When I first studied at an English university (having been halfway through a linguistics program in Germany) my fellow students said I "sound like a book". As

When I first studied at an English university (having been halfway through a linguistics program in Germany) my fellow students said I "sound like a book". As being told that is embarrassing, one quickly adjusts... (Nice examples here on HN, like "utilize the periphery of the barbecue" [to place one more sausage on it].) But a latter move to the US led to a repeat ("Hey dude, you talk like an alien?! Goofball!!") although the British accent was well liked.