Does this woman speak with an American accent?

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Skrej

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She does speak a bit slowly and very deliberately. It's very obvious that she's reading for an audience of English language learners.

She's keeping her phrasing short (3-5 words), presumably so that she's easier to follow for learners, but as a result her intonation sounds a little off. She's also speaking slow enough that she avoids reductions, largely avoids contractions, and almost over-enunciates her words, to the point that she comes across as a little artificial.

If you listen carefully, at around 9:44 you can hear her speaking naturally in the background during the initial interview, and you'll notice she speaks much faster.

Like I said, it's clear she's anticipating that non-native speakers will be listening. Or at least I hope that's her reason.
 

englishhobby

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What do you mean by 'and still'?
I mean that, logically, she is American and still I'd like somebody to tell me what they think about her accent, if it is obviously American English or not so obviously.
 
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englishhobby

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She does speak a bit slowly and very deliberately. It's very obvious that she's reading for an audience of English language learners.

Is it very obvious that she is speaking American English?
 

englishhobby

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My answer is 'yes'! What is your answer, englishhobby? ;-)

I logically understand that it must be American, but if I didn't know, I'm afraid, I wouldn't be able to tell :-(
 

englishhobby

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If you listen carefully, at around 9:44 you can hear her speaking naturally in the background during the initial interview, and you'll notice she speaks much faster.

Yes, now that you mentioned it, I' ve noticed, but I don't understand what she is saying. It's something like "School is letting out", but I can't make any sense of it.
 
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GoesStation

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Yes, now tat you mentioned it, I' ve noticed, but I don't understa nd what she is saying. It's something like "Sool is letting out", but I can't make any sense of it.

Probably school is letting out.
 

GoesStation

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Is it very obvious that she is speaking American English?

Yes. I didn't listen to enough to be able to rule out Canadian English, but those are the only possibilities.
 

GoesStation

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Yes, and what does it mean in the given context (or, simply, what does it mean?)

It means the children are leaving because school has ended for the day.
 

Barb_D

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I completely agree with everything Ems wrote. She has a very American accent, but her speech is unnaturally slow and enunciated. While broadcasters speak more carefully than many of us, this is an extreme. I agree that she is expecting a non-native-English audience.
 

emsr2d2

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I completely agree with everything Ems wrote.

I'd love to take the credit but I haven't taken part in this thread until now. ;-)
 

Amigos4

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I'd love to take the credit but I haven't taken part in this thread until now. ;-)

Does Ems speak with a British accent? ;-):cool::-D
 

Barb_D

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Did you mean Skrej?
Yes, sorry. (It's catching - I read another thread where User A made a comment and someone else referred to it as User B's comment. I guess this time it was my turn to make that mistake.)
 

Skrej

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Guess I need to improve my baritone typing.
 

Tdol

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