New research by dating website eHarmony has unveiled the accents that tickle the fancy of Australians.
While almost half of the population believes foreign accents up the attractiveness quotient, the study revealed some intriguing details.
In the accent attraction game, British English and French were neck and neck, winning the hearts of 41% of respondents.
Not far behind were Italian (32%) and Irish (30%) accents. When it came to friendliness and humor, the Irish accent took the crown (33% and 40% respectively), followed by the Scottish (30%).
French accents were dubbed the most romantic (56%), while British English dominated as the most sophisticated (42%), intelligent (44%), and honest (32%). The Aussie accent scored points for being perceived as laid back and friendly (70%), yet 44% found it “bogan”, 14% considered it sophisticated, and 21% thought it exotic.
Accents were even seen as varying within Australia, with many (61%) noting differences from state to state. Nearly half (48%) thought Queenslanders had their own special vocalisation.
In the celebrity accent showdown, actor Chris Hemsworth’s Australian drawl took the lead (44%), followed by Sean Connery’s Scottish lilt (42%), and Morgan Freeman’s mellifluous tones (39%). Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian’s accent (42%), Fran Drescher from The Nanny (38%), and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice (24%) didn’t win any prizes.
In the international dating scene, 28% of respondents were open to dating someone from overseas, with men (33%) more willing than women (24%) to venture into long-distance love.
eHarmony psychologist Sharon Draper highlighted the importance of first impressions in dating, acknowledging the allure of foreign accents. However, she cautioned against adopting an accent to woo someone, as it might lead to trust issues early in a relationship.
Anglo&Celtic 