My Accent

[Otamot]

Hey there,

this is something I've wanted to do for a while, but I've simply been way too lazy. Recording this took only a couple of seconds... Guess I should've done it way earlier.

Here's a sample of my spoken English (doesn't require a download):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s16piHWRezk0

Here's what I read:
http://www.rit.edu/ntid/speechlang/slpros/media/rainbow


Where am I from?
What does my accent sound like?
Random bonus question: How old am I?


Best regards,
Otamot the tomato

 

[PHenry1026]

I have listened to your accent and I would guess that you are a native speaker. Second, your pitch and rate of speech seem monotone. I would guess your accent is influenced by BrE (but you are not English or American).

;-) Percy

 

[Otamot]

Thanks a lot for your reply!

Is there a reason why only 1 of 120+ viewers replied, though? Or just bad luck?

 

[Raymott]

I'd guess that you're not native. You miss the /t/ on "pot" on two occasions. That could make you Chinese or otherwise Asian. Some phonemes are wrong (eg. pronouncing 'colours' as 'collars'). Beyond that, I can't guess.
Besides which, why would go out of your way to post this if you were a native speaker?

 

[Tdol]

I agree with Raymott that there are a couple of sounds that stand out, particularly your pronunciation of pot. That could be regional, but I am not so sure- that sounded to me like someone who's acquired native speaker pronunciation. When it started, I did think native speaker.

Do please put the correct information in your profile.

 

[Otamot]

Thanks for your replies!


I didn't notice my mispronunciation of color when I listened to it and I can't right now. I'll do it once I'm home.

I did notice the missing t in pot, though. I tried hard not to do it, but I drop letters/syllables a lot and my pronunciation is generally rather sloppy. "Pot of gold" is simply shortened to "po'f gold". I'm not sure why I do it like that and if it's right at all (probably not, if it makes me sound Asian ). I guess "potta gold" is what most people would say.


I'll correct my profile.

 

[Tdol]

PS For the bonus question, I'll go with young.

 

[Otamot]

Define young. Some consider 50 young whereas others think 12 is old.

 

[Tdol]

Adult, under 30?

 

[Raymott]

Can I get consolation points for "male"?

 

[Otamot]

Adult, under 30?

So between 18 and 29. Close enough, I'm 19.

Can I get consolation points for "male"?

Lol :-D



I've just listened to the recording again and I still don't quite get how I'm pronouncing "color" wrong. Sounds okay to me.

@PHenry1026: "Second, your pitch and rate of speech seem monotone" I know, though that's not because of the language, but much rather because I've got no reason to be enthusiastic, quite the opposite actually.


Thanks again for your posts guys.

 

[PHenry1026]

I did'nt think of cheating by looking at your profile.

;-) Percy

 

[Tdol]

It wouldn't have helped at the time. ;-)

Also, reading texts aloud can often make for monotone speech.

 

[PHenry1026]

If the OP has changed or updated his profile, what was his original nationality listed as? I still think that the OP's recorded speech was too mechanical. In my past life as a college professor of economics, in the U.S., I had many exchange students from Germany and I am pretty sure I can tell most Germans speaking English. The OP does not sound like most Germans speaking English.

;-) Percy

 

[Tdol]

The entries had been chosen random so nothing matched. I didn't go for a country, but if I had, I would have been wrong.