Ooh La La! A New Poll Reveals Americans’ Favorite Global Accents

A new study from Highland Titles surveyed 1,000 Americans, asking them about their favorite and least favorite accents from around the world. Which accent reigned supreme? Let's take a look!

How many accents do you try to talk in throughout your day-to-day life? Being the weirdo I am I'll cycle through British and Irish dialects on a constant basis, with the occasional Bostonian thrown in when I'm feeling weird. But according to the study, the Australian accent is the number one most attractive accent overall amongst Americans.

Australian was voted the most attractive accent for both men AND women, dominating both lists. Other favorite accents in that particular category include Scottish, London, Irish and French.

The survey wasn't all positive, however. Those polled were also asked about the accents they deemed the least attractive. As it turns out, the least attractive female accent is Canadian, while the least attractive male accent is Bostonian. I guess that's as good a sign as any to finally retire my Mark Wahlberg impression.

But to any Beantown folks reading this, don't despair! Bostonian was also voted the most confident accent. How do ya like THEM apples?

What really bothers me though is that American Southern also made the list of least attractive accents for men. I don't think that makes sense with Australia ranked so highly when that's essentially just a British accent with some twang (not sure if I offended more Brits or Aussies with that one).

Interestingly enough, the study also lists actors with the most enjoyable accents among Americans, with impenetrably southern Matthew McConaughey being the #1 American performer. I'm just saying, people may not hate the southern drawl as much as they claim. And with recent studies suggesting the southern accent may be on the way out, they might want to cherish it while they still can, tell ya h'what.

Speaking of actors, the star whose accent was voted the hardest to understand is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Be honest, you've totally done an Arnold impression before. Heck, you may have just done one the second I mentioned his name. And that's ok! I think it's amazing that society is unified in the fact that, no matter our differences, we ALL have an Arnie voice in our back pocket.

GET TO THE CHOPPA!

Superstitions are beliefs in supernatural forces and the idea that we can influence unpredictable events. Some people hold onto these beliefs, even when they don't make logical sense. According to Manchester Metropolitan University, psychologists have studied superstitions and found that people often believe actions or objects can influence outcomes, even when there's no logical reason to think so.

They say that superstitions come from our desire to find patterns and meaning in the world. For example, when we knock on wood to avoid bad luck, we're making a connection between our actions and unrelated events. Superstitions also provide comfort and a sense of control in uncertain or stressful situations. They act like mental crutches, helping people feel more secure when life is unpredictable.

Superstitions continue to exist because they fulfill our basic human needs and behaviors, according to Newswise, a research news website. Even though they might not make sense scientifically, superstitions remain a powerful force in human behavior, showing how our beliefs and thoughts shape our actions in our quest to make sense of the mysterious world around us.

Some common superstitions can be found in many cultures. For instance, knocking on wood is thought to bring good luck or prevent bad luck. People avoid walking under ladders because it's considered unlucky. In some cultures, the number 13 is seen as unlucky, leading to the avoidance of the 13th floor. Some buildings don't have a 13th floor; they simply label the 13th floor as the 14th floor. On the other hand, some superstitions are believed to bring good fortune, like finding a four-leaf clover or carrying a horseshoe. Another common superstition involves tossing a bit of salt over your shoulder to ward off bad luck.

Interestingly, some people took to Reddit to share their unusual superstitions. Check out a few of them below.

Someone on Reddit shared this quirky belief that putting shoes on furniture is a surefire way to invite bad luck. They added, "I’m sure it started as a thing parents told their children to avoid getting the furniture dirty, but I’m still afraid to do it, just in case." But really, who would even think of putting their shoes, which have been all over town, on any piece of furniture?

Someone with a performing arts background jumped into the conversation and said they have this thing about not congratulating anyone on their performance or achievements until it's all done. They explained, "Saying 'congratulations on your big show' the day before the show opens is basically asking for like, a lighting fixture to fall on stage and kill a performer or something." They even added that saying a simple "good luck" can feel a bit iffy.

Someone mentioned that if you trim your fingernails on a Sunday, you might somehow end up turning into a thief. We're not exactly sure how this superstition got started, but there's definitely at least one person out there who's sticking to it.

Some people shared their very specific routines. One person chimed in, saying, "If my right hand itches, I must rub it on wood; scratching it with my hand will signal bad luck and I'll lose money soon." They added that they heard this old wives' tale as a kid and never really bothered to question it.

Someone in the thread shared a funeral-related superstition. They said, "When you visit a funeral, don't go home directly, go somewhere else before heading home so that the soul of that dead person won't follow you home." they wrote. They also mentioned that if you get sick after attending a funeral, it's seen as a sign that the spirit of the departed has made contact with you.