--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I haven't been abroad in so long that I…" description: "\"I haven't been abroad in so long that I almost speak English without an accent now.\" — Robert Benchley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/robert-benchley-2562_abroad_i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i_327795.jpg" --- # I haven't been abroad in so long that I almost speak… ![“I haven't been abroad in so long that I almost speak English without an accent now.” quote by Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/robert-benchley-2562_abroad_i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i_327795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/robert-benchley-2562_abroad_i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i_327795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/robert-benchley-2562_abroad_i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i_327795.jpg) > “I haven't been abroad in so long that I almost speak English without an accent now.” [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer humorously notes that long-term immersion in a foreign language can erode one’s native accent. **In simple terms:** Living abroad can change your accent. Key Takeaway Embrace language immersion for fluency. Themes language learning humor identity Mood lighthearted observational Type cultural linguistic When to use this quote - traveling abroad - learning a new language - speaking with locals Key Concepts Acculturation phonetics Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape self‑perception? - Can you retain your native accent? A Different Perspective Accent loss may affect personal identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accents/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Spanish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spanish/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) ## Related quotes > [I speak English without an accent, and I speak Spanish without an accent. I really do have the best of both worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/i-speak-english-without-an-accent-and-i-speak-spanish-without-an/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [I came to this country when I was 13 years old, I couldn't really speak English, and I had an accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/i-came-to-this-country-when-i-was-13-years-old-i-couldn-t-really/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [It's not that I don't understand it. But people think if you speak with an English accent it somehow makes you smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-understand-it-but-people-think-if-you-speak/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Seriously, I don't know any American girl who can resist an English accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/seriously-i-don-t-know-any-american-girl-who-can-resist-an-english/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [Afrikaans is my first language, although you would never know, as my English accent has more of an American-British thing going on from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanit-phoenix/afrikaans-is-my-first-language-although-you-would-never-know-as-my/) [Tanit Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanit-phoenix/) > [An agent once told me that if I would lose my English accent, I would never stop working in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/an-agent-once-told-me-that-if-i-would-lose-my-english-accent-i-would/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [Many Americans feel themselves inferior in the presence of anyone with an English accent, which is why an English accent has become fashionable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-newman/many-americans-feel-themselves-inferior-in-the-presence-of-anyone/) [Edwin Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-newman/) > [My wife is funny. And I dabble in it. So being funny is big around our house. But what's surprised me is my daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/my-wife-is-funny-and-i-dabble-in-it-so-being-funny-is-big-around-our/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I have traveled more than anyone else, and I have noticed that even the angels speak English with an accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-traveled-more-than-anyone-else-and-i-have-noticed-that-even/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Just because I don't speak English with an accent anymore doesn't mean that I'm better than the people who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/just-because-i-don-t-speak-english-with-an-accent-anymore-doesn-t/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [The Australian accent just a very lovely accent and it doesn't have the pretention maybe of an English accent, but yet seems a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/the-australian-accent-just-a-very-lovely-accent-and-it-doesn-t-have/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I enjoy the reaction I get in the U.S.A. when people discover I have an English accent. They don't expect that, and it's kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-thomason/i-enjoy-the-reaction-i-get-in-the-u-s-a-when-people-discover-i-have/) [Marsha Thomason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-thomason/) > [I grew up with a posh English accent, and all my aunts sounded as if they came out of a Merchant Ivory movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/i-grew-up-with-a-posh-english-accent-and-all-my-aunts-sounded-as-if/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [ “\[He used\] as English accent, for no apparent reason except that it's perhaps easier to say what's most true when you can pretend you're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-olson/he-used-as-english-accent-for-no-apparent-reason-except-that-it-s/) Shannon Olson ## More by Robert Benchley > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/you-might-think-that-after-thousands-of-years-of-coming-up-too-soon/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/it-took-me-fifteen-years-to-discover-i-had-no-talent-for-writing-but/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [But ice-crunching and loud gum-chewing, together with drumming on tables, and whistling the same tune 70 times in succession, because they indicate an indifference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/but-ice-crunching-and-loud-gum-chewing-together-with-drumming-on/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [The naturalistic literature of this country has reached such a state that no family of characters is considered true to life whichdoes not include…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-naturalistic-literature-of-this-country-has-reached-such-a-state/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [There is no such place as Budapest. Perhaps you are thinking of Bucharest, and there is no such place as Bucharest, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/there-is-no-such-place-as-budapest-perhaps-you-are-thinking-of/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [I am both a public and a private school boy myself, having always changed schools just as the class in English in the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-am-both-a-public-and-a-private-school-boy-myself-having-always/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed be doing at that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/anyone-can-do-any-amount-of-work-provided-it-isn-t-the-work-he-is/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [After an author has been dead for some time, it becomes increasingly difficult for his publishers to get out a new book by him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/after-an-author-has-been-dead-for-some-time-it-becomes-increasingly/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [One of the chief duties of the fan is to engage in arguments with the man behind him. This department of the game has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/one-of-the-chief-duties-of-the-fan-is-to-engage-in-arguments-with-the/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [“There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who do not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-the-world-those-who-divide-the-world/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Why don't you get out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/why-don-t-you-get-out-of-that-wet-coat-and-into-a-dry-martini/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Drinking makes such fools of people, and people are such fools to begin with that it's compounding a felony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/drinking-makes-such-fools-of-people-and-people-are-such-fools-to/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Behind every argument is someone's ignorance. Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/behind-every-argument-is-someone-s-ignorance-behind-every-argument-is/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) [Explore all 161 Robert Benchley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) ## More Abroad quotes > [I love India, Russia and touring has made me many friends abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-love-india-russia-and-touring-has-made-me-many-friends-abroad/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [“When the ancient Romans would conquer a new place or a new people, they would leave the language and the customs in tact –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/when-the-ancient-romans-would-conquer-a-new-place-or-a-new-people/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [We have a family holiday once a year, usually abroad, but that's it. I feel I should have holidays for my family's sake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/we-have-a-family-holiday-once-a-year-usually-abroad-but-that-s-it-i/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [I didn't go abroad until quite late. A friend drove us to Amalfi, Italy, for his sister's wedding when I was a teenager. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/i-didn-t-go-abroad-until-quite-late-a-friend-drove-us-to-amalfi-italy/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I studied a month in Costa Rica and loved it. I'm not scared to go abroad. I feel like I can figure things out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-olusola/i-studied-a-month-in-costa-rica-and-loved-it-i-m-not-scared-to-go/) [Kevin Olusola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-olusola/) > [I don't think I know everything because I don't watch much news from abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peng-shuai/i-don-t-think-i-know-everything-because-i-don-t-watch-much-news-from/) [Peng Shuai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peng-shuai/) > [Clearly, if you go abroad to a top club, it means one more step in your development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kroos/clearly-if-you-go-abroad-to-a-top-club-it-means-one-more-step-in-your/) [Toni Kroos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kroos/) > [My first trip abroad was to do a TV version of 'Les Miserables' in France with Anthony Perkins. There I was at 12 acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-fletcher/my-first-trip-abroad-was-to-do-a-tv-version-of-les-miserables-in/) [Dexter Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-fletcher/) > [I've had a lot of success in England, and I've really enjoyed my time with Manchester City, but I wanted to challenge myself even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-success-in-england-and-i-ve-really-enjoyed-my-time/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [“Hatutakiwi kuishi kama raia wa Tanzania peke yake. Tunatakiwa kuishi kama raia wa dunia na watumishi wa utu, hasa katika kipindi hiki cha zama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/hatutakiwi-kuishi-kama-raia-wa-tanzania-peke-yake-tunatakiwa-kuishi/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [I'm a simple hillbilly. I don't like eating modern, industrialized, fast food. I grew up eating home-cooked food. So when I'm traveling abroad, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hirata/i-m-a-simple-hillbilly-i-don-t-like-eating-modern-industrialized-fast/) [Andrea Hirata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hirata/) > [When you're abroad, you always miss your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/when-you-re-abroad-you-always-miss-your-country/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [The great and recurrent question about Abroad is, is it worth the trouble of getting there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/the-great-and-recurrent-question-about-abroad-is-is-it-worth-the/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) Browse all 363 Abroad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven't been abroad in so long that I almost speak English without an accent now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Benchley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i-almost-speak-english-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abroad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i-almost-speak-english-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/robert-benchley-2562_abroad_i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i_327795.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/robert-benchley-2562_abroad_i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i_327795.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/robert-benchley-2562_abroad_i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i_327795.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I haven't been abroad in so long that I almost speak English without an accent now.” — Robert Benchley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Benchley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I haven't been abroad in so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i-almost-speak-english-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-haven-t-been-abroad-in-so-long-that-i-almost-speak-english-without/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```