You can study the English language for years but still not understand a native (本地的) speaker of English when you meet one. Native speakers say a lot of things, but you can't find them in any dictionary. Well, don't worry. Here's a secret: a lot of British people can't understand each other either!
There are different local accents (口音) across the UK, and a number of areas have several different accents. That is, they have their own vocabulary and expressions. There were at least six different accents born to London the last time I counted.
Worse than that, it is not just where a person is born in the UK that decides his accent. For example, a language and its accents often change across class or level of education. Another example is how languages can differ among age groups in the UK. The words and pronunciation used by young people in the UK can be completely different compared with those used by adults. They are creating a "yoof culture".
The word "yoof" is a slang (俚语) spelling of "youth". Some people don't consider "yoof" to be a positive (积极的) term since its pronunciation is easier and lazier than "youth". Other people see the term as positive, because it describes how young people are creating their own language, idea and culture.
When parents find it difficult to understand their children, the children can say more things without the examining of their parents. In this way, young people are starting to find freedom, independence and self-expression. Even though certain groups of society worry about "yoof culture", new words keep appearing in our daily life.
So learners should have no fear about communicating with native speakers. Even British people don't speak English properly! The UK no longer owns the English language.
