English Language Discussion Forums


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Pronunciation and Phonetics

Quick Links
Sites for Teachers


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 23-Jun-2009, 03:22
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Accent Related

I am a student .I want to learn neutral accent . Please tell me all the possible way to learn it..

Thanks

Suneel Mishra
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2  
Old 23-Jun-2009, 06:23
Eden Darien's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: Malaysia
Posts: 140
Current Location: South Korea
First Language: Malay
Member Type: Student or Learner
Eden Darien is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Accent Related

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
I am a student .I want to learn neutral accent . Please tell me all the possible way to learn it..

Thanks

Suneel Mishra
If you mean native accents...
Either go to Britain or The States.
And perhaps Australia? Depends on which accent you are fond of.

If you mean neutral (English which everybody can understand you), just buy some books accompanied with CDs and listen to them, do some practise frequently and ask guidance from experts. That will do, I guess...

Last edited by Eden Darien; 23-Jun-2009 at 10:31.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 23-Jun-2009, 09:55
Raymott's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Country: Australia
Posts: 6,393
Current Location: Brisbane
First Language: English
Member Type: Academic
Raymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Accent Related

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
I am a student .I want to learn neutral accent . Please tell me all the possible way to learn it..

Thanks

Suneel Mishra
There are no neutral accents.
You probably should try to identify what sounds you are making that people have trouble understanding and change them until they are not a problem. You'd probably need someone else to tell you which of your sounds are difficult to understand.

Last edited by Raymott; 23-Jun-2009 at 10:10.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 24-Jun-2009, 22:27
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: USA
Posts: 3
Current Location: USA
First Language: English
Member Type: Student or Learner
nikjames is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Accent Related

It is hard to say if there is a worldwide neutral accent.... I would say there is not... No matter how you speak, people will generally know the area of the world you are from (or that you sound like).

I would say a fairly neutral accent comes from the Western United States (especially in the larger cities).

The site American English | Learn English | Learning English has some pretty good examples of native speakers from this area. This is my favorite clip... it is fairly clear and easy to understand and has subtitles and the idioms used in the clip listed on the right side of the screen... American Accent | American English | Learn English
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25-Jun-2009, 02:20
jackolantern's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: USA
Posts: 94
Current Location: Texas
First Language: English
Member Type: Other
jackolantern is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Accent Related

As others have said, there is no neutral accent. There are basically two major categories of accents, broken down into many different varieties. British English is one, and American English is the other. In British English, the largest variations are Scottish, Irish, England proper and Australian. They all share more of a soft, flowing pronunciation. There are many different regional dialects and accents through each of those. American English does not really have any related country accents, outside of Canada and countries that speak American English but have accents from their other native languages. American English can sound harder, with more defined "cuts" between letters.

Typically, with American English, the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington, etc.) is seen as having a "neutral accent". This is fortunate for people learning English, because almost all actors in Hollywood movies have a neutral American English accent, unless the movie calls for a different accent (such as Southern, Northeast or Mid-west). You could try watching some movies and working on imitating how they speak. Just be sure that they are speaking how you are accustomed (from language learning CDs, class, etc.), or they could be speaking with a regional accent. But most will be neutral. That is, of course, if you want to try to cultivate an American accent.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to jackolantern For This Useful Post:
  #6  
Old 25-Jun-2009, 05:21
Eden Darien's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: Malaysia
Posts: 140
Current Location: South Korea
First Language: Malay
Member Type: Student or Learner
Eden Darien is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Accent Related

Quote:
Originally Posted by jackolantern View Post
As others have said, there is no neutral accent. There are basically two major categories of accents, broken down into many different varieties. British English is one, and American English is the other. In British English, the largest variations are Scottish, Irish, England proper and Australian. They all share more of a soft, flowing pronunciation. There are many different regional dialects and accents through each of those. American English does not really have any related country accents, outside of Canada and countries that speak American English but have accents from their other native languages. American English can sound harder, with more defined "cuts" between letters.

Typically, with American English, the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington, etc.) is seen as having a "neutral accent". This is fortunate for people learning English, because almost all actors in Hollywood movies have a neutral American English accent, unless the movie calls for a different accent (such as Southern, Northeast or Mid-west). You could try watching some movies and working on imitating how they speak. Just be sure that they are speaking how you are accustomed (from language learning CDs, class, etc.), or they could be speaking with a regional accent. But most will be neutral. That is, of course, if you want to try to cultivate an American accent.
a piece of good advice/opinion from jackolantern like always... Thanks pal...
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 25-Jun-2009, 20:19
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: Canada
Posts: 7
Current Location: Vancouver
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
JeffM is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Accent Related

We teach accent reduction. Our software uses voice recognition technology. It works on standard deviation so if your accent is not neutral enough, it will immediately indicate this by showing the word you are saying in red. If you say it right the word turns green.

While there are many ways to reduce your accent, as other people have already said, such as listening to audio and trying to imitate that, this is the only method I know that actually corrects you.

We teach the standard American accent, not British. If you are looking for a British accent, try to search accent softening.

Last edited by Anglika; 25-Jun-2009 at 21:01. Reason: removal of unauthorised link
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 26-Jun-2009, 00:40
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: U.S.A.
Posts: 2
Current Location: Kentucky
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
rosie maum is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Pronunciation question

I have another question related to pronunciation:
What is it called when someone takes on an accent of someone else? For example, I do not have a strong southern accent. When I am around someone who is VERY southern, I find that my southern accent becomes more pronounced. What is that called?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 26-Jun-2009, 02:16
jackolantern's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: USA
Posts: 94
Current Location: Texas
First Language: English
Member Type: Other
jackolantern is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Accent Related

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden Darien View Post
a piece of good advice/opinion from jackolantern like always... Thanks pal...
Thank you :)

As for your question, Rosie, I have never heard that called a specific name. I looked around online, and could not find anything. I am the same way, however. I think it is because I used to do a lot of theater when I was younger, and often had to pick-up an accent for a role. So if I am around people with a strong accent for a long period of time, I will unknowingly pick it up.

That is all I have ever heard it called: "picking-up an accent".
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to jackolantern For This Useful Post:
  #10  
Old 26-Jun-2009, 03:38
Raymott's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Country: Australia
Posts: 6,393
Current Location: Brisbane
First Language: English
Member Type: Academic
Raymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond reputeRaymott has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Pronunciation question

Quote:
Originally Posted by rosie maum View Post
I have another question related to pronunciation:
What is it called when someone takes on an accent of someone else? For example, I do not have a strong southern accent. When I am around someone who is VERY southern, I find that my southern accent becomes more pronounced. What is that called?
This called accomodation in linguistics. You accomodate your accent to your conversational partner. It works with grammar and vocabulary, etc. as well.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Raymott For This Useful Post:
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Accent training for ESL students AWPerator Teaching English 2 25-Jun-2008 13:44
Learning "plummy" accent ??? j4mes_bond25 Pronunciation and Phonetics 6 07-Aug-2007 06:34
-less Lenka Pronunciation and Phonetics 48 25-Oct-2006 20:10
Accent Description ??? j4mes_bond25 Pronunciation and Phonetics 5 03-Jun-2006 06:42


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:15.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.3.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2009 UsingEnglish.com