What does an American accent sound like to somone from another English speaking country?
This is something I've always wondered... What do American accents sound like to other people? I can't tell, because I'm American myself, but I'd like to have a different opinion. I know this can be hard to explain, but please give it your best try.
For example: To me English accents (my favorite sounding type of accent) sound like the speaker talks "up", like their voice is higher/lighter and they don't fully pronounce some letters or they pronounce them differently. I know that's probably not a good example, but if anyone is willing to try, I'd really appreciate it. I'm just wondering out of my own curiosity, it's something I've thought about a lot...LOL. Also, don't worry about different things like "Southern Accent" vs "New York Accent" just a basic American accent. Thanks!
2007-11-08T10:55:49Z
To :o;X
Sorry my example wasn't so great, I tried my best to explain what I mean, so I could give an example of what kind of answers I was hoping to get. We don't fully pronounce some letters either, just different ones. Please don't take offense.
Zephyr2007-11-08T10:37:12Z
Favorite Answer
That's a good question and it IS really hard to answer online. I've often wondered the same thing myself. I asked some people in the past and this is what they told me:
* To people who speak English (like the British or Australians), American accents sound sort of lazy. We "half" pronounce words and cut off the endings, i.e. nothin' vs. nothing. We talk a little slower and more in our throats. It sounds like we're swallowing our words while we talk.
* To people in other countries who don't understand English, Americans sound like we are eating our words and gnashing our mouths when we talk. I'll try to give an example and not sound like a complete racist. If you don't speak Chinese but hear someone from China speaking it might sound like "ching chong chow mein". Well, my friend from Brazil says it sounds like Americans are saying "nation station creation". Apparently we use "ation" a lot. And she said Americans talk really fast.
Do you mean if someone from like Australia hears an American speaking? Well that would depend on what part of the US you're from. Like New Jerseyians [lol] would not have the same accent as someone from California or someone from Tennessee. But collectively I heard we speak too loudly and very nasal sounding.
My 3 step children- ages 13, 16, and 19, who were born and raised in Great Britian, says that our American English accent sounds LAZY. They are my husband s children from a previous marriage and once a year we fly them here for a month. Whereas I believe my English to be very proper; for I m an English instructor and tutor; having majored in English, they tell me that I have a lovely voice, but it doesn t sound proper.
Wow, these are good answers. I must have the most annoying American accent ever. I have that super flat A sound and I know I swallow a lot of the syllables when I speak. Guess I need to get some speech training!
What do you mean we don't pronounce some letters. Do Americans pronounce all letters like in "knife" What do you mean by basic accent? Northern people don't tend to have "higher/lighter" voices.
Your probably thinking of RP Accent and that isnt really deep etc so most people can understand. Just remember that one language can have many different style/sounds. Of course we will pronounce words differently everyone does.