to find out where the heck Jeff Bridges' character was supposed to be from. France? Belgium? Holland?
* [[Paul Rudd|Peter Klaven]] in ''[[I Love You Man]]''. All of his accents have the same, vaguely leprechaunish quality, and other characters routinely call him out on it. [[Catch Phrase|Slappa da bass!]]
* [[Paul Rudd|Peter Klaven]] in ''[[I Love You, Man]]''. All of his accents have the same, vaguely leprechaunish quality, and other characters routinely call him out on it. [[Catch Phrase|Slappa da bass!]]
* ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'': Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy, has what is sort-of-recognisable as a Scottish accent, but given that he's punctuating it with various bizarre sputtering and plops and other squid noises, and that Bill Nighy has a fairly distinctive voice to begin with, it turns into this trope. [[What Could Have Been|The accent was originally supposed to be Dutch]] (he's the captain of the [[Flying Dutchman]], after all), but Nighy refused to even attempt it.
* ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'': Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy, has what is sort-of-recognisable as a Scottish accent, but given that he's punctuating it with various bizarre sputtering and plops and other squid noises, and that Bill Nighy has a fairly distinctive voice to begin with, it turns into this trope. [[What Could Have Been|The accent was originally supposed to be Dutch]] (he's the captain of the [[Flying Dutchman]], after all), but Nighy refused to even attempt it.
* Russell Crowe gives us a strange blend of Welsh, Irish and a bit of Scottish in the 2010 ''[[Robin Hood 2010]]''. He's been known to stop interviews when asked about it.
* Russell Crowe gives us a strange blend of Welsh, Irish and a bit of Scottish in the 2010 ''[[Robin Hood (2010 film)]]''. He's been known to stop interviews when asked about it.
* Kate Beckinsale and her apparently Transylvanian accent in ''[[Van Helsing]]''. Strangely we hear some American pronunciations in there when Beckinsale herself is British.
* Kate Beckinsale and her apparently Transylvanian accent in ''[[Van Helsing]]''. Strangely we hear some American pronunciations in there when Beckinsale herself is British.
* Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'' adopts a weird sort of mid-Atlantic accent that sounds sort of like it wants to be British but can't quite make it -- which stands out, given that practically everybody in the movie speaks with one [[British Regional Accent]] or another.
* Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'' adopts a weird sort of mid-Atlantic accent that sounds sort of like it wants to be British but can't quite make it -- which stands out, given that practically everybody in the movie speaks with one [[British Regional Accent]] or another.
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* Peter MacNicol as Janosz Poha in ''[[Ghostbusters|Ghostbusters II]]'' provides the page quote. He's supposedly Hungarian, but his accent lurches all over Eastern Europe like a drunk in a Yugo. Since his name doesn't have any real country of origin, it's just a nonspecific wacky accent, which MacNicol developed by hanging out at the Romanian consulate in New York.
* Peter MacNicol as Janosz Poha in ''[[Ghostbusters|Ghostbusters II]]'' provides the page quote. He's supposedly Hungarian, but his accent lurches all over Eastern Europe like a drunk in a Yugo. Since his name doesn't have any real country of origin, it's just a nonspecific wacky accent, which MacNicol developed by hanging out at the Romanian consulate in New York.
* In ''[[Funny People]]'', Leslie Mann's character attempts to imitate her husband's Australian accent and fails, confusing Ira.
* In ''[[Funny People]]'', Leslie Mann's character attempts to imitate her husband's Australian accent and fails, confusing Ira.
* In ''[[Maverick (Film)|Maverick]]'', Annabelle has this asked of her by the titular character.
* In ''[[Maverick (film)|Maverick]]'', Annabelle has this asked of her by the titular character.
{{quote| '''Maverick:''' I can't quite place your accent. Where in the South are you from?<br />
{{quote| '''Maverick:''' I can't quite place your accent. Where in the South are you from?<br />
'''Annabelle:''' Ever been to Mobile? That's where I'm from.<br />
'''Annabelle:''' Ever been to Mobile? That's where I'm from.<br />
'''Maverick:''' Mobile, Alabama? Hell, I been there. I'll bet we know the same people. You start.<br />
'''Maverick:''' Mobile, Alabama? Hell, I been there. I'll bet we know the same people. You start.<br />
'''Annabelle:''' I've tried so hard to forget that place. I endured such personal tragedy there. }}
'''Annabelle:''' I've tried so hard to forget that place. I endured such personal tragedy there. }}
* [[Jake Gyllenhall]] in ''[[Prince of Persia (Film)|Prince of Persia]]'' doesn't even sound Middle Eastern. His accent comes off as poorly-done British.
* [[Jake Gyllenhall]] in ''[[Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time|Prince of Persia]]'' doesn't even sound Middle Eastern. His accent comes off as poorly-done British.
* When auditioning for his part in ''[[No Country for Old Men]]'', Javier Bardem attempted to downplay his Spanish accent, and ended up with a bizarre, mangled dialect that is thoroughly undefinable. The [[Coen Brothers]] [[Throw It In|liked this so much]] that they told him to keep doing it, as the accent heightened the unsettling otherworldliness of his character. He won an Oscar for his performance.
* When auditioning for his part in ''[[No Country for Old Men]]'', Javier Bardem attempted to downplay his Spanish accent, and ended up with a bizarre, mangled dialect that is thoroughly undefinable. The [[Coen Brothers]] [[Throw It In|liked this so much]] that they told him to keep doing it, as the accent heightened the unsettling otherworldliness of his character. He won an Oscar for his performance.
* In the 1999 [[Disney Channel]] movie ''[[PUNKS]]'', a young [[Jessica Alba]] played a streetwise tomboy with a Brooklyn accent. Except Alba's accent drifted all across the United States' eastern seaboard, and occasionally turned into what sounded like an [[British Accents|Estuary]] accent.
* In the 1999 [[Disney Channel]] movie ''[[PUNKS]]'', a young [[Jessica Alba]] played a streetwise tomboy with a Brooklyn accent. Except Alba's accent drifted all across the United States' eastern seaboard, and occasionally turned into what sounded like an [[British Accents|Estuary]] accent.
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'''Bobby''': Deal. }}
'''Bobby''': Deal. }}
** Later, Enoch is revealed to have an even wilder accent in Italian; as he says, "[[Sarcastic Confession|In fact, I would probably sound like a seventeenth-century alchemist or something.]]"
** Later, Enoch is revealed to have an even wilder accent in Italian; as he says, "[[Sarcastic Confession|In fact, I would probably sound like a seventeenth-century alchemist or something.]]"
* Rural folks in [[HP Lovecraft]]'s stories usually seem to speak a random mixture of several different regional accents and dialects.
* Rural folks in [[H.P. Lovecraft]]'s stories usually seem to speak a random mixture of several different regional accents and dialects.
* Fitz, in the ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' [[Eighth Doctor Adventures]], tried doing a German accent, which could easily be mistaken for Scottish, in ''The Banquo Legacy''. It lasts for one hilarious line before [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping|slipping]]:
* Fitz, in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' [[Eighth Doctor Adventures]], tried doing a German accent, which could easily be mistaken for Scottish, in ''The Banquo Legacy''. It lasts for one hilarious line before [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping|slipping]]:
{{quote| ‘Ach,’ said Kreiner, ‘always ye haff mishaps. Again and again. Time after time.’}}
{{quote| ‘Ach,’ said Kreiner, ‘always ye haff mishaps. Again and again. Time after time.’}}
* Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell from ''[[Good Omens (Literature)|Good Omens]]'' is described as "unplaceable":
* Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell from ''[[Good Omens]]'' is described as "unplaceable":
{{quote| It careered around Britain like a milk race. Here a [[Land of My Fathers and Their Sheep|mad Welsh drill sergeant]], there a [[Bonnie Scotland|High Kirk elder]] who'd just seen someone doing something on a Sunday, somewhere between them a [[Oop North|dour Daleland shepherd]], or [[The West Country|bitter Somerset miser]]. It didn't matter where the accent went; it didn't get any nicer.}}
{{quote| It careered around Britain like a milk race. Here a [[Land of My Fathers and Their Sheep|mad Welsh drill sergeant]], there a [[Bonnie Scotland|High Kirk elder]] who'd just seen someone doing something on a Sunday, somewhere between them a [[Oop North|dour Daleland shepherd]], or [[The West Country|bitter Somerset miser]]. It didn't matter where the accent went; it didn't get any nicer.}}
* During her [[It Makes Sense in Context|brief visit to Hell]], [[Honor Harrington (Literature)|Honor Harrington]] encounters a group of prisoners who speak English in the oddest manner... their choice of words and grammar indicate that they speak it fluently, but something about how they are pronouncing is just maddeningly off for no evident reason. {{spoiler|They are all developing speech impairments, due to brain damage caused by the planet's native flora and fauna being slightly toxic to humans, with the [[State Sec]] personnel making it a point not to give them enough rations to sustain themselves.}}
* During her [[It Makes Sense in Context|brief visit to Hell]], [[Honor Harrington]] encounters a group of prisoners who speak English in the oddest manner... their choice of words and grammar indicate that they speak it fluently, but something about how they are pronouncing is just maddeningly off for no evident reason. {{spoiler|They are all developing speech impairments, due to brain damage caused by the planet's native flora and fauna being slightly toxic to humans, with the [[State Sec]] personnel making it a point not to give them enough rations to sustain themselves.}}
* [[The Witches|The Grand High Witch]] is implied to be Norwegian. She [[Vampire Vords|replaces her Ts with Zs and Ws with Vs]]. It doesn't in any way resemble a Norwegian accent, which is recognizable by more pronounced Rs and replacing Zs with Ss. Her accent resembles German more than anything else.
* [[The Witches|The Grand High Witch]] is implied to be Norwegian. She [[Vampire Vords|replaces her Ts with Zs and Ws with Vs]]. It doesn't in any way resemble a Norwegian accent, which is recognizable by more pronounced Rs and replacing Zs with Ss. Her accent resembles German more than anything else.
* In ''[[Robots and Empire]]'', the protagonists visit a planet presumed abandoned. Upon encountering a robotic overseer, they address it... only to find, to their dismay, that while these robots are [[Three Laws Compliant]], their definition of human only extends to those with the local accent (very distinct). Oh, and everything that looks like a human but doesn't speak like one must be destroyed on the spot.
* In ''[[Robots and Empire]]'', the protagonists visit a planet presumed abandoned. Upon encountering a robotic overseer, they address it... only to find, to their dismay, that while these robots are [[Three Laws Compliant]], their definition of human only extends to those with the local accent (very distinct). Oh, and everything that looks like a human but doesn't speak like one must be destroyed on the spot.
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== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* Antoine de Caunes of ''[[Eurotrash]]'' fame initially tried dampening down his very, very strong French accent (to the point that he was often suspected of not being French at all and putting the accent on for the sake of comedy) and using an English accent whilst presenting on British television. As he himself admits, the results were not pretty.
* Antoine de Caunes of ''[[Eurotrash]]'' fame initially tried dampening down his very, very strong French accent (to the point that he was often suspected of not being French at all and putting the accent on for the sake of comedy) and using an English accent whilst presenting on British television. As he himself admits, the results were not pretty.
* ''[[Star Trek the Original Series]]'':
* ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'':
** [[Craig Ferguson]] once commented that ''nobody'' in Scotland understood Scotty. "It was like an Arab had an epileptic seizure."
** [[Craig Ferguson]] once commented that ''nobody'' in Scotland understood Scotty. "It was like an Arab had an epileptic seizure."
** NOOKLEARRH. WESSELS. Interestingly, [[Anton Yelchin]], the Russian-born but American-bred actor who played Chekhov in the 2009 ''[[Star Trek (Film)|Star Trek]]'' made a game attempt at approximating Chekov's accent, even though he apparently commented that it sounded like no Russian accent he had ever heard.
** NOOKLEARRH. WESSELS. Interestingly, [[Anton Yelchin]], the Russian-born but American-bred actor who played Chekhov in the 2009 ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'' made a game attempt at approximating Chekov's accent, even though he apparently commented that it sounded like no Russian accent he had ever heard.
** [[Mauve Shirt]] Transporter Chief Kyle had a kinda-English accent (which makes sense as the actor who played him, John Winston, is British), but it was "off" enough that a DC Comics bio had him born in Australia.
** [[Mauve Shirt]] Transporter Chief Kyle had a kinda-English accent (which makes sense as the actor who played him, John Winston, is British), but it was "off" enough that a DC Comics bio had him born in Australia.
* While [[Leonard Nimoy]] had no discernable accent as [[Star Trek|Spock]], in his role on ''[[Mission Impossible]]'' as master of disguise Paris he had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaMso75ddb8 this brilliant moment].
* While [[Leonard Nimoy]] had no discernable accent as [[Star Trek|Spock]], in his role on ''[[Mission Impossible]]'' as master of disguise Paris he had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaMso75ddb8 this brilliant moment].
* ''[[Star Trek the Next Generation]]'': Troi. Marina Sirtis said that she purposefully tried to make an alien accent since she was [[Half-Human Hybrid|half-Human/half-Betazoid]], and especially in the earlier seasons you can almost see her struggling to keep it up. The fact that none of the Betazoid characters used anything even slightly similar also drew attention to it. That accent was replaced by something closer to a British accent (which is her native accent) in later seasons, and then dropped altogether in movie.<br /><br />Originally, Denise Crosby was chosen after reading the part of Troi, [[The Chick|the empath]], and Sirtis read for [[Commie Land]] descendant and security-focused Tasha Yar ([[What Could Have Been|... yiiiikes]]). By the time season one began, they had accents that might have made sense if their roles hadn't been swapped. Troi's mother was cast as if this change hadn't happened at all.
* ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'': Troi. Marina Sirtis said that she purposefully tried to make an alien accent since she was [[Half-Human Hybrid|half-Human/half-Betazoid]], and especially in the earlier seasons you can almost see her struggling to keep it up. The fact that none of the Betazoid characters used anything even slightly similar also drew attention to it. That accent was replaced by something closer to a British accent (which is her native accent) in later seasons, and then dropped altogether in movie.<br /><br />Originally, Denise Crosby was chosen after reading the part of Troi, [[The Chick|the empath]], and Sirtis read for [[Commie Land]] descendant and security-focused Tasha Yar ([[What Could Have Been|... yiiiikes]]). By the time season one began, they had accents that might have made sense if their roles hadn't been swapped. Troi's mother was cast as if this change hadn't happened at all.
** This troper always assumed Troi was meant to be Greek, and kept expecting her to ask Captain Picard if he wanted to buy a kebab.
** This troper always assumed Troi was meant to be Greek, and kept expecting her to ask Captain Picard if he wanted to buy a kebab.
* ''[[Friends]]'': When Ross starts lecturing at NYU he is very nervous and when he begins to talk "this [[British Accents|British accent]] just came out". [[Lampshade Hanging|"Yeah, not a very good one."]] In the same episode Monica does a Scottish accent to make fun of him and Rachel goes for Indian of all things.
* ''[[Friends]]'': When Ross starts lecturing at NYU he is very nervous and when he begins to talk "this [[British Accents|British accent]] just came out". [[Lampshade Hanging|"Yeah, not a very good one."]] In the same episode Monica does a Scottish accent to make fun of him and Rachel goes for Indian of all things.
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*** Well, sort of- some of the vowels are correct (for RP, anyway) and consistent. It's probably exactly right considering it's portrayed as irritatingly fake
*** Well, sort of- some of the vowels are correct (for RP, anyway) and consistent. It's probably exactly right considering it's portrayed as irritatingly fake
* Londo in ''[[Babylon 5]]''. His aide, Vir, did not speak with the same accent, but the actor playing Lord Refa did decide to copy it, [[Ascended Fanon|leading the series creator to explain]] that this was basically the "old money"/aristocratic Centauri accent.
* Londo in ''[[Babylon 5]]''. His aide, Vir, did not speak with the same accent, but the actor playing Lord Refa did decide to copy it, [[Ascended Fanon|leading the series creator to explain]] that this was basically the "old money"/aristocratic Centauri accent.
** Possibly adding to the confusion, [[J Michael Straczynski]] originally didn't want Londo to have an accent at all, but Peter Jurasik (who played Londo) kept on using it anyway. Plus, Centauri Prime is an entire planet, [[Justified Trope|so it would make sense]] that there would be more than one accent.
** Possibly adding to the confusion, [[J. Michael Straczynski]] originally didn't want Londo to have an accent at all, but Peter Jurasik (who played Londo) kept on using it anyway. Plus, Centauri Prime is an entire planet, [[Justified Trope|so it would make sense]] that there would be more than one accent.
*** When pushed by his co-stars to identify exactly what accent it was, Jurasik was known to shrug and announce in an exaggerated version that it was "Eastern European". He claims that he'd lost a part once using this accent and figured that if he's an alien, he at least couldn't be accused of [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping]].
*** When pushed by his co-stars to identify exactly what accent it was, Jurasik was known to shrug and announce in an exaggerated version that it was "Eastern European". He claims that he'd lost a part once using this accent and figured that if he's an alien, he at least couldn't be accused of [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping]].
** Delenn might count too, but that's technically the actress' own Croatian accent.
** Delenn might count too, but that's technically the actress' own Croatian accent.
** The Centauri and Minbari in particular seem to have a selection of accents. Turhan Bey used his native Austrian accent when portraying the Centauri Emperor, lending some credence to the quasi-Eastern European accent affected by Jurasik as Londo. Theodore Bikel used his native Yiddish accent when playing a Minbari, Reiner Schone as Dukhat used his native German accent, and John Vickery affected a pronounced upper class British purr as Neroon.
** The Centauri and Minbari in particular seem to have a selection of accents. Turhan Bey used his native Austrian accent when portraying the Centauri Emperor, lending some credence to the quasi-Eastern European accent affected by Jurasik as Londo. Theodore Bikel used his native Yiddish accent when playing a Minbari, Reiner Schone as Dukhat used his native German accent, and John Vickery affected a pronounced upper class British purr as Neroon.
*** There's also the Centauri maid from the framing scenes of "In the Beginning," who has a French accent. She's a major character in the [[Expanded Universe|Centauri Prime trilogy]], where her accent is described as "Northern."
*** There's also the Centauri maid from the framing scenes of "In the Beginning," who has a French accent. She's a major character in the [[Expanded Universe|Centauri Prime trilogy]], where her accent is described as "Northern."
* ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'':
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'':
** In "Nightmare of Eden", the character Tryst has an utterly incredible accent, which the actor developed deliberately on the grounds that people on other planets in the future won't have the same accents as people on Earth in the present. It might have worked better if he hadn't been the only person in the story doing it. (And Tom Baker didn't keep visibly cracking up whenever Tryst spoke.)
** In "Nightmare of Eden", the character Tryst has an utterly incredible accent, which the actor developed deliberately on the grounds that people on other planets in the future won't have the same accents as people on Earth in the present. It might have worked better if he hadn't been the only person in the story doing it. (And Tom Baker didn't keep visibly cracking up whenever Tryst spoke.)
** For that matter, [[Fake American|Peri's]] American accent is on occasions so atrocious that American viewers have had to Google to try to find out where she's meant to be from.
** For that matter, [[Fake American|Peri's]] American accent is on occasions so atrocious that American viewers have had to Google to try to find out where she's meant to be from.
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* It started on ''Buffy'' but the less said about [[Angel|Angel's]] 'Irish' accent, the better.
* It started on ''Buffy'' but the less said about [[Angel|Angel's]] 'Irish' accent, the better.
** With that said, one time Buffy tries an English accent, that makes Angel sound like a born and bred Belfastian in comparison. (Which would be fine... if his character was meant to be from Ulster at all.)
** With that said, one time Buffy tries an English accent, that makes Angel sound like a born and bred Belfastian in comparison. (Which would be fine... if his character was meant to be from Ulster at all.)
* ''[[Alias (TV)|Alias]]'' Season 3 featured Agent Vaughan's new wife, Lauren, who was supposed to be British. Melissa George was rather lacking in ability in that department...
* ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' Season 3 featured Agent Vaughan's new wife, Lauren, who was supposed to be British. Melissa George was rather lacking in ability in that department...
** ...the poor accent was later [[Lampshade Hanging|given a plot based explanation]], but it seems unlikely that it was specified as a poor English accent in the original script.
** ...the poor accent was later [[Lampshade Hanging|given a plot based explanation]], but it seems unlikely that it was specified as a poor English accent in the original script.
* ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway]]'' is infamous for this; any time the players have to portray a nationality, there's maybe a 10% chance at best that the accent will even remotely resemble what it's supposed to be. Especially if it's Colin or Ryan attempting the accent. Its generally [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] to no end.
* ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]'' is infamous for this; any time the players have to portray a nationality, there's maybe a 10% chance at best that the accent will even remotely resemble what it's supposed to be. Especially if it's Colin or Ryan attempting the accent. Its generally [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] to no end.
** Which usually involves Ryan claiming the accent is "Dutch".
** Which usually involves Ryan claiming the accent is "Dutch".
** One sketch had Ryan's character blaming his roaming accent on moving a lot as a child.
** One sketch had Ryan's character blaming his roaming accent on moving a lot as a child.
* The ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' "Two Wild and Crazy Guys" - Dan Ackroyd puts on a plausible Eastern European accent, but Steve Martin's is just...what?!? Compounded massively when they speak in faux-Czech to each other.
* The ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' "Two Wild and Crazy Guys" - Dan Ackroyd puts on a plausible Eastern European accent, but Steve Martin's is just...what?!? Compounded massively when they speak in faux-Czech to each other.
** This is pretty common on ''SNL'', actually - some cast members are very, very good at accents, while others... are not. A couple examples of the latter camp include Jason Sudeikis as Richard Dawson in a ''Family Feud'' sketch, Seth Meyers as Prince Charles, and any time Christopher Walken has hosted.
** This is pretty common on ''SNL'', actually - some cast members are very, very good at accents, while others... are not. A couple examples of the latter camp include Jason Sudeikis as Richard Dawson in a ''Family Feud'' sketch, Seth Meyers as Prince Charles, and any time Christopher Walken has hosted.
* The accent used by [[The Nth Doctor|the second version]] of Kryten on ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]'' has been described as a cross between American and Scottish. It was apparently supposed to be Canadian when he started out. It is also worth noting that Kryten keeps three spare heads in a locker in case of emergencies. Two speak his unique North American accent, but the third is different - blunter and coarser than the rest, it talks pure Yorkshire, notes its circuit boards are shot to buggery, and comes over like Geoffrey Boycott on a good day.
* The accent used by [[The Nth Doctor|the second version]] of Kryten on ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' has been described as a cross between American and Scottish. It was apparently supposed to be Canadian when he started out. It is also worth noting that Kryten keeps three spare heads in a locker in case of emergencies. Two speak his unique North American accent, but the third is different - blunter and coarser than the rest, it talks pure Yorkshire, notes its circuit boards are shot to buggery, and comes over like Geoffrey Boycott on a good day.
** Somewhat justified in that this accent was shown to be part of Kryten's "corrupted" personality, and so may not supposed to be any specific accent we're familiar with. When he got temporarily memory-wiped in season eight his accent reverted back to an upper-class British accent.
** Somewhat justified in that this accent was shown to be part of Kryten's "corrupted" personality, and so may not supposed to be any specific accent we're familiar with. When he got temporarily memory-wiped in season eight his accent reverted back to an upper-class British accent.
* ''[[That Seventies Show]]'': Wilmer Valderrama has said that he purposely created an accent that couldn't be identified (think a mixture of "40 percent Cuban" and "60 percent [[Camp Gay|homosexual]]"), and his lack of national origin is a running joke on the show.
* ''[[That 70s Show]]'': Wilmer Valderrama has said that he purposely created an accent that couldn't be identified (think a mixture of "40 percent Cuban" and "60 percent [[Camp Gay|homosexual]]"), and his lack of national origin is a running joke on the show.
** [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in an episode in which the adults try to imagine what the kids say when they are not around, and they have ''Fez himself'' not knowing what country he's from.
** [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in an episode in which the adults try to imagine what the kids say when they are not around, and they have ''Fez himself'' not knowing what country he's from.
*** Fez's friend from the other side of island has a British accent which makes everything more confusing
*** Fez's friend from the other side of island has a British accent which makes everything more confusing
* Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
* Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
* Examples of this trope pop up in many of the movies mocked on ''[[MST3K]]'':
* Examples of this trope pop up in many of the movies mocked on ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'':
** ''[[Catalina Caper]]'' - "Oh, what are you, Creepy Girl?...are you French, or Italian, or one of those swarthy Gypsy types, heh heh?" In point of fact, Tom's wrong on all counts. The character of Katrina "Creepy Girl" Corelli was in fact played by Ulla Strömstedt, a Swede.
** ''[[Catalina Caper]]'' - "Oh, what are you, Creepy Girl?...are you French, or Italian, or one of those swarthy Gypsy types, heh heh?" In point of fact, Tom's wrong on all counts. The character of Katrina "Creepy Girl" Corelli was in fact played by Ulla Strömstedt, a Swede.
** Natalie, the female protagonist from ''[[Werewolf (Film)|Werewolf]]'', and several other characters from that film to varying degrees.
** Natalie, the female protagonist from ''[[Werewolf (film)|Werewolf]]'', and several other characters from that film to varying degrees.
* ''[[SCTV]]'''s Andrea Martin had two prominent characters built around this trope. Perini Scleroso, the station's cleaning woman, occasional on-air "talent," and recipient of the coveted People's Global Golden Choice Award for "Best Foreign Personality," has both a thin grasp of the English language and a bizarre, unplaceable accent. Mojo, the maid on "The Days of the Week," had a better command of English, but a ''different'' bizarre, unplaceable accent.
* ''[[SCTV]]'''s Andrea Martin had two prominent characters built around this trope. Perini Scleroso, the station's cleaning woman, occasional on-air "talent," and recipient of the coveted People's Global Golden Choice Award for "Best Foreign Personality," has both a thin grasp of the English language and a bizarre, unplaceable accent. Mojo, the maid on "The Days of the Week," had a better command of English, but a ''different'' bizarre, unplaceable accent.
* Cote de Pablo -- Chilean born and Miami raised -- plays an Israeli on ''[[NCIS]]'', only her accent is still South American and she mangles whatever Hebrew they give her.
* Cote de Pablo -- Chilean born and Miami raised -- plays an Israeli on ''[[NCIS]]'', only her accent is still South American and she mangles whatever Hebrew they give her.
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== Radio ==
== Radio ==
* Invoked in an episode of ''[[I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (Radio)|I'm Sorry Ill Read That Again]]''. David Hatch complains that he only ever gets to do the narration and never gets any interesting parts. Bill responds by announcing the arrival of "an out-of-work rabbi from Cairo, born of Lithuanian parents, raised in Germany, learned English from an Irishman in Edinburgh, educated in Bangkok, who will be played by -- ''David Hatch!''" David stammers for a bit, and the resulting accent can only be described as this trope.
* Invoked in an episode of ''[[I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again|I'm Sorry Ill Read That Again]]''. David Hatch complains that he only ever gets to do the narration and never gets any interesting parts. Bill responds by announcing the arrival of "an out-of-work rabbi from Cairo, born of Lithuanian parents, raised in Germany, learned English from an Irishman in Edinburgh, educated in Bangkok, who will be played by -- ''David Hatch!''" David stammers for a bit, and the resulting accent can only be described as this trope.
{{quote| '''David:''' Heyop! Any mick makes a wrong move and goodness gracious me, I shall shoot you! That goes for you too, fräulein-babydoll!<br />
{{quote| '''David:''' Heyop! Any mick makes a wrong move and goodness gracious me, I shall shoot you! That goes for you too, fräulein-babydoll!<br />
'''Cleese:''' What do you mean by this?!<br />
'''Cleese:''' What do you mean by this?!<br />
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* ''[[Soul Calibur]]'' seriously where in Britain is Ivy meant to be from?
* ''[[Soul Calibur]]'' seriously where in Britain is Ivy meant to be from?
* Iris in ''[[Mega Man X]] 4''. The English language voice actress, [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1175495/ Michelle Gazepis], is Australian, but seems to be failing to put on another accent.
* Iris in ''[[Mega Man X]] 4''. The English language voice actress, [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1175495/ Michelle Gazepis], is Australian, but seems to be failing to put on another accent.
* ''[[Deus Ex Invisible War (Video Game)|Deus Ex Invisible War]]'': The pilot Sid is supposed to be English, which surprises English people.
* ''[[Deus Ex: Invisible War|Deus Ex Invisible War]]'': The pilot Sid is supposed to be English, which surprises English people.
** Luminon Saman also veers all over the Atlantic without once touching land.
** Luminon Saman also veers all over the Atlantic without once touching land.
* ''[[Halo]]: Combat Evolved'': A random marine in the first level who gets in your way will say; "Sir, The Captain wants you on the bridge ASAP. Better follow me!", in an accent that sounds remarkably [[Buffy-Speak|Australianish]].
* ''[[Halo]]: Combat Evolved'': A random marine in the first level who gets in your way will say; "Sir, The Captain wants you on the bridge ASAP. Better follow me!", in an accent that sounds remarkably [[Buffy-Speak|Australianish]].
** That's because the marine is not random. The marine programmed to meet the Chief and take him to the captain will always be Chips Dubbo, who's voiced by Andrew McKaige, an Australian actor. Funny thing is, [[Irony|people complained to Bungie]] about [[Reality Is Unrealistic|Dubbo's poor imitation of an Australian accent]]...
** That's because the marine is not random. The marine programmed to meet the Chief and take him to the captain will always be Chips Dubbo, who's voiced by Andrew McKaige, an Australian actor. Funny thing is, [[Irony|people complained to Bungie]] about [[Reality Is Unrealistic|Dubbo's poor imitation of an Australian accent]]...
** [[Halo Reach]] has [[Leeroy Jenkins|Jun]]. Is that accent from an Asian country, or Russian?
** [[Halo: Reach]] has [[Leeroy Jenkins|Jun]]. Is that accent from an Asian country, or Russian?
* Brother-Captain Indrick Boreale from ''[[Warhammer 40000]]: [[Dawn of War]]'' has... well, whatever planet it comes from, [[Narm|players hope it's been destroyed]]. "[[Memetic Mutation|SPESS MAHREENS]]" indeed.
* Brother-Captain Indrick Boreale from ''[[Warhammer 40000]]: [[Dawn of War]]'' has... well, whatever planet it comes from, [[Narm|players hope it's been destroyed]]. "[[Memetic Mutation|SPESS MAHREENS]]" indeed.
** The Chaos Cultists had what seems to be a [[Peter Lorre]] impression combined with [[Beavis and Butthead|Cornholio]]. The accent is one of the most hilariously infamous things of the game, eventually evolving into the [[Memetic Mutation|character]] "Cultist-chan". Best seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzqP1BqwvIw here] in the Chaos Stronghold intro of Soulstorm.
** The Chaos Cultists had what seems to be a [[Peter Lorre]] impression combined with [[Beavis and Butthead|Cornholio]]. The accent is one of the most hilariously infamous things of the game, eventually evolving into the [[Memetic Mutation|character]] "Cultist-chan". Best seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzqP1BqwvIw here] in the Chaos Stronghold intro of Soulstorm.
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** Why it's supposed to sound Scottish when we're in Not-Quite-Spain is unclear.
** Why it's supposed to sound Scottish when we're in Not-Quite-Spain is unclear.
* ''[[Katamari Damacy]]'': The King of All Cosmos -- [[Camp Gay]] or Irish brogue? Bonus points for pulling this effect off ''in Japanese''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M06aDKSgK5o Vocals start at 1:55.]
* ''[[Katamari Damacy]]'': The King of All Cosmos -- [[Camp Gay]] or Irish brogue? Bonus points for pulling this effect off ''in Japanese''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M06aDKSgK5o Vocals start at 1:55.]
* Wakka from ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]''. No one has any clue what it's supposed to sound like other than "vaguely islander". This isn't Earth we're talking about, though, so...
* Wakka from ''[[Final Fantasy X]]''. No one has any clue what it's supposed to sound like other than "vaguely islander". This isn't Earth we're talking about, though, so...
** Not that anybody else ''from his island'' has that same accent.
** Not that anybody else ''from his island'' has that same accent.
* Fran from ''[[Final Fantasy XII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XII]]''. Again, though, not Earth (though Ivalice's state of reality is so screwed up - ''thank'' you, ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Video Game)|Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' - it's hard to be sure...).
* Fran from ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''. Again, though, not Earth (though Ivalice's state of reality is so screwed up - ''thank'' you, ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' - it's hard to be sure...).
** Her voice actress apparently speaks several languages, so it could be that she's just produced some sort of linguistic [[Eldritch Abomination]].
** Her voice actress apparently speaks several languages, so it could be that she's just produced some sort of linguistic [[Eldritch Abomination]].
** It could be an attempt to create a suitable accent for the bizarre monstrosity that seems to be the Viera's native tongue. '''Mjrn''', anyone?
** It could be an attempt to create a suitable accent for the bizarre monstrosity that seems to be the Viera's native tongue. '''Mjrn''', anyone?
*** That, at least, has roots in real languages. It's pronounced "mee-urn"; the J has a Y sound. Common in Scandanavia.
*** That, at least, has roots in real languages. It's pronounced "mee-urn"; the J has a Y sound. Common in Scandanavia.
*** Also, the Bhujerban accent (Marquis Ondore's in particular) sounds like some weird Welsh/Hindi hybrid.
*** Also, the Bhujerban accent (Marquis Ondore's in particular) sounds like some weird Welsh/Hindi hybrid.
* Jetfire in ''[[Transformers War for Cybertron]]'' has either an Australian or some kind of British accent. Which one it most sounds like can change every other line.
* Jetfire in ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' has either an Australian or some kind of British accent. Which one it most sounds like can change every other line.
** According to [[Troy Baker]], [[Word of God|Jetfire's VA]], to build Jetfire's accent they started with a "standard" English accent (presumably Received Pronunciation) and then intentionally tweaked it to sound less "posh," without specifically aiming for any other kind of British accent. That's why it's hard to tell whether his accent is English, Scottish, Australian or something in between -- because it isn't really any of those.
** According to [[Troy Baker]], [[Word of God|Jetfire's VA]], to build Jetfire's accent they started with a "standard" English accent (presumably Received Pronunciation) and then intentionally tweaked it to sound less "posh," without specifically aiming for any other kind of British accent. That's why it's hard to tell whether his accent is English, Scottish, Australian or something in between -- because it isn't really any of those.
* Parodied in the fourth episode [[Sam and Max]]'s third season, where attempting to use Max's ventriloquism power on Grandpa Stinky will result in Max producing an accent that Sam can only describe as "Irish Pirate".
* Parodied in the fourth episode [[Sam and Max]]'s third season, where attempting to use Max's ventriloquism power on Grandpa Stinky will result in Max producing an accent that Sam can only describe as "Irish Pirate".
* Dynaheir from ''[[Baldurs Gate]]'' is supposedly a [[Lzherusskie]] like her bodyguard Minsc. Her accent can charitably be described as "foreign" and defies most other adjectives.
* Dynaheir from ''[[Baldur's Gate]]'' is supposedly a [[Lzherusskie]] like her bodyguard Minsc. Her accent can charitably be described as "foreign" and defies most other adjectives.
* In ''[[Mass Effect 2]]'', Donovan Hock, the [[Big Bad]] from Kasumi's loyalty mission has an accent some fans find hard to place. It is actually an Afrikaans accent.
* In ''[[Mass Effect 2]]'', Donovan Hock, the [[Big Bad]] from Kasumi's loyalty mission has an accent some fans find hard to place. It is actually an Afrikaans accent.
** Which doesn't excuse the fact that he also voices the Scottish engineer and the typically quasi-Eastern European quarian Veetor. The latter can be excused because it's not a real accent, but the Scottish is really rather poor.
** Which doesn't excuse the fact that he also voices the Scottish engineer and the typically quasi-Eastern European quarian Veetor. The latter can be excused because it's not a real accent, but the Scottish is really rather poor.
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** Nobody seems to know ''where'' the hell [[Ass in Ambassador|Udina]] is from.
** Nobody seems to know ''where'' the hell [[Ass in Ambassador|Udina]] is from.
* So...Lucia of ''[[Devil May Cry]] 2''. Anyone got a guess? She seems to have the same voice coach as Sniper Wolf, but hits more of a Italian-Kurdish mix...
* So...Lucia of ''[[Devil May Cry]] 2''. Anyone got a guess? She seems to have the same voice coach as Sniper Wolf, but hits more of a Italian-Kurdish mix...
* Carrying on the [[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]] series' proud tradition of this trope is Vanille in ''[[Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XIII]]''. The actress is Australian, but she seems to be affecting... ''some'' other kind of accent, with the result that the American actress playing Fang sounds more Australian than she does.
* Carrying on the [[Final Fantasy]] series' proud tradition of this trope is Vanille in ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]''. The actress is Australian, but she seems to be affecting... ''some'' other kind of accent, with the result that the American actress playing Fang sounds more Australian than she does.
** [[Reality Is Unrealistic|Actually, that's the actress's natural Australian accent.]]
** [[Reality Is Unrealistic|Actually, that's the actress's natural Australian accent.]]
* ''[[Warcraft 3]]'' has trolls, which are either Jamaican or an intential invocation of this trope.
* ''[[Warcraft 3]]'' has trolls, which are either Jamaican or an intential invocation of this trope.
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** Tyrande's 'new' accent as of 4.3. It's the same actress, but for some reason she now sounds closer to Trolls than any other Night Elves.
** Tyrande's 'new' accent as of 4.3. It's the same actress, but for some reason she now sounds closer to Trolls than any other Night Elves.
* Virgil's accent in ''[[Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura]]''. Judging by the other voice-acted characters, it's meant to be British.
* Virgil's accent in ''[[Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura]]''. Judging by the other voice-acted characters, it's meant to be British.
* Several if not all of Caesar's legion in [[Fallout New Vegas]]. Its not a standard accent for an English speaker.
* Several if not all of Caesar's legion in [[Fallout: New Vegas]]. Its not a standard accent for an English speaker.
* The Oracle in ''[[Fahrenheit]]'' / ''[[Indigo Prophecy]]'' is can be initially hard to place. The first time the player hears him speak, he is unseen, and just sat down with a stranger in a diner and started discussing [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] in a measured, gravelly voice.
* The Oracle in ''[[Fahrenheit (2005 video game)]]'' / ''[[Fahrenheit (2005 video game)]]'' is can be initially hard to place. The first time the player hears him speak, he is unseen, and just sat down with a stranger in a diner and started discussing [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] in a measured, gravelly voice.
* ''[[No More Heroes]]'': the Job Board guy appears to have an accent that is not of Earth. It's possible that this is from having a Japanese actor read English lines phonetically (see the [[Takashi Miike]] cameo in the sequel).
* ''[[No More Heroes]]'': the Job Board guy appears to have an accent that is not of Earth. It's possible that this is from having a Japanese actor read English lines phonetically (see the [[Takashi Miike]] cameo in the sequel).
** There's also Alice, the 2nd ranked assassin from the sequal, who has an accent that sounds to be either German or Russian, but it's a bit hard to tell.
** There's also Alice, the 2nd ranked assassin from the sequal, who has an accent that sounds to be either German or Russian, but it's a bit hard to tell.
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* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll08ktN6Y24 G-man] from ''[[Half-Life]]''. He sounds vaguely North American, with a light vaguely-British accent, with the whole mess wrapped up in the [[Uncanny Valley]] like he'd read about proper inflection in Earthling conversation but never quite got it. The overall effect comes of as an attempt at "generic human".
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll08ktN6Y24 G-man] from ''[[Half-Life]]''. He sounds vaguely North American, with a light vaguely-British accent, with the whole mess wrapped up in the [[Uncanny Valley]] like he'd read about proper inflection in Earthling conversation but never quite got it. The overall effect comes of as an attempt at "generic human".
* Razer's accent in ''[[Jak and Daxter|Jak X]]'' is all over the place, sounding like either German or French, depending on who you ask. Others recognize Austrian or even Russian in it.
* Razer's accent in ''[[Jak and Daxter|Jak X]]'' is all over the place, sounding like either German or French, depending on who you ask. Others recognize Austrian or even Russian in it.
* [[Team Fortress 2 (Video Game)|Team Fortress 2]]: Invoked this trope for comedy, as all of the characters' "accents" are as how a typical American in [[The Sixties]] might have perceived it; the Spy's accent is the hardest to pin down, having mixed French, Italian, and Spanish pronunciations and words in his vocabulary.
* [[Team Fortress 2]]: Invoked this trope for comedy, as all of the characters' "accents" are as how a typical American in [[The Sixties]] might have perceived it; the Spy's accent is the hardest to pin down, having mixed French, Italian, and Spanish pronunciations and words in his vocabulary.




== [[Web Original]] ==
== [[Web Original]] ==
* Artemis [[The Alcoholic]] moon-cat in ''[[Sailor Moon Abridged]]'' is allegedly Australian, but his drunken ramblings are so slurred and near-incomprehensible that Australian tropers have expressed surprise when learning what accent he was going for. Others think he sounds Scottish.
* Artemis [[The Alcoholic]] moon-cat in ''[[Sailor Moon Abridged]]'' is allegedly Australian, but his drunken ramblings are so slurred and near-incomprehensible that Australian tropers have expressed surprise when learning what accent he was going for. Others think he sounds Scottish.
* Zelda of ''[[ASC Zs Horrorshow (Web Video)|ASC Zs Horrorshow]]'', despite being an Australian born in the [[Deep South]], has an accent that sounds like excessively posh British mixed with an odd blend of California and New York.
* Zelda of ''[[ASCZ's Horrorshow]]'', despite being an Australian born in the [[Deep South]], has an accent that sounds like excessively posh British mixed with an odd blend of California and New York.
* Check the comments for any ''[[Let's Play]]'' or ''[[Retsupurae]]'' video featuring Psychedelic Eyeball and you'll see a handful of guesses at the nature of his accent. For the record, he's French-Canadian.
* Check the comments for any ''[[Let's Play]]'' or ''[[Retsupurae]]'' video featuring Psychedelic Eyeball and you'll see a handful of guesses at the nature of his accent. For the record, he's French-Canadian.
** In their Wrongpurae of ''[[Darkseed|DarkSeed 2]]'', the duo speculate this about Mrs. Ramirez's accent, settling on a mix of Irish and Swedish. In fact, the one certainty about it is that it's definitely not Hispanic, contrary to what her name would suggest.
** In their Wrongpurae of ''[[Darkseed|DarkSeed 2]]'', the duo speculate this about Mrs. Ramirez's accent, settling on a mix of Irish and Swedish. In fact, the one certainty about it is that it's definitely not Hispanic, contrary to what her name would suggest.
{{quote| '''slowbeef:''' I think your accent is European Mish-Mash, ma'am!}}
{{quote| '''slowbeef:''' I think your accent is European Mish-Mash, ma'am!}}
** Their Wrongpurae of [[The Town With No Name (Video Game)|The Town With No Name]] had a character with a completely indistinguishable accent, prompting this line:
** Their Wrongpurae of [[The Town With No Name]] had a character with a completely indistinguishable accent, prompting this line:
{{quote| '''slowbeef:''' Are you Cajun, or stupid?}}
{{quote| '''slowbeef:''' Are you Cajun, or stupid?}}
* Dartz in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Series]]'' to the point of bordering on incomprehensible...to his own henchmen
* Dartz in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series]]'' to the point of bordering on incomprehensible...to his own henchmen
{{quote| '''Raphael:''' Uh, boss, are you saying "duel" or "do"?<br />
{{quote| '''Raphael:''' Uh, boss, are you saying "duel" or "do"?<br />
'''Dartz:''' DUUUUUUEH! }}
'''Dartz:''' DUUUUUUEH! }}
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* For the Disney adaptation of ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'', Paul Kandel gave Clopin an accent somewhat French, somewhat Eastern European, and somewhat uncategorizable. This was intentional on Kandel's part as coming from Clopin's nomadic past.
* For the Disney adaptation of ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'', Paul Kandel gave Clopin an accent somewhat French, somewhat Eastern European, and somewhat uncategorizable. This was intentional on Kandel's part as coming from Clopin's nomadic past.
* In-universe example during ''[[Total Drama Action]]'': during the spy challenge, Chris adopts an accent that characters guess could be anything from Russian to Jamaican.
* In-universe example during ''[[Total Drama Action]]'': during the spy challenge, Chris adopts an accent that characters guess could be anything from Russian to Jamaican.
* The episode of ''[[Rocko's Modern Life]]'' where Mr. Bighead dreamt he was a pirate when he sleepwalks.
* The episode of ''[[Rocko's Modern Life]]'' where Mr. Bighead dreamt he was a pirate when he sleepwalks.
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* King Julien from the ''[[Madagascar]]'' films and spinoff TV series ''[[The Penguins of Madagascar]]''. He's voiced by Englishman Sacha Baron Cohen in the movies, resulting in a voice that sounds like a cross between [[Borat]] and some vaguely African accent (Danny Jacobs, his replacement in the TV series, maintains almost exactly the same voice). His repeated usage of malapropisms, strange syntax and [[Buffy-Speak]] (e.g., "Ah, but I was expecting you to be expecting that, so we switcheroo-ed the crates on the pier before the fish got loading on to the truck.") only contorts the accent even further.
* King Julien from the ''[[Madagascar]]'' films and spinoff TV series ''[[The Penguins of Madagascar]]''. He's voiced by Englishman Sacha Baron Cohen in the movies, resulting in a voice that sounds like a cross between [[Borat]] and some vaguely African accent (Danny Jacobs, his replacement in the TV series, maintains almost exactly the same voice). His repeated usage of malapropisms, strange syntax and [[Buffy-Speak]] (e.g., "Ah, but I was expecting you to be expecting that, so we switcheroo-ed the crates on the pier before the fish got loading on to the truck.") only contorts the accent even further.
** Mort also slips in and out of some strange, unidentifiable accent.
** Mort also slips in and out of some strange, unidentifiable accent.
* Cosmos from ''[[The Transformers]]'' had a blend of Spanish and Eastern European accent. More or less, his accent sounds really weird (but coincidentally, very similar to Peter Lorre).
* Cosmos from ''[[Transformers Generation 1]]'' had a blend of Spanish and Eastern European accent. More or less, his accent sounds really weird (but coincidentally, very similar to Peter Lorre).
* Where the hell is Dexter of ''[[Dexters Laboratory]]'' supposed to be from? It sounds like an attempt to do a generic European mad-scientist voice, but the rest of his family seem to speak fairly generic American English.
* Where the hell is Dexter of ''[[Dexter's Laboratory]]'' supposed to be from? It sounds like an attempt to do a generic European mad-scientist voice, but the rest of his family seem to speak fairly generic American English.
** Lampshaded in one episode where a bully who "hates kids with funny accents!" attacks Dexter and a group of other students... in which Dexter is the only one without an obvious accent source.
** Lampshaded in one episode where a bully who "hates kids with funny accents!" attacks Dexter and a group of other students... in which Dexter is the only one without an obvious accent source.
** One of the early [[Cartoon Network]] ads for the show called it an "eastern European" accent.
** One of the early [[Cartoon Network]] ads for the show called it an "eastern European" accent.
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* Mina on ''[[Jelly Jamm]]''. Her case is very similar to Dexter's.
* Mina on ''[[Jelly Jamm]]''. Her case is very similar to Dexter's.
* The Mayor's accent in ''[[Scooby Doo]] and the Witch's Ghost'' is a bizarre combination of several New England accents
* The Mayor's accent in ''[[Scooby Doo]] and the Witch's Ghost'' is a bizarre combination of several New England accents
* The twins on ''[[Superjail (Animation)|Superjail]]'' seem to have an accent that sounds vaguely "European" but doesn't seem to come from any country. Justified once it's revealed they're actually aliens.
* The twins on ''[[Superjail]]'' seem to have an accent that sounds vaguely "European" but doesn't seem to come from any country. Justified once it's revealed they're actually aliens.
* The chef who chases Uncle Waldo out of his restaurant during his introductory scene in ''[[The Aristocats (Disney)|The Aristocats]]'' either has a French or an Italian accent.
* The chef who chases Uncle Waldo out of his restaurant during his introductory scene in ''[[The Aristocats]]'' either has a French or an Italian accent.
* Is Pig from ''[[Almost Naked Animals]]'' French or Russian?
* Is Pig from ''[[Almost Naked Animals]]'' French or Russian?
* An episode of ''[[Sabrina the Animated Series]]'' has Sabrina and Salem travelling back to the Dark Ages and meeting characters from King Arthur mythology played by counterparts of her friends. Except for Pi, who doesn't even bother, all of them have rather...unique...English accents.
* An episode of ''[[Sabrina the Animated Series]]'' has Sabrina and Salem travelling back to the Dark Ages and meeting characters from King Arthur mythology played by counterparts of her friends. Except for Pi, who doesn't even bother, all of them have rather...unique...English accents.
* Examples from ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Animation)|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'':
* Examples from ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'':
** Rarity's accent could be considered "New England", or just "vaguely upper-crust." The accent could quite possibly be an affectation of the character herself: she lives in the small provincial town of Ponyville, and neither her parents (seen in "Sisterhooves Social") nor her little sister Sweetie Belle speak with any trace of this accent.
** Rarity's accent could be considered "New England", or just "vaguely upper-crust." The accent could quite possibly be an affectation of the character herself: she lives in the small provincial town of Ponyville, and neither her parents (seen in "Sisterhooves Social") nor her little sister Sweetie Belle speak with any trace of this accent.
*** It's worth noting that Sweetie Belle is the only one in her family WITHOUT an exaggerated accent: Rarity's father is somewhere between Midwest and Canadian, while her mother's accent suggests either New Jersey or New York.
*** It's worth noting that Sweetie Belle is the only one in her family WITHOUT an exaggerated accent: Rarity's father is somewhere between Midwest and Canadian, while her mother's accent suggests either New Jersey or New York.
** Photo Finish from "Green Isn't Your Color" has a vaguely Germanic accent, presumably because her voice actress was doing a vocal caricature of Anna Wintour. (Although most of the younger kids watching would most likely compare her to [[The Incredibles|Edna Mode]].)
** Photo Finish from "Green Isn't Your Color" has a vaguely Germanic accent, presumably because her voice actress was doing a vocal caricature of Anna Wintour. (Although most of the younger kids watching would most likely compare her to [[The Incredibles|Edna Mode]].)
** Zecora's accent seems to be some sort of vague "generic African accent"... crossed with "vague Caribbean islander accent".
** Zecora's accent seems to be some sort of vague "generic African accent"... crossed with "vague Caribbean islander accent".
* ''[[The Simpsons (Animation)|The Simpsons]]'':
* ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'':
** Snake (the [[Tattooed Crook]] who's always trying to rob the Kwik-E-Mart) speaks in a weird cross between [[Valley Girl|Valspeak]] and Cockney, making him sound kinda like the child of British parents who was raised in Southern California (and has a [[Noblewoman's Laugh]] that somehow manages to evoke both regions!).
** Snake (the [[Tattooed Crook]] who's always trying to rob the Kwik-E-Mart) speaks in a weird cross between [[Valley Girl|Valspeak]] and Cockney, making him sound kinda like the child of British parents who was raised in Southern California (and has a [[Noblewoman's Laugh]] that somehow manages to evoke both regions!).
*** Then again, maybe that's just Snake's natural accent. British English and California English tend to have similar vowel sounds, such as the letter ''u'' being pronounced "ew" (whereas it tends to be "oo" in much of the eastern United States). It happens to be true that many English immigrants to America in the mid-19th century settled in Utah (then known as Deseret) and converted to Mormonism, and a generation or so after that many of those Mormons made their way to Los Angeles - so there's that.
*** Then again, maybe that's just Snake's natural accent. British English and California English tend to have similar vowel sounds, such as the letter ''u'' being pronounced "ew" (whereas it tends to be "oo" in much of the eastern United States). It happens to be true that many English immigrants to America in the mid-19th century settled in Utah (then known as Deseret) and converted to Mormonism, and a generation or so after that many of those Mormons made their way to Los Angeles - so there's that.
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"Oh you said it friend, but I wanted to stay, because I almost had sex on this girl."<br />
"Oh you said it friend, but I wanted to stay, because I almost had sex on this girl."<br />
"Oh yeah, but it was so expensive. Each drink was like six dollars forty!" }}
"Oh yeah, but it was so expensive. Each drink was like six dollars forty!" }}
* Tim the Bear on ''[[The Cleveland Show]]'' voiced by [[Seth Macfarlane]]. Seth said he based it on his dad's bad impression of the "Wild and Crazy Guys" foreigner characters from ''[[SNL]]''.
* Tim the Bear on ''[[The Cleveland Show]]'' voiced by [[Seth MacFarlane]]. Seth said he based it on his dad's bad impression of the "Wild and Crazy Guys" foreigner characters from ''[[SNL]]''.
* [[Bugs Bunny]] talks in a mixture of Bronx and Brooklyn accents ([[Mel Blanc]] also said his inspiration was Frank McHugh, who spoke in a New York Irish accent).
* [[Bugs Bunny]] talks in a mixture of Bronx and Brooklyn accents ([[Mel Blanc]] also said his inspiration was Frank McHugh, who spoke in a New York Irish accent).
* Sandi on ''[[Daria]]'s'' accent might be best be described as a bad imitation of a French one, except the character had no connection to France. It's not clear what it was supposed to be, besides vaguely upper class.
* Sandi on ''[[Daria]]'s'' accent might be best be described as a bad imitation of a French one, except the character had no connection to France. It's not clear what it was supposed to be, besides vaguely upper class.
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