English speakers around the world!

[@rae0521]

Very true. I too am an anglophone from Canada (a broadcaster for many years). I've worked in many countries as far away as Australia. I consider my "accent" very NEUTRAL.
That said, I often have GREAT DIFFICULTY trying to understand some anglophones from other countries. Their pronunciation, intonation, inflection... even speed, volume and local colloquialisms... combine to make them almost unintelligible to me. It's a LOT of work to listen to some interviews with newcomers to Canada. And yet, we call them Canadians.
It's strange though... I've never experienced a situation where THEY cannot understand ME. I wonder why?
A further puzzle to me is why many English speakers from some countries speak as if they're in some sort of RACE to the end. They speak some sentences in a monotone that has no pauses between words... it sounds like it's just one long word. Combine that with a "heavy accent" and there goes most of the communication with my ear.

[@MR.B-LITTLE]

thank you!