For Non-Americans

[Vihzel]

Something that I've always wondered with my previous studies in linguistics and foreign languages was how non-Americans viewed the Standard American English accent.

I'm really interested to see your input, whether negative or positive!

 

[andruoid]

Is there a standard? New York, Florida, Washington, California all sound different to me. Then we have all the other States that have distinguished accents. If I was being stereotypical I'd say I'd be takin like I was on tha farm doin choirs and such. But hey, I don't normally stereotype.

Same goes for England, so many different accents. Listen to someone from Liverpool compared to Newcastle and you'll hear the difference! However, many in N. America hear the Queen's accent and port it over as typical.

As for non-english speaking countries, I can't hear different tones and dialects. Although, my wife is from the Philippines and after a few years I can now detect different accents. I suppose its all what you ear is use to.

I'm from Canada eh and there is diversity up here too eh. Anyway, I can't talk too long, my dogsled is ready to go. Have to get back to the igloo and fry up some bacon. ;-)

 

[Vihzel]

I apologize. I should have included what I believe the Standard American English accent to sound like. I go by what is taught to non-English speakers in terms of the pronunciation of English words by use of the phonetic alphabet for American English, and I also go by what is already taught to non-American English speakers to achieve the American accent.

This video is a good example of what I'm talking about by a speech-language pathologist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc2Y7xxkp5s&feature=channel_video_title

I'm well aware that there are a very large number of different accents in the US. The

 

[Stuntman]

It sounds like the Canadian English I hear all the time to me.

A former colleague from Dubai took some English classes and the instructor said that if you want to speak with an American accent, speak louder and more slowly.

 

[Sak01]

I remember that girl from another vid. She can do like a million different accents.

As far as my own personal (London based) perception of American accents goes, the standard one is pretty much standard. Nothing particularly negative or positive about it. To me it doesn't indicate anything about education level, social class etc. It's very neutral.

As for the rest, all of your Southern drawls make the person seem stupid, the Californian accent makes the speaker seem lazy, New Jersey, New York are kind of ugly and aggressive while Bostonian sounds like they're one step away from punching you in the face.

NB. These are just perceptions of course. I'm mature enough not to actually judge people like that but it's interesting to think about how these view's of accents come about.

 

[novox77]

I apologize. I should have included what I believe the Standard American English accent to sound like. I go by what is taught to non-English speakers in terms of the pronunciation of English words by use of the phonetic alphabet for American English, and I also go by what is already taught to non-American English speakers to achieve the American accent.

You're basically referring to the neutral tone. It's the accent that makes it impossible to identify regional differences and can be considered the gold standard in pronunciation for that language. Most newscasters you see on TV (but not all) tend to speak the neutral tone; in fact, they likely have their positions because they can speak without a regional dialect.

I've always wished I could hear objectively what I sounded like if listening through the ears of someone from the UK or Australia. Just what kind of "emotion" does the American English accent evoke?

 

[Roze]

It sounds like the Canadian English I hear all the time to me.

Other than the Newfies, Canadian and 'standard' American accents 'sound' the same. Although if you listen carefully there are words that the Canadian English is pronounce differetly than the 'standard' American English.

 

[theultimateone]

This is comming from a saudi
The standard one nothing good or bad about it
Californian or floridian kinda sounds aggressive
Chicago accent is the type that makes you sleepy then say 'does he know what he's saying?'

This is only a personal view

 

[Stuntman]

Other than the Newfies, Canadian and 'standard' American accents 'sound' the same. Although if you listen carefully there are words that the Canadian English is pronounce differetly than the 'standard' American English.

I know Canadians prounce the letter Z differently than Americans.

A colleague of mine one time said I had an unusual thing about my accent. She said I had a southern drawl. I thought it was strange considering I lived here in the same city for practially all of my life. I did live in Ohio for several months, but that was when I was very little.

I used to have a Chinese accent in elementary school that disappeared in high school. Chinese was my first language.

 

[mikedt]

Something that I've always wondered with my previous studies in linguistics and foreign languages was how non-Americans viewed the Standard American English accent.

I'm really interested to see your input, whether negative or positive!

"Location: Manhattan, NY" now would this be American English as spoken by VOA or CNN anchors, or as spoken by Sylvester Stallone or Top Cat?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&tag=styleforum-20&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMastering-American-Accent-Audio-CDs%2Fdp%2F0764195824

 

[A.Nonymous]

I remember visiting London once and having English school children mock our American accents. I do hope they don't sound that horrible to all Englishmen.

 

[Sak01]

I remember visiting London once and having English school children mock our American accents. I do hope they don't sound that horrible to all Englishmen.

Nah, they're probably just winding you up. You know how kids are. When I visited NY, the local lads used to constantly mock my English accent. Fortunately, I was secure in the knowledge that most Americans (women especially) LOVE our accent.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Nah, they're probably just winding you up. You know how kids are. When I visited NY, the local lads used to constantly mock my English accent. Fortunately, I was secure in the knowledge that most Americans (women especially) LOVE our accent.

They were definitely mocking us. No question about it. Punk kids. Surely our American children would never behave in such a manner.

Most Americans do seem to think any accent is attractive. It adds a couple of points to the hotness score in my book unless it's a redneck accent. Then it takes points away.

 

[Roze]

Nah, they're probably just winding you up. You know how kids are. When I visited NY, the local lads used to constantly mock my English accent. Fortunately, I was secure in the knowledge that most Americans (women especially) LOVE our accent.

<3

They were definitely mocking us. No question about it. Punk kids. Surely our American children would never behave in such a manner.

Most Americans do seem to think any accent is attractive. It adds a couple of points to the hotness score in my book unless it's a redneck accent. Then it takes points away.

haha, I think it's more like EU people with English accents or British or Australian accents. Not to be a racist but I don't find a Chinese's English or an Indian's English accents (i.e. living in Asia) are not very attractive.

Men with a nice low or husky (American/Canadian) or with a British or European English accents are simply lovely to talk to. A few times when I called my bank and sometimes I would get a guy with a lovely tone/voice/accent and I'll think of questions to ask him so I can hear him talk, lol. I have been tempted to ask them for their numbers though I would think they would decline, lol. In University, I was friend with this guy that looked like your stereotypical Otaku (I know, I'm horrible). He had the LOVELIEST tone/voice on the phone, lol. I make sure to not talk to him on the phone. I really can fall for a guy based on his voice XD

 

[Vihzel]

"Location: Manhattan, NY" now would this be American English as spoken by VOA or CNN anchors, or as spoken by Sylvester Stallone or Top Cat?

lol I've only lived in NYC for a couple of months. I was born and raised in CA and attended college in central Indiana. The way I speak is essentially the same way that the lady speaks in my OP.

 

[A.Nonymous]

haha, I think it's more like EU people with English accents or British or Australian accents. Not to be a racist but I don't find a Chinese's English or an Indian's English accents (i.e. living in Asia) are not very attractive.

Men with a nice low or husky (American/Canadian) or with a British or European English accents are simply lovely to talk to. A few times when I called my bank and sometimes I would get a guy with a lovely tone/voice/accent and I'll think of questions to ask him so I can hear him talk, lol. I have been tempted to ask them for their numbers though I would think they would decline, lol. In University, I was friend with this guy that looked like your stereotypical Otaku (I know, I'm horrible). He had the LOVELIEST tone/voice on the phone, lol. I make sure to not talk to him on the phone. I really can fall for a guy based on his voice XD

Personally I find myself attracted to British and/or Australian accents most followed by a soft southern accent. (Some have theorized that this is because certain southern accents say "uncomplicated", but I won't touch that one.) I'm not attracted to Asian accents speaking English though I do know guys who find it extremely hot.

 

[mikedt]

Not to be a racist but I don't find a Chinese's English or an Indian's English accents (i.e. living in Asia) are not very attractive.

I'm sure Beijing American has to one of the worse dialects.

Incidentally when it comes to Chinese schools recruiting foreign English teachers, they often want USA, Canada or UK native speakers only. No India, Pakistan, South Africa, etc. I've even known Australian and NZ teachers having problems here, even though they're native speakers.

I remember visiting London once and having English school children mock our American accents. I do hope they don't sound that horrible to all Englishmen.

Cor blimy guv....Where you able to understand them? If not, suggest that one attends the 'The Dick Van Dyke School of Cockney Dialect'.

 

[Slug]

The way I speak is essentially the same way that the lady speaks in my OP.

Do you really? Have you heard a recording of yourself? You never "hear" your own accent.

My thoughts on the Standard American English accent? It's like Received Pronounciation (the so-called "BBC" or "Queen's English") - artificial. So long as it's understandable a regional accent is far preferable (to me).

 

[Sixel]

I am from the Philippines, people usually have Filipino-English accent but with business that involves American customers, we are taught to have American Accent, since it is "ideal". I have an American Accent class, I do not know why I need it.

 

[mikedt]

I am from the Philippines, people usually have Filipino-English accent but with business that involves American customers, we are taught to have American Accent, since it is "ideal". I have an American Accent class, I do not know why I need it.

Come to my classes and I'll teach you Bristol dialect English.

Lesson 1.. Gert lush...
"Yer, joo see that gawd necklace she wuz werren? F'cken gert lush wunnet?"

 

[red66charger]

Do you all know actress Gillian Anderson from the X-Files? I know she's acted in a ton of other stuff, but in the U.S. she's pretty much known for her role as Agent Dana Scully from the X-Files. A few years ago I learned she was born in Chicago but was raised in London until she was 11. Apparently she uses an American accent when she is in the U.S. and an English accent when she is in the U.K. Flipped me out when I saw her being interviewed and speaking with an English accent.

Sorry if this is too far off topic.


English
Gillian Anderson on BBC Breakfast - 5/11/09 - YouTube

American
The Talk. Gillian Anderson (27.07.2011) - YouTube

 

[Vihzel]

Do you really? Have you heard a recording of yourself? You never "hear" your own accent.

Actually... I have. I record my speeches before I do them in front of a class.

Fun activity: Take two large pieces of paper and hold them in front of your ears. Stand in a small room with good acoustics and now speak. What you hear is what other people hear.

 

[Roze]

Actually... I have. I record my speeches before I do them in front of a class.

Fun activity: Take two large pieces of paper and hold them in front of your ears. Stand in a small room with good acoustics and now speak. What you hear is what other people hear.

Oh, that sounds interesting. Define a room with good acoustic?

 

[Slug]

Actually... I have.

Darn, I should have guessed. Shouldn't you have speak with a soft Russian accent anyway?

Fun activity: Take two large pieces of paper and hold them in front of your ears.

Oh, that sounds interesting.

Or it's just a cunning ploy to make us look foolish in front of complete strangers?

I've got a friend like Ms Anderson. Her accent alters depending on where she's living at the time, or even who she is with. She normally has a strong local accent, but after spending several years working in Cornwall in SW England picked that accent up. Yet within hours of coming home to visit she was back to her 'native' one, and a few hours after that was in the pub with an old school friend mimicking her (different again!) accent. Funniest thing is, she's completely unaware of it happening and gets quite cross when you take the mickey.

 

[Mada]

Fun activity: Take two large pieces of paper and hold them in front of your ears. Stand in a small room with good acoustics and now speak. What you hear is what other people hear.

Does this work on a hearing impaired person with a cochlear implant and hearing aids?