Neutralized Accent

[anupumh]

Hi,

Can any speakers English Pronunciation be deviod of any accent?

Thanks

[Sharonk123]

Originally Posted by anupumh

Hi,

Can any speakers English Pronunciation be deviod of any accent?

Thanks

I am not a linguist however I just don't see how spoken words in any language can be devoid of accent. A British citizen will hear a native countryman speaking and say to himself, " She has no accent."
When I hear the same person speaking, I hear a decidedly British inflection.
In one of the posts a writer refered to Dan Rather as having a midwestern accent. Typically we in the US view midwestern accents as being neutral. However a British native would immediately pick up on the midwestern accent.
The French have a lovely lyrical sound when speaking English, the Germans sound gutteral to me. Those from India have a distinctive sound as do people from the Japan and the South Seas.
I love to hear people from other countries speak English and enjoy the addition of sounds to the English language that other languages can add.
I think that neutral accent is in the ear of the beholder.

[Tdol]

I agree. In Britain, RP (Received Pronunciation) was taught in private schools as a way of removing regional accents to produce a standardised form of English, but it was not neutral- you might not know which part of the country they're from, but you know their educational background. RP is less marked than it used to be, but it is still far from neutral.

You'll sometimes hear the term transatlantic used for the semi-American pronunciation adopted by some British singers to try to make their products easier on the American ear. Elton John speaks British English but sings transatlantic- check out the change in his vowel sounds. However, this is not a neutral accent or a neutral term. There is some element of truth underlying George Bernard Shaw's claim that it is 'impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him'- accent is not neutral and the absence of an accent would simply be another accent.

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by anupumh

Hi,

Can any speakers English Pronunciation be deviod of any accent?

Thanks

No. If it were possible, it would be a void or neutral accent, which of course would be simply another accent.
And the idea of a neutral accent is illogical.

[2006]

Originally Posted by Raymott

No. If it were possible, it would be a void or neutral accent, which of course would be simply another accent.
And the idea of a neutral accent is illogical.

to anupumh: I agree; it is impossible to have a universally neutral accent.
Any accent is only 'neutral' in the area it is dominant.

[stuartnz]

I agree with all the others who have posted on this thread. There is no such as thing as a neutral accent or accentless speech. I would also add that I find the desire of many ESOL learners to acquire this mythical form of English a disturbing indictment of the socio-economic pressures conspiring to convince them that they should chase this chimera.

[pyoung]

Dear anupumh:

I agree with previous posters. 'Neutral accent'? Oxymoron?

Petra

[anupumh]

Originally Posted by pyoung

Dear anupumh:

I agree with previous posters. 'Neutral accent'? Oxymoron?

Petra

Oxymoron = Honest Liar
A honest person cannot be a liar and a Liar cannot be a honest person.
Both terms are antagonistic, I feel similar is the case with Neutral Accent.

[Soup]

Originally Posted by anupumh

Hi,

Can any speakers English Pronunciation be deviod of any accent?

Thanks

Interestingly enough, most native speakers, no matter the language, will tell you it is you who has the accent, not them.

[anupumh]

Originally Posted by Soup

Interestingly enough, most native speakers, no matter the language, will tell you it is you who has the accent, not them.

LoL very true...