My American Accent

Ray   Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:54 pm GMT
I grew up moving around the States and so I think my accent can't be traced back to any particular region.

I was wondering what do you think of my accent?

Thanks.

Ray
Guest   Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:56 pm GMT
I think it's very pleasant.
Ray   Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:56 pm GMT
Dang, I forgot the link...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wywlUmqeqDs
Northwesterner   Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:19 pm GMT
Interesting accent. To me it sounds like a mild Southern accent, like they have in Virginia.
Guest   Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:20 pm GMT
Do you pronounce the words "cot" and "caught" the same, or differently?
Ray   Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:22 am GMT
Yes I pronounce them differently
Guest   Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:11 am GMT
I think you would make an excellent airline pilot.
Ray   Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:13 pm GMT
Lol why is that?
Guest   Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:58 pm GMT
The accent's nice, but the voice quality has room for improvement--somewhat nasal.
Ray   Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:38 pm GMT
I appreciate your comments.
Milton   Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:44 am GMT
it's not Californian (nor Canadian)

it's a difficult accent to trace, you have [Q] in ''on, long, wash, office, strong'', but [A] in ''calling, dog'' and [E] in ''happy''. Its an old-fashioned accent and a bit too formal (not relaxed).

It's a Back East to South accent,
it could be St. Louis, Baltimore or Kentucky.

You have [a] in ''time'' (instead of [aI]).
Definitely Southern.

The accent is cot/caught transitionally/partially merged [at least in terms of production], here and there, since you unround the vowels that are rounded in traditional G.A (for example, the word ''dog''). On the other hand, you round vowels that are unrounded in traditional G.A. (''on, wash'').

Conclusion: St. Louis, EastCoast (MidAtlantic) or South.
Ray   Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:22 pm GMT
Wow, thank you for the outstanding analysis.

However, I think it would be appropriate to confess one little detail at this point.

I'm not an American. Heck, my native tongue isn't even English.

I'm Finnish, but I fooled you, didn't I?
Guest   Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:56 pm GMT
>> I'm Finnish, but I fooled you, didn't I? <<

You're lying.
Ray   Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:57 pm GMT
Why would I lie?
Guest   Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:58 pm GMT
>> On the other hand, you round vowels that are unrounded in traditional G.A. (''on, wash''). <<

I disagree that the General American vowel in "on" is /A/. Labov says that the dialects that are closest to General American are the Midlands, the West, and Canada. All of those can have a rounded [Q].