Chapter 3

Please note that the labels on each recording (for example, "Chicago English" or "Black English") were provided by the person who made the recording available for you to listen to. Other linguists or individuals may not agree on the description as it stands. The best example of this: you'll note that some recordings are marked "general" American, which is problematic for the same reasons the term "standard" English is problematic.

Audio Examples

Audio

Accent	Chapter	Page #	Online Example Title	URL
American English	3	73	International Dialects of English Archive: General American	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/general-american
Kansas	3	74	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects of Kansas	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/kansas
Maine	3	74	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects of Maine	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/maine
New Orleans	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana One A (African-American male, New Orleans, born 1972, actor/teacher) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana One B (African-American male, New Orleans, born 1972, actor/teacher) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Two (African-American female, New Orleans, born 1985, college student) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Three (African-American female, New Orleans, born 1985, college student)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-1a http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-1b http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-3
Appalachian	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Three (white female, born 1950, farm in NE Alabama) International Dialects of English Archive: West Virginia One (male, 70s, Crab Apple, WV) The Speech Accent Archive: English 381	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/west-virginia-1 http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=1324
Utah	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects of Utah	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/utah
Native American	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: Alaska One (Tlingit female, Juneau, AK, age 66, artist) International Dialects of English Archive: Alaska Two (Yup'ik male, Kipnuk, AK, age 67, government office manager) International Dialects of English Archive: Alaska Three (Yup'ik female, Gambell, AK, age 57, culture host) International Dialects of English Archive: Alaska Four (Tsimpshean male, Ketchikan, AK, age 24, sales manager) International Dialects of English Archive: Montana One (Blackfeet female, Browning, MT, age 50, phone operations manager) International Dialects of English Archive: New Mexico Two (Native American female, Isleta, NM, born 1943) International Dialects of English Archive: New Mexico Three (Zuni male, Gallup, NM, born 1972) International Dialects of English Archive: New Mexico Four (Native American female, Isleta, NM, born 1937) International Dialects of English Archive: Oklahoma Eleven (Native American male, Oklahoma City, born 1961, book clerk) International Dialects of English Archive: South Dakota One (Native American female, age 22, Vermillion, SD, college student)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alaska-1 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alaska-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alaska-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alaska-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/montana-1 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-mexico-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-mexico-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-mexico-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/oklahoma-11 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/south-dakota-1
Black	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Four (African-American female, born 1928, Chambers County, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Nine (African-American female, born 1942, Tuskeehee, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Thirteen (African-American male, age 20, Montgomery, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Illinois Four (African-American female, age 23, theater student) International Dialects of English Archive: Kentucky Four (African-American female age 19, Paducah, KY) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana One A (African-American male, born 1972, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Two (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Three (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Michigan Nine (African-American male, born 1984, Detroit, MI, student) International Dialects of English Archive: Mississippi Three (African-American male, sixties, Grenada, MS) International Dialects of English Archive: North Carolina Five (African-American male, 30s, Winston-Salem, NC) International Dialects of English Archive: South Carolina Four (African-American female, born 1986, Florence, SC) International Dialects of English Archive: Texas Seventeen (African-American male, raised in Texas)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-13 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/illinois-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/kentucky-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/Louisiana-1a http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/michigan-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/mississippi-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-5 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/texas-17
Jewish	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: Illinois Seven (Jewish female, Chicago, IL born 1952) International Dialects of English Archive: New York Five (white male, Jewish, Queens, born 1947) International Dialects of English Archive: New York Six (white female, Jewish, Queens, born 1947) International Dialects of English Archive: New York Seven (white male, Jewish, Bronx, born 1940) International Dialects of English Archive: New York Eight (white female, Jewish, Bronx, born 1943) International Dialects of English Archive: New York Thirteen (white male, Jewish, Manhattan, born 1975) International Dialects of English Archive: Pennsylvania Two (Jewish female, Philadelphia, PA, 70s, retired) International Dialects of English Archive: Pennsylvania Three (white female, Russian-Jewish, Philadelphia, PA, 40s, executive secretary)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/illinois-7 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-5 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-6 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-7 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-8 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-13 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/pennsylvania-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/pennsylvania-3
AAE	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Four (African-American female, born 1928, Chambers County, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Nine (African-American female, born 1942, Tuskeehee, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Thirteen (African-American male, age 20, Montgomery, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Illinois Four (African-American female, age 23, theater student) International Dialects of English Archive: Kentucky Four (African-American female age 19, Paducah, KY) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana One A (African-American male, born 1972, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Two (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Three (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Michigan Nine (African-American male, born 1984, Detroit, MI, student) International Dialects of English Archive: Mississippi Three (African-American male, sixties, Grenada, MS) International Dialects of English Archive: North Carolina Five (African-American male, 30s, Winston-Salem, NC) International Dialects of English Archive: South Carolina Four (African-American female, born 1986, Florence, SC) International Dialects of English Archive: Texas Seventeen (African-American male, raised in Texas)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-13 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/illinois-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/kentucky-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/Louisiana-1a http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/michigan-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/mississippi-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-5 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/texas-17
Cockney	3	75	International Dialects of English Archive: England Forty Two (white male, born 1957, London) International Dialects of English Archive: England Fifty Nine (white male, born 1962, London)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/england-42 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/england-59
Gullah	3	75	NPR story 'New Testament' Translated into Gullah	http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5283230
Welsh accent	3	76	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects of Wales	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/wales
Tagalog accent	3	76	The Speech Accent Archive: Tagalog 1-7	http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=find&language=tagalog
British accent	3	77	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects and Accents of England	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/england
Brooklyn	3	77	International Dialects of English Archive: New York Four (white male, Brooklyn/Bronx age 20) International Dialects of English Archive: New York Eleven (Italian-American male, Brooklyn/Queens, born 1954) International Dialects of English Archive: New York Sixteen (African-American female, Brooklyn, born 1967)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-11 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york-16
Hawai'i Creole	3	78	Language Varieties: Kent Sakoda speaks Hawai'i Creole English	http://www.hawaii.edu/satocenter/langnet/sounds/hcesound.html
Hawai'ian accent	3	78	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects of Hawaii	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/hawaii
Cincinnati	3	80	International Dialects of English Archive: Ohio Six (Caucasian female, age 21, Cincinnati, OH)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/ohio-6
African American English Vernacular	3	80	International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Four (African-American female, born 1928, Chambers County, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Nine (African-American female, born 1942, Tuskeehee, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Thirteen (African-American male, age 20, Montgomery, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Illinois Four (African-American female, age 23, theater student) International Dialects of English Archive: Kentucky Four (African-American female age 19, Paducah, KY) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana One A (African-American male, born 1972, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Two (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Three (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Michigan Nine (African-American male, born 1984, Detroit, MI, student) International Dialects of English Archive: Mississippi Three (African-American male, sixties, Grenada, MS) International Dialects of English Archive: North Carolina Five (African-American male, 30s, Winston-Salem, NC) International Dialects of English Archive: South Carolina Four (African-American female, born 1986, Florence, SC) International Dialects of English Archive: Texas Seventeen (African-American male, raised in Texas)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-13 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/illinois-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/kentucky-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/Louisiana-1a http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/michigan-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/mississippi-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-5 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/texas-17
Georgia	3	83	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects of Georgia	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/georgia
African American variety of English	3	83	International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Four (African-American female, born 1928, Chambers County, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Nine (African-American female, born 1942, Tuskeehee, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Alabama Thirteen (African-American male, age 20, Montgomery, AL) International Dialects of English Archive: Illinois Four (African-American female, age 23, theater student) International Dialects of English Archive: Kentucky Four (African-American female age 19, Paducah, KY) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana One A (African-American male, born 1972, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Two (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Louisiana Three (African-American female, born 1985, New Orleans, LA) International Dialects of English Archive: Michigan Nine (African-American male, born 1984, Detroit, MI, student) International Dialects of English Archive: Mississippi Three (African-American male, sixties, Grenada, MS) International Dialects of English Archive: North Carolina Five (African-American male, 30s, Winston-Salem, NC) International Dialects of English Archive: South Carolina Four (African-American female, born 1986, Florence, SC) International Dialects of English Archive: Texas Seventeen (African-American male, raised in Texas)	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama-13 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/illinois-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/kentucky-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/Louisiana-1a http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-2 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/louisiana-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/michigan-9 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/mississippi-3 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-5 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/north-carolina-4 http://www.dialectsarchive.com/texas-17
New York variety of English	3	83	International Dialects of English Archive: Dialects of New York	http://www.dialectsarchive.com/new-york

Discussion questions

1. Listen to the clips of speakers from Maine*, New Orleans*, Appalachia*, and Utah* as well as the clips of Native American*, African American*, and Jewish* speakers. Do you think you could have identified where the first group of speakers are from? Could you have identified the second group of speakers’ ethnicities? If so, what features do you think indicate geographical region or ethnicity? If not, why not? Is it a simple matter to identify a speaker’s geographical region or ethnicity from voice alone?

2. Listen to a selection of the clips that demonstrate the language varieties mentioned in this chapter and revisit the definitions of language, dialect and accent discussed on pages 44–46. Can all of these language varieties be considered dialects or are some just slang or bad English? Consider this question from page 46:

Why do people call the variety of English that many African Americans speak Black slang (or a Black accent or African American English) but call Cockney and Gullah dialects?

3. Listen to a selection of the clips that demonstrate the language varieties mentioned in this chapter. What do you think about these accents being used by famous figures or news anchors? Would any of these accents impede a person’s career in politics or broadcast media in your area? Why or why not?

Videos

On the rise: Accent reduction classes
ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/rise-accent-reduction-classes-10521083

This video provides material for discussion of expectations surrounding L1 and L2 accents in the workplace and accent reduction courses.

Discussion question

1. What assumptions underlie this story regarding accents in the workplace and the effectiveness of accent reduction courses?

Further Resources

Derwing, T. and Munro, M. (2008) Putting Accent in Its Place: Rethinking Obstacles to Communication. Language Teaching 42(4): 476–490.

Munro, M. (2003) A Primer on Accent Discrimination in the Canadian Context. TESL Canada Journal 20(2): 38–51.

Munro, M., Derwing, T., and Sato, K. (2006) Salient Accents, Covert Attitudes: Consciousness-Raising for Pre-Service Second Language Teachers. Prospect 21(1): 67–79.

Images

An advertisement that encourages people to learn French rather than trying to understand people with French accents
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/assets_c/2008/12/french-ads-n112-thumb-200x250.jpg

An advertisement for a pronunciation coaching class that promises wealth, power, and position to people who can speak like James Bond
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3640011801_f172cf3e1b.jpg

Links

“Thanksgiving Variation”
Language Log
Posted by Mark Liberman, November 23, 2007
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/005147.html

RSS & Blogs

Accent Reduction: Accent Reduction and American Accent Training: http://www.accurateenglish.blogspot.com/
Separated by a Common Language: http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/
Language Log: http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/