When English is Not a DUer's First Language,

[LittleGirl]

29. my paternal grandparents were immigrants

so I am used to hearing foreign languages and 'accents' that are different than the one I grew up with. Also, my Mother grew up in the south (we lived in Northern IN) so all of her relatives spoke 'southern' (dialect). Learning to understand both sides of my family was always comical. The idioms I heard from my southern relatives had to be questioned sometimes and they did it on purpose too. We had some great times and laughs.

My husband is British so learning his version of English (he calls it version 1, American is version 2) was difficult at times when we had a long distance relationship. I had to ask him to spell things sometimes in order to understand him. After he became fluent in German while we lived abroad further bastardized (that's what I call it) his pronunciation of English words. He got in the habit of not pronouncing v and w the English way.

I never criticize anyone's English, I only ask for clarification if needed. It's just more polite.