Rich Wales    997927 Tue, 31 Aug 04 12:37 AM "My sister moved to NC from Mass, after a while she no longer sounded like us but she's never sounded like them." Most people notice only those aspects of someone's speech that are different from the way they themselves speak. (This is probably why so many people think THEY don't have an "accent"; they honestly do not hear their own accent.) Raymond's sister presumably acquired enough North Carolina features in her speech that she sounded "different" to her relatives and friends in Massachusetts. But her North Carolina neighbors would still hear all the Massachusetts traits in her speech (and would thus also think of her speech as "different"). In other words, Raymond's sister has reached a sort of linguistic no man's land, where EVERYBODY thinks she has an "accent". Rich Wales (Email Removed) http://www.richw.org Rich Wales Accents, Relationships, Friendships, Speaking, Speeches, Friends

	Nell    998070 Tue, 31 Aug 04 06:01 AM "My sister has found that her children's accents are going ... long. How well does it work at eliminating Tennessee accents?" "Now hon, why would you want to do that? Tennessee accents are ideal folksy without implying stupidity, charming without delving ... more useful to a businessperson in any locale than a Tennessean. -=Eric, born in Memphis, raised in Morristown and Knoxville." Our associate pastor here in New Jersey is from Tennessee. He and his family just came back from visiting relatives (or would that kinfolk) to refresh his accent. ;) Nell A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of. Nell Accents, Synonyms

	Nell    998071 Tue, 31 Aug 04 06:06 AM "My sister moved to NC from Mass, after a while she no longer sounded like us but she's never sounded like them." "Most people notice only those aspects of someone's speech that are different from the way they themselves speak. (This is probably why so many people think THEY don't have an "accent"; they honestly do not hear their own accent.)" I never could hear my dad's Texas accent (born in Grayson County, raised in Dallas). I could barely hear it in two of his sisters but another sister had such a "countrified" Texas accent that I couldn't always make out what she was saying. Nell A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of. Nell Accents, Synonyms, Speaking, Speeches

	Mxsmanic    998075 Tue, 31 Aug 04 06:12 AM "The problem is that many (possibly most) adults have lost the ability to recognize and learn "new" sounds that are not part of the sound system of their native language or dialect." False. Anyone can learn new sounds and suppress an accent. It's difficult but not impossible, and adults manage it all the time, if they are sufficiently motivated (most are not, since accents don't usually interfere with comprehension). "In many cases, someone could even use a course like this and THINK he/she is producing the native-speaker sounds accurately, ... tell the difference (or cannot realize that the difference is meaningful) between the native speaker's sounds and his/her own sounds." No, I don't think so. Proper instruction along these lines does indeed eliminate foreign accents. "I'm still reminded of a graduate student from South America (whose first language was Spanish), whom I knew 20-some-odd years ... obscenity. (!) I really doubt this particular person would have benefited from the "Lose Your Accent in 28 Days" program." Some individuals are unable or unwilling to change, for reasons specific to themselves. That doesn't mean that it is generally impossible. Many people do successfully suppress their accents. "On the other hand, I imagine that a strongly motivated student with a good ear, a flexible brain, and great attention to detail might possibly do very well with a self-study course like this." Indeed, he might entirely eliminate his accent, which is the goal. So where's the problem? It's not the course's fault if some students are unwilling or unable to benefit from it. Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly. Mxsmanic Accents, Dialects, Whom, Mistakes, Students

	Mark Brader    998098 Tue, 31 Aug 04 07:08 AM "Anyone can learn new sounds and suppress an accent. It's difficult but not impossible .. Some individuals are unable or unwilling to change, for reasons specific to themselves." This is obviously some strange usage of the word "anyone" (or perhaps of the word "can" or "unable") that I wasn't previously aware of. Mark Brader > scanf() is even more complicated and usually does Toronto > something almost but not completely unlike what (Email Removed) > you want. Chris Torek (after Douglas Adams) Mark Brader Accents, Usages

	Peter Moylan    998101 Tue, 31 Aug 04 07:15 AM Mxsmanic wellfed: "You can never lose your accent. You can only replace one accent with another." "You can lose your accent with respect to a specific reference pronunciation. People working for CNN and the BBC do it all the time." Wouldn't that more accurately be described as gaining an accent? Peter Moylan peter at ee dot newcastle dot edu dot au http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au (OS/2 and eCS information and software) Peter Moylan Accents, Pronunciation, Business, Speaking, References, Career

	Maria Conlon    998102 Tue, 31 Aug 04 07:21 AM "Now hon, why would you want to do that? Tennessee ... Tennessean. -=Eric, born in Memphis, raised in Morristown and Knoxville." "Our associate pastor here in New Jersey is from Tennessee. He andhis family just came back from visiting relatives (or would thatkinfolk) to refresh his accent. ;)" Every time we go to Tennessee for a visit, I come back with a mild Tennessee accent. So does my Yankee husband. If we ever move there (a possibility), I think it will take us about five minutes to sound like we've been there forever. Maria Conlon Maria Conlon Accents, Marriage, Relationships

	Mxsmanic    998367 Tue, 31 Aug 04 07:08 PM "Wouldn't that more accurately be described as gaining an accent?" No. An accent is something that people notice. The absence of an accent is something that people do not notice. Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly. Mxsmanic Accents

	Donna Richoux    998673 Tue, 31 Aug 04 08:08 PM "Wouldn't that more accurately be described as gaining an accent?" "No. An accent is something that people notice. The absence of an accent is something that people do not notice." You mean if someone with a strong regional accent loses it, the people back home won't notice? To the contrary, they'll quite likely accuse them of treachery and arrogance. Maybe what you mean that if you get enough people together who talk the same way, they all think that none of them have accents. Until they go somewhere outside that group and ask... Best - Donna Richoux Donna Richoux Accents