Trying to perfect my accent.

[sniperforlife]

I'm a non-native English speaker in Canada. How much more work do I need in order to sound like one? Here's a sample of me reading The Rainbow Passage.

Putfile - Rainbow 96

I'm just the kind of person who likes to fit in with the crowd. Please don't tell me to not attempt it. :P I'm not obsessed with it or anything but being able to perfect my accent would be a great accomplishment for me.

[Tdol]

I listened to the recording; you are doing some things well, like the way you run words into each other ('pot of gold' at the end). Many of the sounds are fine, but you seem to have some trouble with getting the stress right. In the middle, after 'arch', I couldn't actually understand what you said. I think you're overstressing vowel sounds. Could you do a recording of your natural speech- sometimes reading a passge causes stress problems.

PS, there's nothing wrong or obsessive about trying to improve your pronunciation, and as you're living there it makes perfect sense.

[sniperforlife]

Here's me trying to talk naturally.

Putfile - Record 67

Also, can you guess as to my country of origin? :P

[sniperforlife]

Okay, here's another attempt.

Putfile - Wtf 19 25

[Tdol]

I found the natural one much easier to understand and I can't guess your country of origin; there's nothing there that obviously links you to a country whose pronunciation I am familiar with. Where are you from?

[sniperforlife]

I'm Filipino. Would I be able to pass off as Canadian-born almost?

[Ouisch]

Originally Posted by sniperforlife

Here's me trying to talk naturally.

Putfile - Record 67

Also, can you guess as to my country of origin? :P

This passage sound much more natural than the first one you posted. In fact, your enunciation, phrasing and emphasis seemed quite natural, and it would be difficult to immediately determine that English wasn't your first language.

[pedant]

Sorry, I couldn't resist...I've not listened, but despite your request I just have to ask why?

To English people a Canadian accent is pleasant, why lose it? One of my friends' brought up his youngest children in Australia when they were little and they had beautiful soft auzzie accents...then they came back to Birmingham....awww!

Some accents are not nice, Canadian in England is fine...trade with it!

[sniperforlife]

Originally Posted by pedant

Sorry, I couldn't resist...I've not listened, but despite your request I just have to ask why?

To English people a Canadian accent is pleasant, why lose it? One of my friends' brought up his youngest children in Australia when they were little and they had beautiful soft auzzie accents...then they came back to Birmingham....awww!

Some accents are not nice, Canadian in England is fine...trade with it!

I'm a Filipino that's trying to sound Canadian. :P I just want to achieve it because I'm the kind that likes to blend in completely with my peers. Although I must admit that if I ever live in England (which I'm actually considering), I'd probably try to sound English so I can fit in with them.

[Tdol]

Many Filipinos are native or have native speaker competency, so there's no particular accent that I would associate with people from your country. I wouldn't worry; you'll fit in and should you go to England, I'm sure you'll pick up the accents around you there.