Accent mapping 1: The American Accent

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

On the agenda:

1. Refresh our knowledge of connected speech strategies.

2. Recognize connected speech strategies in the American accent.

3. Reproduce connected speech in the American accent.

connected speech

Softening...

A connected speech strategy that softens consonants like the 't' and the 's.' 

The Glottal stop is...

a connected speech strategy where certain consonants (like the 't' are replaced with a sound in the throat.

Softening

Glottal stop

artificial

cut it out!

artificial

analytically

cut it out!

analytically

Accent mapping: 

The American Accent

Step 1: Recognize

A) Listen to a recording of Alphabet Aerobics (letters A-D (on teams) and write down the sentences you hear in your notebook.

B) Change the text in your notebook based on the connected speech techniques you hear in the recording. Look for examples of ‘softening’ (of the /t/ and /s/ sounds) as well as the glottal stop.)

 

Step 2: Reproduce

A) Practice the accent: Read the text out loud and reproduce the connected speech techniques you have found.

B) Record yourself: Use your phone to record your own voice. Then play back the audio and listen to your own pronunciation. Re-record your voice until you are pronouncing the accent correctly.

C) Listen to your recordings together: Compare your own recording to the recording your study partner made. Correct each other’s pronunciation where necessary.

Video assignment:

Record a video with your desk mate in which both of you recite the Alphabet Aerobics (A-D). Upload this video on Teams in the assignment section.

Thank you for paying attention!