There are several different American accents that are used across the nation and there are even more dialects. Some people believe accents and dialects have the same meaning, but they are actually quite different. Accents are strictly related to the pronunciation of sounds in speech, and dialect involves not only pronunciation, but vocabulary and grammar as well.

Throughout the different dialects, different vocabulary terms can be used when describing the same object. Also, some Americans speak and write using a proper, grammatically correct, form of English. Other Americans, depending on location of residence or social group, use a less formal version of the English language. This form of dialect can be considered a type of “slang” of English.

Several of the major dialectal regions of the U.S. include:

• Northern New England
• The North
• Greater New York City
• The Midland
• The South
• North Central
• The West

These major dialects may also include particular sub-dialects. The major dialects can be used to determine where a person might have been raised within the U.S.  If you hear a person label an object using a word you are not familiar with, he or she, might have formerly resided in a different part of the U.S. Overall, dialects help distinguish people and their origins from one another.

An accent is a form of pronunciation that is distinctive to the speech of a particular person, group, or region. Everyone who speaks English in the United States speaks with an American accent. However, there are people from certain areas of the country who are saying the same words, but pronouncing them differently. Many different accents exist among native English speakers. This is why it is usually simple to tell whether a person is from Boston or from Texas. Also, non-native speakers of English tend to carry over the intonation and phonemic inventory from their mother tongue into their English speech, causing the difference in accents. Different accents stem from the variety of ways one can shape sounds and stress syllables. An accent is simply about the way a person sounds when they are speaking.

It’s All In How You Say It!

American dialect is similar to the American accent because both involve pronunciation. Certain characteristics are important to understand how a dialect differs from having an accent. Not only does American dialect refer to differences in accent, but also differences in grammar and vocabulary among different versions of the English language. For example, people from different areas, who happen to be talking about the same object or action, may each have their own unique words to describe the same attributes. The combination of differences in pronunciation and use of locally accepted words may make some American dialects almost unintelligible to speakers from other regions.

If people have difficulty understanding you when you speak, you should consider improving your accent by taking accent reduction training with a qualified trainer. Even though having an accent is completely natural, many times it makes people hesitant to speak in certain situations. You can reduce your foreign accent and improve your American accent drastically by receiving professional training from an accent reduction specialist.

Accents Help to Paint the Picture 

On many occasions, the mocking of other accents is used not only for entertainment purposes, but also for the listeners to receive a more descriptive picture of the topic being discussed. For example, actors and comedians will sometimes speak with different accents to give their audience a better understanding of a character, a more descriptive idea of a culture, as well as greater listening pleasure. American actors also need to learn and utilize certain foreign accents to be able to play particular roles in movies. The actors are not speaking with different accents to make fun of them, but they speak with them to sound as realistic and authentic as they can to the culture being depicted.

Some Good ~ Some Not So Good

Unfortunately, there are instances where Americans do, in fact, mock other accents with the intentions of solely making fun of them. This happens in situations such as movies, comedy shows, plays, songs, and everyday social interactions. The individuals who mock other accents with the intentions of hurting the peoples’ feelings are careless and inconsiderate in comparison to the people who are mocking for other reasons.

However, Americans are not the only group of people who “make fun” of foreigners and the way they speak or act. Individuals who speak foreign languages also make fun of way Americans speak. It is simply human nature to “make fun” of other people, whether it is in good taste or bad. However, there is not one individual reason that explains the need for Americans, or anyone for that matter, to make fun of other accents.

1. Improves your intelligibility
2. Improves your intelligibility with your elders
3. Promotes friendships
4. Expands dating potential
5. Provides a perception that you are well educated or a polished professional
6. Builds trust and credibility for you with new acquaintances
7. Reduces prejudice for you with some Americans
8. Advances your career
9. American English dominates the world as the international language
10. Presents a remarkable image considered total packaging

1. Stop repeating yourself. If you speak with a heavy accent, chances are you are asked to repeat yourself multiple times each day. Many Americans only speak English; therefore, they are not accustom to hearing and comprehending other languages, intonation patterns, and accents. Increasing your intelligibility with your friends, co-workers, clients, and/or patients should be your number one priority when making the decision to change your accent when speaking American English.

2. As individuals age, they typically tend to begin losing some hearing acuity. These individuals mean well, but are at a great disadvantage when expected to hear and comprehend all sounds including speech. When you speak with any individual who has a hearing loss, young or old, they will have a much more difficult time understanding you if you utilize different prosody or accent than they are used to hearing in American English.

3. It will be easier to make friends if you can accomplish accent neutralization. First impressions count in all societies and the United States is no different. When you meet someone for the first time, they will be making decisions immediately to determine if you are the type of individual whom they would like to be associated. Unfortunately, individuals who speak American English with an accent other than a Northern Midwest accent may be associated with many negative stereotypes. This is even true for Americans who speak using other “American accents.” If you work towards eliminating your accent you’ll have one less obstacle to deal with when meeting others.

4. Going out on a date could be easier with a reduced accent. Instead of being preoccupied with how your date will perceive your accent, you can spend the time being yourself and are more likely to be perceived well by your date. In an environment where everything you say has the possibility of being analyzed for hours or days afterward, you want to make sure that your full intentions come across and that nothing is misinterpreted due to your accent.

5. Speaking with a Northern Midwest American Accent is widely accepted as the preferred norm for Americans who are well educated. Developing the skill to speak with this particular American accent may provide you the competitive edge you desire in your specific profession.

6. In general, we as human beings trust other individuals based solely on how similar we are to each other. Beginning and developing personal or professional relationships with others is always heavily rooted on trust. When other individuals identify with you, one aspect they will consider is your language and accent. The key to your credibility may be expressed in the manner by which you project yourself as a speaker. Utilizing an American accent when speaking English with individuals, patients, or clients who only speak American English may build credibility. They may not know that you speak other languages and will perceive you as more like themselves. Speaking American English with an accent other than standard American English may be a disadvantage.

7. Unfortunately, prejudice in all societies is still prevalent and the United States is no different. Individual prejudices vary depending on the region or city, but continue to be wide spread. Some American citizens believe all individuals who live in the United States should speak English with an “American accent.” Those same Americans make judgments regarding individuals who do not meet their own self created criteria for appropriate speech patterns. The only way to avoid this potential prejudice is to learn the skill of speaking American English with a Northern Midwest American accent.

8. Speaking American English can improve your career. Get higher paying jobs and achieve the career you have always wanted. Communication is a cornerstone of almost every profession in the United States and the world. If you are identified as a skilled communicator in addition to the remainder of your admirable qualities, you will get chosen for promotions before all others who do not possess the same level of communicative prowess.

9. In the age of globalization where connecting to the outside world can be done with a slight touch of a finger, communicating with an American accent may be a great advantage. American English is still dominating the world as the international language of choice and will continue to be the mode of communication exchange all over the globe for a long time to come. Being able to speak and understand American English is indeed an added feature in one’s image and corporate agenda.

10. Many individuals believe that ninety percent of communication is non-verbal and only ten percent is verbal. With this idea in mind, one must consider every aspect of their personal appearance.  The next and most crucial step for all individuals includes the language and manner in which that language is spoken. Of course, language and vocabulary are cornerstones of communication, but the accent in which you speak makes a surmountable difference in how you are perceived by others. Creating a remarkable image including all aspects of professional appearance and speaking pattern are part of total packaging for any individual.