Author Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Suess, has remained one of the literary world’s most popular and respected authors due to his ability to deliver universal themes in anapestic tetrameter, a writing form that features four anapestic metrical feet per line. Two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable.  Poetry, even in its most basic form as seen in the Suess books, can be an invaluable tool for a non-native English speaker working to learn the nuances of the American accent because it allows them to hear the  natural rhythm of English within a creative framework. Over the years, noted actors such as Kelsey Grammer and Walter Matthau have each lent their unique American accent to readings of The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas respectively.  Neither interpretation is quite like this viral video , featuring Oh, the Places You’ll Go! being read in 68 different American and international accents alternating line by line.         

The following American accents are listed according to their position within the 68 accents featured in the video.

American Accent Samples

1. Los Angeles/California- The California accent used here shows signs of being a valley girl accent, but for the most part retains the Midwestern American accent seen amongst many speakers in California. 

4. Seattle- The prescience of a true Seattle accent within the linguistic landscape has only recently begun to be studied by linguists and begrudgingly acknowledged by Seattle residents themselves. According to linguist Alicia Beckford Wassink, some Seattle speakers pronounce the words “beg” and “egg” similarly with an elongated “a” sound that makes the words indistinguishable from one another. A second unique low back vowel merger unifies the words “don” and “dawn”.

11.Philadelphia-Originally the Philadelphia accent had many traits common to the southern dialect. A study by William Lablov and colleagues in the paper “A Hundred Years of Sound Change” has revealed that Philadelphia vowels are shifting in a process known as “northernization” and that this transformation has not wavered across various education levels or sex boundaries.  The Philadelphia dialect, referred to by detractors as “hoagiemouth” features numerous local dialect phrases. For example, sprinkles are referred to as “jimmies” and the word “water”  is pronounced in a condensed, rushed fashion that comes out sounding like “wooder”. Another distinctive feature seen in the Philadelphia accent is the shortening of both long “e” and “a” sounds when they occur before a “g” sound. Thus “eagle” rhymes with iggle and league rhymes with big. The Standard American accent equivalent can been seen in how the words vague and plague rhyme with peg.  

12. Bronx- As has been discussed in a previous article, there is a tendency among New Yorkers to characterize their local accent and dialect as being radically different from those found in New York’s surrounding boroughs; however, pronunciation differences correlate more closely with specific ethnic groups living in New York. Specific pronunciation differences are largely a matter of personal pride. That is, residents of certain boroughs in New York think their native accent is different from those around them simply because that is what they wish to believe.

Dr. Suess’ book Oh, the Places You’ll Go! focuses on seizing the opportunities presented by each new day and taking control of your life by viewing it as a series of simple decisions, each decision coming about as a direct result of one made previously, in turn allowing you to break free of whatever routine you may have subconsciously gotten yourself into lately. The book has become a common gift for high school graduates, but you may want to purchase the book to practice your American accent. Achieving an American accent can be viewed as the ultimate goal in your training; but not necessarily an endpoint, as you will need to use learned accent reduction tips on a consistent basis when speaking to maintain your American accent.

American accent: Take a step forward

If you have a foreign accent and are interested in accent reduction services, we offer online accent reduction classes using Skype.  If you live locally, we have offices in both Chicago and Naperville, Illinois where we offer these private classes in person.  Ready for a complimentary accent reduction tutorial or a free accent screening?  Check out our on-line accent reduction courses  available to students all over the world.  To stay in touch and acquire instant access to additional accent reduction tips, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

On January 12, 1991, Saturdayy Night Live (SNL) debuted a recurring skit known as Bill Swerski’s Superfans, which would come to define the so called “Chicago accent” for generations of non-native Chicagoans. The accent used in the skit continues to be bandied about to this day as a shorthanded representation of how the majority of Chicagoans speak.  This is despite the fact that the actors appear to revel in purging their minds of anyone or anything that interferes with their inexplicable devotion to the Chicago Bears National Football League (NFL) team. Surprisingly, the exaggerated Chicago accents they employ are somewhat accurate according to George Mason University linguist, Corrine McCarthy.

Chicago Accent Similar to New York?

Similar to the New York accent, a prominent Chicago accent uses a “d” sound in place of “th”, as in the Superfans repeated refrain of “da Bears.” As the skit suggests, this vocal trait is more commonly seen among older, white working class speakers.  Due to the skit’s enduring popularity and its status as being the epitome of the Chicago accent, the radio show Curious City and McCarthy worked in conjunction to identify the unique linguistic markers that separate the Chicago accent from other regional dialects and whether the Chicago accent will live on in future generations. Superfans themselves are obvious caricatures on Saturday Night Live, but we will wait to see if this accent feature will endure over multiple generations.

Chicago Accent: Vowel Pronunciation

Linguist Corrine McCarthy created a passage of text called Too Hot For Hockey interspersed with words deliberately chosen as being representative of any one of 5 pronunciation traits common to the Chicago accent: an “o” sound pronounced in words like “nachos”, “hot” and “pop,”  a raised  uh sound pronounced near the back of the throat, substituting  a “d” sound in place of “th”  (daa Bears), and the caught/cot merger, wherein the speaker does not clearly differentiate between two distinctly different sounding words.  Of the 361 Chicago based speakers who participated, only 8 speech samples contained all five Chicago speech characteristics while 111 contained three traits, suggesting that although the Chicago accent as depicted in the Superfans sketch may be more of a comedic exaggeration than reality, all Chicago accents exhibit some elongation of vowels, including a raised /a/ sound that causes words with a middle /a/ sound to have an “eah” ending . Thus the word “stop” is pronounced as something akin to “steep”, while the short “o” sound in specific words is replaced with a long “a” (/e/) sound. These vowel shifts are a product of Chicago being in the inland north dialect region that stretches roughly from Milwaukee to Buffalo.

Chicago Accent: Make a Change?

If you find yourself regularly pronouncing words which begin with an “o” or feature an “a” within the first syllable with a fronted “o” sound, you may benefit from Chicago accent reduction training.  Accent reduction specialists emphasize a manner of speaking considered Standard American English.  Throughout training, you will gradually learn when it is appropriate to code switch between the Standard American accent and one that incorporates raised “o” and “a” vowels for situations where you believe a  business client may be swayed to accept a business proposal if the message is delivered in a casual manner that mirrors their own speech. This technique is referred to as pacing and allows two individuals to begin to form a connection.

Chicago Accent Pros: Foreign Accent

If you have a foreign accent and are interested in accent reduction services, we offer online accent reduction classes using Skype.  If you live locally, we have offices in both Chicago and Naperville, Illinois where we offer these private classes in person.  Ready for a complimentary accent reduction tutorial or a free accent screening?  Check out our on-line accent reduction courses  available to students all over the world.  To stay in touch for more accent reduction tips Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.

Our clients at Accent Pros have accent reduction goals and 85% have advanced degrees and an excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language; however, they may not understand informal slang and idioms that are regularly used in the workplace, conversations with friends, and on various popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Occasionally our clients, seeking accent reduction coaching, will understand the meaning of an idiom, but use the colloquial language in an improper context or the wrong situation. This mistake could potentially have embarrassing consequences. In our continuing efforts to  feature only the most relevant and practical terms in our idioms series, here are some business and memory related idioms.

Bite the Bullet

Definition: Being forced to deal with or accept a difficult situation

Example sentence:  You’re just going to have to bite the bullet and turn in a report without a quarterly earnings graph.

Origin This idiom is often used to describe situations in which an individual must be forced to accept a difficult reality or choose between two unfavorable outcomes. It can also refer to  showing courage at a time of stress. During the civil war era, doctors from both armies frequently ran out of whiskey that was administered while performing surgeries or amputations without anesthesia, as the whiskey was valued more as liquid distraction agent than for any true numbing sensations it might induce. In place of anesthesia,  the soldier would be given a bullet to bite down on during the procedure; thereby, in theory, allowing the surgeon to operate and cause minimal discomfort to the patient.  The phrase first appeared in print with the publication of Kipling’s 1981 Victorian age novel The Light that Failed,  in this context meaning to show courage.

Blockbuster

Example sentence: Despite this movie being shot on a minimal budget of only $50,000, “The Blair Witch Project” gripped audiences with its shaky camera presentation and confounding plot, eventually grossing over 200 million dollars. 

Definition: A film or product that has become unexpectedly popular thanks to strong reviews, word of mouth, or the emphasis of a particular aspect of the experience. An example includes when Daniel Day Lewis won praise in the movie “Lincoln” from audiences for his ability to portray Abraham Lincoln with a stoic confidence and a historically accurate American accent according to accent reduction specialists. In other cases, the term is used in reference to the latest version  of an established piece of technology  that features a host of upgrades over the previous version, including a wider screen, increased storage space, and a built in camera, etc. Producers of these products; therefore, know in advance there will be wide demand and can plan accordingly without fear of over saturating the market.

Origin: This idiom has its origins in war. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) would use enormous and highly explosive bombs during World War II. These bombs were known for creating widespread damage and eliciting a sense of fear in those who were in the immediate blast vicinity. Over the years, the term has gradually lost its violent connotation and is almost used exclusively in reference to expensive movies, political scandals, or any trade in sports involving upper echelon players. In retrospect, blockbusters are often viewed as having established many features that consumers now take for granted in a particular medium.

Dog-Eat-Dog World

Definition: A phrase that refers to the idea that individuals will only look out for themselves in their continual effort to increase their personal and professional status and may frequently resort to compromising or ruining their relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances in order to achieve an objective.

Example sentence “I heard your company fired you shortly after your heart attack! It’s definitely a dog-eat-dog world.”

Origin: The phrase was first used in this form during the 1500s in reference to the principle that people only look out for themselves and will do anything to gain an advantage, occasionally sacrificing longtime personal relationships in order to do so. This is often accomplished in such a malevolent way that the relationship is irreparably harmed.

Accent Reduction: Idioms Series

Accent Pros has a continuing series on accent reduction tips, including common English phrases and American idioms.  Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites.  Ready for a complimentary accent reduction tutorial or a free accent screening?  Check out our on-line accent reduction courses  available to students with accent reduction goals all over the world. For consistent access to our idioms series and other accent reduction tips Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.

Many of our clients with accent reduction goals have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language, they may not understand informal slang used during workplace conversations or on various popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Occasionally our clients seeking accent reduction classes will understand the meaning of an idiom, but use it in an improper context or the wrong situation. This mistake could potentially have embarrassing consequences. In our continuing efforts to  feature only the most relevant and practical terms in our accent reduction tips: idioms series, here are some business and memory related idioms.

Dressed to the Nines

Definition: To be dressed exceedingly well

Example sentence: Sophia  is dressed to the nines for every party.

Origin: According to tailoring standards, a high quality durable suit requires nine yards of cloth. It is cut in such a way that the fabric, comprised of warp and weft threads.  Weft threads face a common direction while the warp, or vertical threads run parallel to the suit’s  vertical line. This meticulous process often results in a high amount of unused fabric, hence a higher price point that customers are more than willing to pay for if the suit meets their quality criteria.

A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire

Definition: One does not repeat painful mistakes

Example sentence: After Sam lost heavily in bets, he stopped gambling. After all, a burnt child dreads the fire.

Origin: This proverb was recorded as early as the beginning of the 14th century in “The Proverbs of Hendyng”. It is similar in meaning to the old expression “Once bitten, twice shy”.  Both may be referring to children only; although the latter refers to a fear of an animal, while the former deals with fire. A similar French proverb: “A scalded dog fears cold water” takes the comparison one step further. This idioms is used to refer to those who have experienced a great loss, difficulty or pain, but will not only avoid such situations in future, they will worry without cause as well. Such proverbs may be used to indicate paranoia.   Almost every language has some form of this proverb. e.g. “One bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope’s end” (Jewish). “Burnt by hot milk, a man will be afraid to drink cold buttermilk” (Hindi).

Dead Ringer

Definition: An exact match

Example sentence: That guy is a dead ringer for your dad. They look exactly alike!

Origin: A dead ringer originally meant a duplicate horse which was meant to fool bookies. These bookies would, before the race started, inspect the horse and thus calculate its odds of winning. Towards the end of the 19th century, race horse owners began to fool the bookies by bringing in two horses that were identical by all outward appearances. One would be slow and the other fast. When the bookie would inspect the horses, he would not be able to distinguish between the two. Before the race, the owner would allow the bookies to inspect the slower horse,  thereby driving up the odds against his horse. When the time came for the actual race, the owner would run the faster horse. A friend would place bets on this supposedly slow footed horse, and they would maximize their winnings. Thus a “ringer” (which refers to an illegal competitor in a sporting event) would be “dead-on”, as in, would be an accurate match. Combining both of them together, one gets a “dead ringer”.

 Want More Idioms?

Accent Pros has a continuing series on accent reduction tips, including common English phrases and American Idioms.  Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites.  Ready for a complimentary accent reduction tutorial or a free accent screening?  Check out our on-line accent reduction courses  available to students all over the world.  For consistent access to our Idioms series and other accent reduction tips Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.

Since we teach American accent classes at Accent Pros, we love to analyze the speaking patterns of individuals.  Over the past couple of years, we have been intrigued by a spokesperson at Apple.  Yes he has an accent, but more importantly, he speaks in a manner which not only allows the listener to understand his speech, but he really captivates us and the rest of his listeners.  We even use his speaking pattern as an example during our American accent classes. Our clients agree that Jony Ive’s video is an excellent example to share during American accent classes.

Jony Ive Used as Model during American Accent Classes

Ive studied design at Northumbria University in Newcastle England and co-founded a company known as Tangerine in London where he developed  a variety  of power tools before working at Apple. Arguably one of Apple’s biggest moves in the right direction came when then design chief, Robert Brunner, hired Jony Ive as a senior designer.  It is a testimony to Ive’s ability, hard-work, and dedication that when Brunner left the company in 1996, he suggested Ive as his replacement, even though Ive was only 29. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, one of his first moves was to install Ive as Vice President of industrial design. The iMac G3 was released in 1998 and immediately set itself apart from every computer available on the market with an egg shaped body design. By the end of the year, 2 million iMacs had been sold. Many of Ive’s basic design philosophies and product designs for Apple have their origins in the work of Deiter Rams, who worked at Braun corporation during the 50′s and 60′s. 

Does British Accent impress those in American Accent Classes?

The public has become increasingly aware of Ive in recent years through his appearances in launch videos for many of Apple’s top products including the iPod, iPad, iMac and iPhone. Much is made about Ive’s British accent and his deliberate slow speaking rate with prolonged pauses.  This style of speaking is also recommended by professional instructors in American accent classes. Although the accent may be a significant part of Ive’s appeal for some, it really holds nothing beyond an aesthetic value when examining what kind of a public speaker Ive is overall. Similar to Steve Jobs, Ive has the ability to accurately synthesize complex concepts into language the audience can understand, enabling them to see how a product is clearly different  from what has come before and how they can integrate it into their daily life. Ive’s speaking style achieves a high level of clarity combined with making customers feel as though they are valued by Apple. His alluring speaking style plays an important role in Apple’s ongoing technological evolution.

Apple in the 1990′s

By 1992 Apple Inc, then known as Apple Computer, was mired in a state of organizational disarray and declining profit. This was following the company board ousting, and subsequent resignation of, co-founder Steve Jobs in 1985 and Apple’s flooding of the market with multiple high end Macintosh computers.  The Apple models (Classic, LC, II, Quadra, Performa, and Centris) were intended to directly compete with the IBM PC. Although these computers gave Apple’s target audience of schools, business, and home users a seeming variety of options, there was little in the way of distinctive features that set each model apart from one another other than a futuristic sounding name.  Customers only grew more frustrated and confused, failing to see the value in investing the time necessary to educate themselves on the minor differences between Macintosh lines when they could just as easily buy an IBM PC that catered to their specific needs in one convenient package.  The designs by Jony Ive have played a strong role in the overwhelming popularity of Apple products to date.

Incorporating Jony Ive’s Speaking Style into American Accent Classes

During his lifetime Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was known for the ability to give energetic keynote speeches in which he confidently introduced Apple’s latest piece of technology, utilizing many of the techniques taught in accent reduction classes. He pointed out the defining features of such products as the iPod with such relative ease that audience members couldn’t help but feel as though the iPod had been made specifically for them and therefore wouldn’t have been released to the public if Jobs wasn’t absolutely sure the product design met their needs. While Jony Ive doesn’t give many interviews, he too has embraced the Steve Jobs style of speaking. Moreover, Ive is able to avoid the common  complaint lobbied at British speakers by Americans–that they sound “too british”, by utilizing a common technique taught in American Accent Classes: speaking at a reduced speed. If the information about a particular product was being delivered in a slow fashion by a relatively unknown designer, it would seem condescending.  However because Ive and Apple have a strong reputation, it comes across as Ive having a casual conversationwith the viewer about the latest Apple product without delivering a sales pitch.

Do you need American Accent Classes?

Other accent reduction techniques utilized by Ive include the complete articulation of all syllables within a given word, particularly at the end of sentences, while pausing every 7-10 words to give listeners time to process what has just been said. Often individuals  who are starting American accent classes will drop  the syllables at the end of words and run them together because they are self conscious about potentially mispronouncing a word, only increasing the likelihood that something will be misinterpreted and they will  be forced to repeat themselves.

American Accent Classes at Accent Pros

To gain a better understanding  of how American Accent Classes might benefit you and what accent reduction techniques fit with your natural speech pattern, try one of our free accent screenings. If you are unable to afford American accent classes at this time, please consider trying our free tutorials with American accent classes for over fifty languages. This will enable you to gauge the overall prominence of your accent in relation to other speakers of your native language and  provide you with a working understanding of what to expect when you first enter American accent classes.

As was discussed in a previous article, the standard California accent is thought to be closest in tone to the standard American English spoken throughout the Midwest and emphasized in accent reduction training. A direct result of  Midwestern settlers migrating to San Francisco during the gold rush period from 1848-1855. It is now widely taught to incoming actors and actresses to Los Angeles. After initial research revealed that most Californians were unaware of the ways in which their  speech and native dialect differentiated from the various American dialects spoken across the United States, linguist Penny Eckert spearheaded The Voices of California Project.

Eckert was supported in her efforts by a team of 15 researchers, 3 professors and 12 graduate students. The project began in 2009 with the goal of providing an accurate, detailed description of the general California accent across the state while simultaneously documenting the unique aspects of individual American dialects found in California’s major cities. The inherent objectivity of the project sought to eliminate racial and ethic linguistic stereotypes. Eckert’s team was in Bakersfield, California from September 3-14th 2012, canvassing the neighborhoods for lifetime residents to interview after spending time in Merced and Redding the previous two years

Clearer speech is the ultimate goal of accent reduction training

respectively.

Over the course of 10 days, residents were invited to talk at length in recorded interviews about their home city and how it has changed during the course of their lifetime.  They were also asked about the local American accent and their impressions of their native cities‘ American dialect in contrast to the American dialects around them. The open ended nature of the discussions allowed the participants to speak without feeling pressured, increasing the likelihood they  spoke in an intonation and lexicon that was a hybrid of their personal and local dialect in their response. Participants were also asked to read through a list of words which highlight individual aspects of American Dialects across the country. For instance some speakers pronounce the words “pin” and “pen” similarly, a phenomenon known as the pin-pen merger. Researchers found this pronunciation was prominent in Bakersfield due to the linguistic influence of Oklahoma natives who settled in Central Valley after the great dust bowl migration,  causing other word pairings such as “pull” and “pool”, along with “gym” and “gem” to be pronounced and sound similar in this dialect. Accent reduction training also focuses on preserving the defining  aspects of a person’s dialect, such as the pin-pen merger above, while adding a sense of clarity. The intention of accent reduction training is not to completely eliminate an accent.

Accent Reduction Training: Influence of California’s Youth

The Voices of California Project  also recorded variations in pronunciation and sentence structure amongst California’s various dialects. Here another dialect marker is seen exclusively in the central valley area region compared to the rest of the state:  the use of the word “was” in place of “were”. As in, “We was going to see the movie but then the car broke down.” Speaking in general terms, a true California accent is a hybrid  of those dialects found in the Northwest and South. Yet even this designation is an oversimplification given the  high rate at which native dialects in the region, as well as the American accent in general, are evolving. Moreover, some Californians may adopt a particular dialect or learned accent reduction techniques simply because they want to separate themselves linguistically from those around them. They consider their accent to be a small part of their personal identity. 

People can either  consciously embrace or shun native American dialects , as well as the principles taught in accent reduction training, in a phenomenon referred to as “linguistic insecurity“. A deliberate attempt to speak in a manner that goes against the stereotype assigned to them by society.

The one prevailing thought that can be gleamed from The Voices of California Project is the fact that even in areas with well defined dialect zones and a well defined general accent, such as the Midwest, human language is always evolving due to the influence of slang terms introduced by the media and members of an individual’s social circle. Therefore, you may use a different dialect around the  office than you do with your friends.  Although accent reduction training will alter the prominence of your accent to a certain degree, some aspects of it will remain and will have no bearing on the personal dialect you normally use. At Accent Pros we are committed to helping you integrate only current and relevant American idioms into your speech.

Modern technology has become such an ingrained aspect of our day to day interactions with people from both a professional and social standpoint. It’s not difficult to envision a scenario where picking up the phone and calling someone would be considered a last resort means of communication.  Socially, individuals routinely communicate via text message,  video chat service, social media, or e-mail in the name of convenience . Consequently, technology and social media are the catalyst behind the creation of new slang, terminology, and language added to American English dictionaries. Many of these phrases  enter and exit the general lexicon so rapidly that it can be difficult to keep up with the constantly evolving language. Accent Pros’ idioms series endeavors to  give our clients a working understanding of not only the most common American idioms, but also any new and important business terms suggested by our clients. Today’s post focuses on idioms related to relaxation and one’s personal ability  to perform an assigned task.

To Blow Off Steam

Definition: To relax by doing something that is fun and calming. 

Example sentence: “This week has been hectic. I’ve been working very hard. I really need a rest.”
“I need to blow off some steam, so let’s go see a movie!”

Origin: In steam heating systems and other steam powered systems such as steam train engines, boilers are a fixed occurrence. The boilers contain water heated through the burning of fuels such as oil or coal. This heated water turns into steam, which can be sent to different parts of the heating system or engine. Conversely, the steam may also be used directly to heat up the environment.

Some steam; however, tends to be left behind in the boiler. This steam, when accumulated, creates a lot of pressure. If the pressure exceeds a certain limit, the boiler may be in danger of exploding. Hence, boilers are equipped with features that allow them to “blow off steam”. Likewise, a person under much pressure needs to unwind and “blow off steam” so that he/she does not undergo a breakdown.

Worth His Salt

Definition: To be skilled or capable enough

Example sentence: Don’t worry! Any accountant worth his salt will be able to maintain your accounts.

Origin: Salt as a commodity is inexpensive today; however, this was not always the case. In earlier times, salt used to command a high price and was considered a luxury similar to silk in its value.

Before refrigerators changed the way people store and preserve food items, salt used to be the most common preservative. This ensured that the demand for salt were always fairly high. Salt as a taste enhancer also had its own importance, keeping  the demand for salt high even after the advent of refrigeration. While the demand remained high, extraction of salt remained an expensive process. Modern methods of obtaining salt have reduced the costs associated with salt extraction, but this was not the case in early times. In early times, obtaining salt from mines required huge efforts and thus was costly from a financial and time standpoint. Because of its value, salt was also used as a medium of exchange. Roman soldiers used to receive an allowance of salt as a fraction of their pay. The word “salary” is derived from the Latin word “salarium” meaning “of or pertaining to salt” providing a direct equivalence between a quantity of salt and the worth of a person.

From Stem to Stern

Definition To be thorough or complete in thought or action

Example sentence: I will search the whole house from stem to stern for my glasses!

Origin: This idiom refers to a ship. The front part of a ship is called its stem, whereas the back portion is called its stern. Thus a ship in its entirety is from stem to stern.  People use “from stem to stern” to refer to an object  in its entirety, or instances where they were thorough in thought or action.

Interested in Learning More?

This is just one entry in our continuing series on common English phrases and American Idioms. Be sure to review other posts in the series and check back often as you learn how to utilize various idioms in proper context.  If you are interested in  pronounciation lessons, take the initial steps towards clearer speech today with a complimentary accent reduction tutorial or any of our specialized online accent reduction courses for students all over the world.

If you were to scan the playlist on your personal music player, paying  attention only to how clearly the lyrics are pronounced in a given song, you’d be surprised to note that, irrespective of factors such as genre, musicianship, vocal style and melody, a singer’s native accent normally isn’t obvious when singing. Even artists who were born outside the U.S. can give the impression they are from America by singing in an accent free  voice akin to the standard American accent seen in the Midwest. However, when musicians such as Eric Clapton and U2 front man Bono are interviewed, their respective English and Irish accents become apparent. The explanation for the loss of accent occurring in the transition from speaking to singling lies in the articulation of vowels. Singing naturally causes the pharynx to widen and allow more air to enter, thereby rendering vowels  present in high notes free of linguistic traits.

Developing a Vocal Style

Melody is the most important aspect of a song in that it draws a listener’s attention when they initially hear a song and serves as the vehicle through which the song’s message is conveyed. If a listener finds a melody interesting, they are more likely to overlook any inherent flaws. Singers often subconsciously reduce their accents to suit the melody and rhythm of a song, resulting in American singers frequently dropping the “r” sound when it appears at the end of words and a non rhotic form of pronunciation.  

While some singers may drop their native accent for aesthetic purposes, British rock stars from Elton John to The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger have made  a conscious effort to nullify their native accents and increase the potential marketability of their music by singing in the style of their biggest American influences.

A slight accent can go a long way

The work of London artists such as Lilly Allen and Ian Dury has garnered worldwide sales and critical acclaim despite both singers retaining their native accents, which would  appear to run counter to the “melody is the dominant force in music and thus supersedes  native pronunciation” argument above.

Singers who choose to retain their native accent can lend their songs an authenticity that would otherwise be lost to their audiences. Indeed, Paul McCartney of the Beatles worked tirelessly to sing in an American accent before ultimately deciding it was too cumbersome. Consequently it is difficult to listen to a song such as Penny Lane, sung in a Liverpool accent that features a rounded “o” sound in  “customer” when describing the barbershop scene, and imagine it being sung any other way, as the accent is integral to the song’s “about town” feel.

In the case of country music, established conventions of the genre mandate that all singers adopt a light to heavy southern accent when singing, thus complying with the expectations of their audience. Whether they are missing or prominent, accents play a large role in our aesthetic appreciation of music as well as how we feel about particular artists.

Many of our clients at AccentPros have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language however they may not understand informal slang and the turns of phrase that are regularly used in the workplace, conversations with friends, and on various popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Occasionally our clients will understand an idioms meaning but use it in an improper context or the wrong situation, which could potentially have embarrassing consequences. In our continuing efforts to  feature only the most relevant and practical terms in our idioms series, here are some business and memory related idioms.

Armed to the Teeth

Definition: To carry a large amount of weapons

Example sentence: The men robbing the bank were armed to the teeth.

Origin: The guns of the 17th century were extremely primitive, offering just a single shot between long reloading intervals.  When pirates in Port Royal, Jamaica boarded an enemy vessel they went heavily armed, often carrying a pistol in each hand, several in the pockets and even more tucked into holsters and belts, allowing them multiple shots before they’d have to stop and reload. On such an attack hand-to-hand combat would often take place, so a weapon that required no ammunition would be useful. Therefore pirates would often hold a knife between their teeth to use when ammunition ran out.
Today the idiom ‘armed to the teeth’ is used to describe any person who is heavily armed, whether they carry guns, knives, or any other weapon.

Rings a Bell

Definition: To spark a memory

Example Sentence: I’m sure I’ve met Fredrick before. His name rings a bell.

Origin: Before clocks and watches were widely available there were very few ways to accurately measure the time other than by charting the movement of the sun across the sky. While this was accurate enough for most purposes, for events that had a definite starting time it was important that attendees arrive promptly. To solve this problem, churches and schools would signal that it was time to begin by ringing a bell that could be heard far and wide. This is the reason church towers are still built with bells and schools still signal the start and end of classes with a bell, even though we now all carry accurate timepieces. Quite literally, to ‘ring a bell’ was to act as a reminder. In modern usage, when something rings a bell it means that something triggers a memory.

In the Red

Definition: For a business or person to be in debt

Example: sentence: We’re working harder than ever, but we’re still in the red!

Origin: While the idiom itself dates back only to the beginning of the 20th century, the use of red ink in accounting has been standard practice since Medieval times. Churches (the center of literacy and numeracy in the west at the time) kept careful financial records and also used red ink to denote negative amounts. However, since ink was expensive and rare they would often instead use the blood of domesticated animals as a substitute, which only adds further negative connotations to the phrase.

Today, ‘in the red’ is used most commonly when describing a business that has fallen on hard times and is no longer turning a profit. However, it can also be used in the context of personal finance and even, occasionally, to refer to something not related to finances, such as a sports team falling behind against a competitor.

Want More Idioms?

Accent Pros has a continuing series on common English phrases and American Idioms.  Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites and learn how to pronounce them with standard American English.  Ready for an accent reduction tutorial or for a complimentary accent evaluation?  Check out the available personable on-line courses for accent reduction for students all over the world.

Many of our clients at AccentPros have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language however they may not understand informal slang and the turns of phrase that are regularly used in the workplace, conversations with friends, and on various popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Occasionally our clients will understand an idioms meaning but use it in an improper context or the wrong situation, which could potentially have embarrassing consequences. In our continuing efforts to  feature only the most relevant and practical terms in our idioms series, here are some sleep related idioms to review.

Fly by Night

Definition: A phrase used to characterize someone or something as being dishonest and having a questionable reputation.

Example sentence: Tornadoes usually bring with them a lot of fly-by-night contractors who do some shoddy work and leave before the job is complete.

Origin: The term was originally used to reproach a woman by signifying that she was a witch. By the beginning of the 19th century, it was used to describe a person, usually a swindler, who would leave hurriedly at night after carrying out a fraudulent activity. It was also applied to the practice of tenants or debtors who would flee their landlords or creditors at night. Today, it is used to refer to a person or business that operates in a dishonest fashion. Illegitimate businesses often target the elderly, believing them to be uninformed and thus susceptible to believing elaborate scams, as well as those individuals who have been displaced from their homes due to a natural catastrophe such as a tornado. Unsuspecting individuals that hire such contractors or companies are required to pay a deposit amount, after which the contractors leave without completing the task.

Goodnight, Sleep Tight

Definition:  A good omen usually said to children right before they retire to bed.

Example sentence: My mother would always tuck me in at night and say, “Goodnight, sleep tight!”

Origin: During the colonial era, mattresses were typically made from goose down feathers. Although the sleeping arrangement was generally comfortable, men often found the mattresses to be too soft. They would therefore tie ropes width-wise around the mattresses’ edges and middle and then pull them tight to condense the mattress; a tighter pull made for a firmer mattress. This meant a good night’s sleep for many, hence the common phrase.

 Burn the Midnight Oil

Definition: Working late into the night in order to complete a task or beat a deadline.

Example sentence: College students often have to burn the midnight oil during their final exams.

Origin: While most people attribute this phrase to poetry or writing, its origins  derive from religious services. In the Roman Catholic Church, oil is often used to anoint the sick, during baptism and when consecrating those being ordained to priesthood. On Holy Thursday, the Bishop of a Diocese blesses the oils that will be used in the following liturgical year. The night before, the oils remaining from the previous year are burnt at midnight in preparation for the new oils that will be blessed during the Chrism Mass. Although in the present day oils are primarily used only in emergency situations, the phrase is still used to describe going above and beyond to complete an assigned task or working late to beat a deadline. 

Interested in learning more?

This is just one entry in Accent Pros’ continuing series on common English phrases and American Idioms.  Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites and learn how to pronounce them with standard American English.  Ready for an accent reduction tutorial or for a complimentary accent evaluation?  Check out the available personable on-line courses for accent reduction for students all over the world.

Many older adults are hesitant to begin accent reduction classes because of the assumption their brain has aged beyond a stage where it is receptive to their respective second language’s inherent structure.  This is a theory which has been  reinforced throughout the years by research and the media. Consequently, those adults who ultimately decide to work towards reducing their accent do so with the feeling that they are at a disadvantage compared to younger individuals. Contrary to what you may have heard; however,  adults are capable of modifying their accents beyond adolescence using a multifaceted approach geared towards the client’s needs, which helps fortify neural connections in the brain.  Regardless of our clients ages, all of the students at Accent Pros have reduced their accent by 50% or more within twelve sessions.

Brain Plasticity

Research has documented that children lose half of their neurons before birth as the brain begins to eliminate those neurons which were not adequately stimulated in the womb. During the first month, the number of synapses within the brain grows exponentially, from fifty trillion to one quadrillion. Subsequent development occurs in the frontal cortex, the section of the brain responsible for logic and critical thinking, up until the age of ten.  This corresponds with the period that the brain is most receptive to the learning of a new language.  As mentioned in another article, children can compartmentalize information about two separate languages in simultaneous language learning. By adulthood the brain is comprised of 100 billion neurons which form a dense network known as a connectdome that is modified throughout the lifespan as the brain is exposed to new information in a variety of forms, while gradually adapting new behaviors to compensate for subtle mental and physical changes that occur with age. This new information must actively engage and challenge the brain in order for it to be retained in long term memory. Simply performing a specific mental task on a daily basis, such as a crossword puzzle, in an effort to maintain your mental acuity will have little effect

Accent Reduction Training Options

Older adults have the same options for accent reduction training as younger individuals.  You should consider confiding in a trusted friend to help you minimize your accent by giving them permission to monitor your speech and give you feedback on your accent overall.  This may take the form of something as casual as scheduling an hour a week to discuss whatever you’d like with this person. A more organized approach includes developing a long list of words and asking your friend how to pronounce them with an American accent.  An additional option includes using the website polyglotclub.com. Polyglot allows you to connect with other members who have a language or speech goal.  You could teach a native speaking American how to speak your native language in exchange for some accent reduction tips when speaking American English.  Additionally, you could consider professional accent reduction training.  Accent Pros offers a variety of programs to meet your needs.  Individual classes start at $60 per fifty minute session.

When you begin accent reduction training you may be perplexed by the fact that many English words are not spelled phonetically. Moreover, English is filled with homophones, or two words that sound alike but have divergent spellings and meanings, such as meet and meat. Although you may wish to  focus on how native speakers pronounce their words before seeing how they are transcribed in print, this can send contradictory messages. This is because there are common everyday English words that native speakers mispronounce on a  regular basis without even knowing which portion of the word or phrase is being consistently  mispronounced.

A word you mispronounce while having a casual conversation in English will not keep you from being understood, but should you mispronounce this particular word in a business setting you run the risk of drawing undue attention to your accent. Take steps toward avoiding this situation by reviewing the following examples.

Pronunciation

Ironically, the English word “pronunciation” is very difficult for a lot of non-native speakers to pronounce. Many pronounce it like “pro-nounce-iation.” They mispronounce the middle syllable of this word as “nounce” instead of “nunce.”

Probably

Many non-native speakers pronounce “probably” as “prolly” or “probly”, omitting the [ob] and [ab] sounds.  The word  is also  difficult to pronounce because it contains a combination of vowel and consonant sounds uncommon in other languages.

Suite

The word “suite” perfectly illustrates why English is a non-phonetic language. Upon seeing the word in print, both non native and native English speakers have a tendency to view the “e” as silent and pronounce the word as “suit”. However the word “suite” is pronounced exactly like the word “sweet.” Non-native speakers looking to perfect their pronunciation of particular English sounds should get in the habit of consulting the dictionary.com for any difficult words they encounter.  This resource provides an International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription and an audio example of the correct pronunciation.

Taking Control of Your Accent

 There are numerous words in the English languages that are mispronounced by native and non native speakers, yet  these variations in pronunciation are almost universally understood and occasionally accepted as part of that respective individual’s dialect. These people may be aware that they pronounce certain words differently than others; however, they are able to overcome any fear by focusing on the point they are trying to communicate rather than being self conscious about how they sound.  Having a similar attitude toward your own accent as you work towards clearer pronunciation can keep you from feeling overwhelmed during stressful speaking situations.

Accent Pros offers a Free Accent Screening.  The results provided will let you know the severity of your accent from very mild to very heavy.  The professionals at Accent Pros also offer a complimentary consultation.

Q: It looked like you almost got hit by a cyclist near the end of the Brooklyn Bridge commercial. Was that staged?

Gecko: I can see why you might think it was a stunt actor  since he yelled “Hey little guy, wake up!” as he zipped by, almost clipping my tail, instead of  letting loose with creative profanities in the New York dialect, but he was a native New Yorker.  When I first got to New York I wanted to travel like the locals by taking a taxi or riding the subway, but when I go back I’m going to travel around in a horse drawn carriage–I don’t want to become road fodder.

Q: I’ve read that Geckos can regrow tails, correct? Losing a tail wouldn’t have been that big of a career setback would it?

Gecko: Losing my tail would have been devastating, not to mention the fact it would throw off our production schedule.

Q: If your tail was cut off, would it have lurched on the ground like a horror movie prop?

Gecko:  (Adopts a Brooklyn accent) Forget about it, someone out there who would’ve come across my tail on the Brooklyn Bridge and taken it home in a freezer bag as a souvenir for their kid. Think about it! Would you rather have an I Love New York t-shirt or the frozen tail of an advertising icon?  

Q:  Since you’re a CGI character, can’t you regrow a tail in a matter of seconds?

Gecko: Who told you I’m CGI? That’s absurd! (He stormed out of our office, but returned the next day to finish his Chicago accent training.)

Is the New York accent rooted in stereotypes?

The Gecko’s use of the phrase “forgitaboutit”, which has come to epitomize the New York accent for many, raises an interesting question: What percentage of the public’s perception of the New York accent is based on linguistic stereotypes? Contrary to popular belief there is no evidence to suggest “fogettabouit”  is even a part of the native New Yorkers’ standard slang, but the 1997 film Donnie Brasco, in which Johnny Depp plays Joseph Pistone, a real life undercover FBI agent whose infiltration of the Bonnan Mafia family in the 1970′s led to the imprisonment of 120 Mafia members, permanently associated the phrase “fogetaboutit” with the mafia and New York. In the film, Depp defines the phrase as one that can be used in positive or negative contexts, including as a substitute for profanity. The distinct way the phrase is pronounced in the New York accent, with particular emphasis on producing the o sound as a hard a, suggests that this form of pronunciation may have first been used by Italian or Sicilian speakers and integrated into English.

Young children acquire languages almost effortlessly. Typically developing children under the age of three  learn new languages easily due to a process known as simultaneous second language learning, whereas older children learn a second language sequentially. Although there was once a fear that exposing a child to two separate languages in different environments would cause significant developmental delays, an infant’s brain compartmentalizes the two languages as they gain exposure. This allows the child to discern between the two languages without feeling overwhelmed. However, this does not mean that a child who is  exposed to two languages within the first  six months of life has significant future cognitive advantages over a child who is exposed to only one language.

In sequential language learning, a child initially speaks in their native language despite being surrounded by non native speakers of  the aforementioned language. They then  enter a silent period where they are reluctant to speak to those who do not speak their native language before gradually becoming  more confident in their ability to express themselves in the secondary language. Language acquisition in children occurs predominantly at an intuitive level, therefore accent reduction programs alone are not useful for young children.  Alternatively, many adolescents excel during accent reduction classes.

Maintaining a Linguistic Identity

As a non-native English speaker and parent, you may be concerned that any action taken towards supporting your child’s accent reduction when speaking American English will cause them to lose a vital part of their self identity. Central to accent reduction therapy is the understanding that one’s native accent is an important part of self identity and the goal is not to eliminate one’s native  accent when speaking their native language,  but rather to lessen or eliminate the accent when speaking American English. Sessions are modified to meet the specific needs of the individual and only proceeds if both parents and the adolescent are comfortable with the accent modifications that are being made when speaking American English.

In English there are two  articles, the indefinite and the definite article. The indefinite articles are “a” and “an”, used before consonant and vowel sounds respectively. The definite article is “the”, and is used in writing  consistently before consonant and vowel sounds.

The definite article is usually used when the listener or reader can identify the person, object or place being talked about. For example: “The man next to you is from Japan.” In this sentence, the listener can understand that the speaker is talking about a specific person sitting next to him or her. It is also used when the thing being talked about has already been mentioned.

 For example: “I have a cat. The cat is fluffy.” Here the listener understands the speaker’s cat is fluffy, while  also inferring the speaker is not  applying this adjective to cats in general. The definite article is also used to talk about a single entity of a particular type. For example, it wouldn’t be wrong to speak of our sun as “the sun”. However, if we had two moons,  we wouldn’t be speaking of either of the two moons as “the moon”. Notice that it is correct to use “the” for both moons together.

Examining the Definite Article

 The definite article “the” is widely mispronounced by native and non native English speakers. This mispronunciation occurs because the speaker is either unaware of the two distinct pronunciations for the definitive article “the” or doesn’t wish to differentiate between them when appropriate. Nevertheless, there are two ways to pronounce the article “the” using either the weak or strong form of pronunciation, with the weak form of the article being pronounced as a “thuh” using the neutralized schwa sound as in the word pup.  By contrast, the strong pronunciation of the definite article is pronounced exactly like the word “thee”, which rhymes with “bee”, “me”, and “see”.

“The” is pronounced weakly with words that begin with a consonant e.g. the lady, the White House etc., or a vowel that sounds like a consonant e.g. the university, the European etc. Conversely, the strong pronunciation of “the” is used before words that begin with a vowel e.g. the oranges, the apples, the able bodied man etc., or a consonant that sounds like a vowel e.g. the hour, the heir apparent, the honest man etc.

A Matter of Emphasis

The strong pronunciation of “the” is also used to put stress on the succeeding word e.g. “I met Mr. Obama today.” “Surely, you don’t mean the President”. Here “President” is stressed even further by using the strong “the”. Unlike the indefinite articles which differ in their spelling and are thus altogether completely different in verbal and written contexts, the definite article “the” is singular in written English. There is no change in the way we write “the” in “the apple” or “the cottage”. Notice that while we pronounce both definite articles differently, the spelling of both them is the same.

Definition: To wish/pray for the best possible outcome.

Example sentence: Jill waited for her exam results with crossed fingers.

Origin: In the early days of the church, crossed fingers were used as a symbol for the cross. These were thought to invoke the power of the cross to guard against evil. This symbol became so popular that, while being persecuted by Romans, Christians used to recognize each other and assemble for services with this hand gesture. Slowly, the usage of the gesture changed, though it was always considered as a form of protection against evil and bad luck. In the sixteenth century, Christians–especially in England–crossed their fingers to ward off evil as well as to protect against illness and disease. Crossed fingers were made especially when people coughed or sneezed. During the eighteenth century, crossed fingers also came to be associated with averting bad luck, and were most popularly made to avert the bad luck thought to be brought on by walking under a ladder.

Knee jerk reaction

Definition: An impulse/reflex action

Example  sentence: Oh, I am so sorry I hit you. It was a knee jerk reaction.

Origin: The jerking of the knee is a well recorded reflex action in anatomy. When hit by a blunt object  just below the kneecap, a person’s leg will jerk forward immediately. This reaction does not involve the brain, and as such it is a completely involuntary reflex reaction. The idiom thus captures in essence an action that is unintended but occurs as a reflex to some action. This reaction was first recorded in mass print media in 1877 by Sir Michael Foster in his book “Textbook of Physiology”. It was incorporated in common usage by the early 20th century. The phenomenon became so popular that comedic television and radio segments often depicted a doctor performing a concussion test on their patient utilizing only the patellar reflex test.

Pass the Buck

Definition: To avoid responsibility by forcing the burden on to an often unknowing and unwilling individual

Example sentence: Stop passing the buck. You should learn to accept responsibility for your mistakes.

Origin: In poker, the chance to be the dealer was indicated by a token or a counter. This counter was popularly called the “buck”. If a person who had this “buck” didn’t wish to deal, he would pass it ahead, thus relieving himself of the duty of dealing. While passing the buck wasn’t viewed in a negative sense by others within the poker world, in day to day usage “passing the buck” acquired a negative connotation. “Passing the buck” came to mean ducking responsibility. With the passage of time, other usages also came to be associated with the phrase. These included avoiding responsibility, making or allowing someone else take the blame for one’s personal actions, and giving another person more responsibility than they are physically capable of handling out of spite.

Searching for Lincoln’s True Voice

The first phonograph (a device to record and playback sounds) was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in 1877, twelve years after  the death of Abraham Lincoln. As such, no recording of Abraham Lincoln’s legendary speeches exists  to highlight those variables which contributed to Lincoln’s status as one of the great orators.

 Based on the stature and voices of 19th century politicians (as illustrated by available recordings at that time) one would assume that Abraham Lincoln had a bass voice, or  a deep baritone. However leading Lincoln scholar Howard Holzer believes the majority of politicians in the 1850′s gained a reputation as having “centurion, basso profundo” voices. This view has been further propagated by casting choices of popular films and television serials like the 1980′s mini-series The Blue and the Gray starring Gregory Peck as Lincoln.  This “vocal template”, followed by all of Lincoln’s portrayals on stage and screen until Daniel Day-Lewis in the 2012 biographical film “Lincoln”, may have originated in a 1898 gramophone recording of actor William H. Hooley reading The Gettysburg Address. Dooley imbues Lincoln’s most famous speech with overwrought dramatics, giving each line an underlining profundity which, combined with Hooley’s hybrid British/Irish accent, obscures the more subtle points found in the document.

Scholars who have studied Lincoln’s delivery believe his voice was mildly shrill, though Holtzer says it was never perceived as disturbing or unpleasant. According to personal accounts from the era, many who heard Lincoln for the first time initially had a difficult time comprehending what was being said. Despite this, the contents of his speeches  were so powerful that audiences were easily captivated. Lincoln’s native accent was a blend of Indiana and Kentucky, clearly evident from the way he spelled words like inaugural as “inaugerel”.  An obvious misspelling, yet one that is rooted in phonetics and may suggest that Lincoln deliberately misspelled particular words so as to underscore the emphasis of these words within the context of a complete speech, or to let more of his natural dialect  through, thus making more of a personal connection with his audience.

The tempo of Lincoln’s speeches was usually faster than what most television representations would have us believe. Lincoln’s words did not need a heavy, brooding and serious voice to convey their sincerity, for they encouraged everyone within earshot to consider the possible implications of what was being said and to draw their own conclusions.

Can this film change widespread assumptions about Lincoln’s voice?

Daniel Day-Lewis’  interpretation of the former President’s voice in the 2012 film : “Lincoln” has generated a fair amount of criticism from early reviewers who thought Lincoln should have a deeper, commanding voice. However, if historical evidence is any indication,  Lewis’ Lincoln voice is accurate.
To suggest the myth surrounding Lincoln’s voice will be broken by this film alone may be wishful thinking by many experts, but this film does break new ground by challenging traditional linguistic assumptions. If you feel that you are being consistently undermined by those around you in a corporate environment due to stereotypes associated with your accent, you may want to consider accent reduction therapy. Accent reduction reduction therapy will give you a working understanding of those sounds which you consistently mispronounce and empower you to regularly interact with native English speakers, rapidly increasing your vocabulary without the need for monotonous drills.

Foreign demand to learn American standard English , featuring distinct accent and pronunciation characteristics, continues to grow exponentially. This is due to the pervasiveness of American culture in forms of mass media. The question of whether a foreign student of world languages should learn Standard American English or British English is largely determined by where they will be living for a given period, and the form of English used by their associates. Researchers  have argued  that trying to teach a standardized  English complete with agreed upon words and phrases is impossible, and ignores contributions made to the language by dialects all over the world. An oversight of this magnitude could cause individuals unfamiliar with the cultures that spawned these dialects to make stereotypical  assumptions about speakers whose speech is laden with dialect and phrasing

Many people want to learn the American way of speaking with the hopes of landing a job in a multinational company based in the United States or a job within the United States itself. There are many personal and career advantages that can be attained if one dedicates themselves to mastering the American accent.

Some Differences Between American and British English

Some British English speakers find the  American English accent to be slower and nasally in contrast to the standard British dialect. Most notably, the letter r in the American accent is clearly evident at the end of words. This emphasis on the r means that Americans speak with rhotic accents while the British speak with nonrhotic accents. Thus, anyone used to speaking British English who wishes  to get rid of their accent must practice the rhotic style of speaking and learn how to pronounce the hard [r] sound at the end of words such as “car”

British and American English also features minor differences in their respective written grammatical structure and vocabulary.  British and American interpretations of the language exhibit inconsistencies as to whether verbs should follow regular or irregular conjugations, causing past tense and past tense participle verbs in American English, such as learn, burn, dream and smell, to be irregular in British English,  (learnt).  American English tends to adhere to phonetic spellings of certain words and eliminate unnecessary letters, whereas British English preserves the old English spelling of words out of a sense of tradition. Finally, British English utilizes modal verbs during the construction of normal phrases (“shan’t we be  leaving so we’re not late?”). In American English, use of modal verbs is seen as antiquated and improper.

Learning American Intonation and Pronunciation

Successful adoption of the American accent requires that an individual know the many rules that govern the American accent. This not only includes proper intonation and pronunciation but also slang and diction. While there are many websites dedicated to accent reduction, it is far more effective to enroll in a comprehensive accent reduction program overseen by a professional.

Do you have an accent when you speak? Would you like to know how to develop an American accent? Most non-native English speakers speak using accented English, the prominence of which is influenced by a variety of factors.  Most individuals are unaware of how mild or heavy their accent would be rated by native Americans. If others have difficulty understanding what you’ve said, then you have an accent that could be hindering your career and social communication. If you keep getting confused looks and requests to repeat yourself at the office, your have accent may be causing the problem.  Although many individuals are fond of certain accents, many are frustrated when misunderstandings occur.

While your accent may sound charming and even exotic to some people in an informal setting, it may become a source of frustration to you as less qualified colleagues earn promotions ahead of you at work. Being self conscious about your foreign accent might also suggest a reduced self confidence. Shyness and anxiety are just two of the results from speaking with an accent.

Accent Reduction Strategies

How do you get rid of your accent? Some recommended strategies include:

1.  Watch television and listen to radio stations. Watching television and mimicking how the characters speak is fun and helps you achieve an American accent. The same holds true when you listen to radio shows.
2.  Consistently interact with native American English Speakers. This strategy allows you to listen closely to how they speak, the tone of their voice, and how they use language. Try to mimic their pronunciation of words and phrases  when you speak. You can also try speaking English at home when you are with family instead of conversing in your native language.
3. Improve your vocabulary. Keep a journal and jot down at least ten words or phrases daily. Practice proper pronunciation and try using the words and phrases during the course of the day.

Remember that language is a tool that you use to convey information to the listener. Language conveys what you want, how you feel, what you’d like the other person to do, and so on. In addition, the context of a given conversation is largely dictated by tone of voice. Therefore even if you pronounce each word distinctly and correctly, there is a good chance your speech will come across as stilted if you speak in a monotone voice. Having a non-standard American accent limits your audience’s ability to understand what you are trying to convey to them. In turn, this puts a strain on you.

The power of accent reduction therapy

When you’re struggling with the difficulties that come from having a pronounced accent and can’t seem to incorporate the aforementioned techniques into your speech consistently, in both professional and social settings , you have the option of taking accent reduction classes. While you may think that taking accent reduction classes to learn the standard American accent is time consuming and difficult, this is not so. These days, there are many accent reduction resources you can access online to help you improve the way you communicate and eliminate problems associated with accented speech.
The overall of effectiveness of American Accent training works is heightened when used in conjunction with with the tips illustrated above. You get specific courses tailored specifically for your level. You also get specially designed strategies and shortcuts to develop American accent fast in the privacy of your home. That saves you time as and also gives you the opportunity to  practice what you’ve learned without fear of embarrassing yourself.
You owe it to yourself to be a success. Reduce your accent and be more confident. Develop an American accent today and enroll  online for an accent reduction class and American accent training!

Definition: To take an alternative route or  find a faster way to complete a task. Normally said with the implication that the outcome will prove to be detrimental because of the proposed  shortcuts. It is commonly used in financial situations.

Example Sentence : This is not a race; you have to check your work. If you continue to cut corners like that, you will leave too many mistakes.

Origin: It is believed that this idiom came from the pre-automotive stagecoach world. To get to a particular location more quickly, carriage drivers would often “cut” across corners by moving diagonally rather than approaching a corner and turning, saving time but also risking the chance the carriage could be overturned or involved in a serious accent.

Kill Two Birds with One Stone

 Definition: When two goals are accomplished with the same effort that it would take to accomplish one of those goals.

Example Sentence: I had to finish my homework and ride an hour back home so I decided to kill two birds with one stone and do my homework on the bus.

Origin: Slingshots are used among hunters for the added challenge the instrument brings to the hunting act. Being able to kill two birds with a single stone using a slingshot is the hallmark of a quality marksman, as one must have complete control over the slingshot to fire it with the precision required to kill a bird with a single stone. The term dates back to the 1600′s as a way of degrading philosophers who tried to draw connections between arguments where none existed. The phrase is now used whenever someone is proud of accomplishing two set goals at once with minimal effort.

The Best of Both Worlds

Definition:  To enjoy two favorable outcomes that stem from one choice or event. Normally used when both outcomes are not possible and implies that an individual or company will have to make some form of a difficult sacrifice for the greater good.

Example Sentence: We can go to the party tonight or get up early to go fishing tomorrow, but we can’t have the best of both worlds.

Origin: It is believed that this idiom came from the French writer and philosopher Voltaire (1694-1778). Voltaire is said to have had a heavy influence on the English’s opinion of the French and the English language of today. The first reference of this phrase was believed to have appeared in his novel ‘Candide’.

Want More Idioms?

Accent Pros has a continuing series on common English phrases and American Idioms.  Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites and learn how to pronounce them with standard American English.  Ready for an accent reduction tutorial or a complimentary accent screening?  Check out the private on-line courses for accent reduction designed for students all over the world.

Foreign students attending American schools often feel left out in classroom discussions, group activities and even social events . If you are a foreign exchange student having difficulty adjusting to life abroad, American accent training can help you address the accent  and dialect challenge you face.
Well educated students who come to America from around the world frequently discover that, although they may have a firm grasp of the English language in its written form, they struggle to comprehend fast paced discussions that occur in the classroom, where American slang and colloquial language are bound to be used by native students caught up in conversation. American accent training will help you differentiate between formal English and American slang and determine in what contexts the usage of various terms is appropriate.

 What to Look for in Accent Reduction Training

The five main areas of American accent training are:

1. Determination of factors contributing to your accent
2. Accurate pronunciation of vowels & consonants
3. Identifying and improving stress & intonation
4. Spelling & phonetics rules as they relate to pronunciation
5. Personalized instruction for industry specific language

As mentioned above, it is important to continually compare and contrast the way English words are written and pronounced, considering how often  the spelling and pronunciation of particular English words diverge. This strategy includes both auditory and visual learning.  Individuals who learned to read a first language before learning to speak  American English tend to use the phonetic rules of their native language or languages, which is one factor that creates the accent.

Individuals can get an idea how their accent may be limiting them before beginning accent reduction  classes by identifying which sounds they consistently mispronounce. Using this information, accent instructors reinforce proper pronunciation by asking students to read extended passages of text aloud and highlighting words that feature these sounds.  By focusing on three to five troublesome sounds a week, students gradually develop their skill for speaking English with an American accent

Dealing with American idioms

Idioms and English phrases are two other areas of difficulty for foreign students. Accent training combined with a thorough understanding of common English phrases, idioms, and figurative language provides students with a clear understanding of not only how to speak with an American accent, but also how to develop accurate colloquial language skills.

Keep your Eyes Peeled

Definition: A cautionary expression indicating that one should be on alert for someone or something

Example sentence: “Abby called me the other day telling me to keep my eyes peeled for any ceramic turtle collections under 50 dollars on eBay. I’m starting to worry about her.”

Origin: The word peel is a modern form of the verb pill, meaning “to plunder” hence the word soon became the prefix of  pillage, itself a form of the Latin word pilare, meaning to subtly steal or cheat one’s way through an endeavor in a manner similar in meaning to words such as “fleece” and “pluck”.

At the onset of the 17th century “pill” began to take on an alternate spelling– peel–conjuring to mind images of wind gusts relentlessly pounding a structure until it disintegrates, leaving only fragments behind.  The phrase began to be used in its current context and spelling around 1850 in America as a way of reminding others to remain vigilant for any suspicious activity.

Take a knee

Definition: To avoid responsibility or politely decline an invitation

Example Sentence: The coach asked the team to take a knee during their time out

Origin: Taking a knee is another example of a well known American sports term that has become confusing to many non- native English speakers after crossing over into the realm of American business terminology, where it can have a positive or negative connotation depending on the context in which it’s used. In American football, coaches and players sometimes refer to this action as a “kneel down” or “victory formation”. In game situations where one team has the lead over the other and is in possession of the ball with only a few seconds on the clock, the coach may elect to have the quarterback “take a knee” immediately after receiving the snap because it allows the team currently ahead to run out the game clock, assuming the opposing team doesn’t have any timeouts with which to stop the clock, and win the game without risk of the opposing team ever repossessing the ball. Football coaches may also force a player to “take a knee” by pulling them from the game due to continued poor or lackadaisical play, or in other cases ask all of his players to kneel as they recite a game day speech or diagram a play during a timeout, as this considered a symbol of team unity.

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Accent Pros has a continuing series on common English phrases and American Idioms.  Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites and learn how to pronounce them with standard American English.  Ready for an accent reduction tutorial or a complimentary accent screening?  Check out the private on-line courses for accent reduction designed for students all over the world.

The Jury is Still Out

Definition :  An indication that a decision has not been reached on a particular issue, mainly due to lack of evidence.

Example: The jury is still out on whether the majority of the office thinks Gatorade is superior to Powerade.

Origin:  The use of “the jury is still out” has been used in a legal context for over 150 years in the newspaper business after gaining popularity among editors as an efficient, attention grabbing headline. In the modern era it is more often used in reference to generic quandaries with no inherent moral dilemma present, for instance “the jury is still out on whether I’m going to see that movie this weekend.”
In 1959 the world was captivated by the trial of Los Angeles surgeon Bernard Finch, who was tried before a jury on charges that he conspired with his receptionist/lover to murder his wife. A guilty verdict was finally reached after three years and three trials. Each trial featured prolonged deliberations which tested the patience of those looking for both justice and a resolution, causing uninspired headline writers to recycle “the jury is still out” repeatedly instead of coming up with a headline which would communicate any new or interesting developments in the case. Thus the phrase took on a wider applicability.

Put a Sock in it

Definition: An informal way of telling another individual to stop talking, although this is considered rude when said outside a group of friends or family members.

Example sentence: I told you getting the families together for a weekend game of competitive croquet was a bad idea.”
“Put a sock in it, will you?”

Origin: It is a widely held belief this expression derives from a technique created by exasperated listeners to muffle the sounds coming from early gramophone machines–which had no volume control– whereby they would roll up a disposable sock and throw it into the horn protruding out of the player. This phrase appeared in an August 8, 1919 edition of London’s The Athenaeum newspaper, which defined it as a way of telling someone to stop talking, singing or shouting.
Australian Fredric Manning’s 1929 WWI novel The Middle Parts of Fortune, chronicling Manning’s experience fighting as part of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, features numerous instances of soldiers telling their corporal to “put a sock in it” after he suggests momentarily conceding to their enemy as an act of self preservation, though the text is more well known for having to be published after Manning’s death due to its vulgarity. Nevertheless the word probably originated among the ranks of those serving during World War I, eventually becoming more commonplace in the soldiers’ respective home countries when they returned from the war.

 On the QT

Definition: A command to not talk about a private topic around certain people until further notice

Example: I heard a rumor Jose is looking to trade Chris Johnson from his fantasy football team, but keep it on the QT.

Origin: On the QT was coined in the U.S. during the 18th century, an era that also gave rise to other abbreviated expressions that people now take for granted as a socially acceptable way of expressing a particular idea, often with little to no knowledge of what words are being abbreviated or their meanings. Robert Hendrickson, author of The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, revealed the first known example of this phrase comes from an 1870 British ballad “Whatever I tell you on the QT” The Oxford English Dictionary refutes this assertion, claiming it appeared in an 1884 story by George Moore, “It will be possible to have one spree on the strict q.t.”
As for what QT actually stands for, it is likely an abbreviated form of the word quiet, giving an already private matter another layer of significance, however arbitrary.

Want More Idioms?

Accent Pros has a continuing series on common English phrases and American Idioms.  Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites and learn how to pronounce them with standard American English.  Ready for an accent reduction tutorial or a complimentary accent screening?  Check out the private on-line courses for accent reduction designed for students all over the world.

When you try to hide your accent, you become overwhelmed.

When you become overwhelmed, you start to believe in fate.

When you start to believe in fate, you seek out a palm reader.

When you seek out a palm reader, you discover you have a repressed fear of driving.

When you discover you have a repressed fear of driving, you ride your bicycle to work.

When you ride your bicycle to work, you read ambiguous signs.

And when you read ambiguous signs, you become a nature documentary extra

Don’t become a nature documentary extra . Get rid of your accent and schedule an appointment with Accent Pros.

The rationale behind the accepted pronunciation goes a long way back to the etymology of the word. In Old English, “of” is a preposition that meant “away’ or “away from”. In German vocabulary, it is known as “ab”. Similarly, “ab” in German functions as an adverb or as a preposition. For example, the question “ab wann?” in German is translated to “of when?” in English.  The Old English definition of the word “of” shifted as it was used to translate the Latin word “de”. The word” de” was used to substitute for the genitive case. In Latin, “ab” also meant “from”. A classic example would be the phrase “ab initio” which in essence meant “from the beginning”. This word came around 1600 AD.

In modern day American English, the word “of” is used as a preposition or function word that denotes distance (south of Asia), cause (died of cholera), materials (made of paper), or possession (land of the duke) among many examples. The pronunciation is unstressed which is an important element that should be considered when studying American pronunciation.  When learning English pronunciation, English Language Learners (ELL) quickly realize American English words are not phonetic, meaning not all words are pronounced as spelled. Indeed, the word “of” is spelled with an [F] but pronounced with a /v/ sound.

Hence, American English pronunciation is interesting, but challenging, particularly for non-native speakers.  The language presents unique challenges when it comes to pronunciation. English words have many atypical nuances that often make pronouncing words challenging. For this reason, it is important to consult native speakers or other authorities on pronunciation when learning to speak American English.   Please consider taking a Free Screening from Accent Pros to determine the severity of your accent and get some tips on what you may need to improve upon.  You may decide to take a few private classes with a professional.