Why do Romans in movies/tv shows always have British accents?

[WhiteBeastofWotan]

Its not like a Roman speaking English with an American accent, for example, makes any more sense.

 

[WhiteBeastofWotan]

and by British, i mean English

 

[Shadow298]

Because if you gave them an Italian accent, it would open up a whole bunch of other sterotype issues and Yanks generally think that the British accent is supposed to be sofisticated and regal and much inline with how Imperial Conquerors should sound.

That about somes it up without getting too bigotted. :Smug:

 

[flying_whale]

romans should speak latin in movies, and the movies should have subtitles

 

[derek]

Mainly because we can't be sure how Latin was pronounced, nor what accents they would have.

THUS, it hardly matters.

 

[MajestikMøøse]

fuck if I know, but a dude I was talking to the other day commented on the exact same thing.

but hey, it'd sound really stupid if they all had strong texas drawls, right?

 

[Lunar Still]

but hey, it'd sound really stupid if they all had strong texas drawls, right?

It would either be really stupid or the best thing ever.

 

[WhiteBeastofWotan]

It would either be really stupid or the best thing ever.

hahaha yeah when i read that i was like "Yeah that would be retarded..... wait i really want to see that."

 

[Captain Beard]

Nero: Howdy Y'all! I'ma play this har fiddle and start me a fahr!

 

[MajestikMøøse]

that would work for Nero though, since he was pretty much that!


Cicero, no. Cicero would have to be portrayed by a guy with an english accent

A very fat guy with a very thick english accent.

 

[Dead Winter]

Nero: Howdy Y'all! I'ma play this har fiddle and start me a fahr!

OMG I HAVEN'T LAUGHED SO HARD IN ABOUT A WEEK!!!!!!

 

[Dead Winter]

The Roman accent is made fun of enough as it is, although the Roman way of speaking Italian is probably the coolest, but English is probably better. However, the Napolitano dialect is even worse...the teroni always get the shitty end of the stick...but they bring it on themselves, LOL!

 

[darcy]

I was kind of impressed with Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure when Socrates spoke with an accent other than "old and important," though its accuracy is debateable.

 

[TheDreamingMind]

Yes and besides that Socrates was GREEK!! So that might be a clue as to why, haha. America is the new Roman Empire, so American accents might make more sense, like in Ben Hur and Spartacus!

 

[El Stormo]

It's mostly because British accents sound more "classical" whereas American accents sound more modern. And a Texas drawl... It would be completely unconvincing, but it'd sure be funny!

 

[Galiral]

The Roman accent is made fun of enough as it is, although the Roman way of speaking Italian is probably the coolest, but English is probably better. However, the Napolitano dialect is even worse...the teroni always get the shitty end of the stick...but they bring it on themselves, LOL!

Muhahhaha

 

[derek]

Yes and besides that Socrates was GREEK!! So that might be a clue as to why, haha. America is the new Roman Empire, so American accents might make more sense, like in Ben Hur and Spartacus!

America is the new Roman Empire, my ass!

 

[MajestikMøøse]

yeah! America didn't have any great orators!

although they do have some nice puppet dictators, and crowd control through fast food and Harry Potter movies.

 

[derek]

panem et...

 

[Necromunchkin]

Our similarities to Rome begin and end with imperialistic need to force ourselves on the world, and a relentless mob that must be appeased with material goods and reality tv, but we are sadly lacking in any culture which might come to close to paralleling Rome. If anything, the old British Empire was the new Rome.