4 Secrets to Having an American English Accent Advanced Pronunciation Lesson

Vanessa: Hi, I’m Vanessa from SpeakEnglishWithVanessa.com.

Let’s talk about four ways to sound more
American when you speak English.

Have you ever been watching an American movie
and thought, “Oh, it would be great if I

could sound like Tom Cruise?”

Or maybe you’ve watched one of my videos
already and thought, “I would love to sound

like Vanessa.”

Well today I’m going to give you some tips
to help you make your pronunciation sound

more like an American, and by American, I
mean the United States of America.

There are a couple of things that we need
to talk about first though.

What in the world is an American accent?

Because a lot of people in the U.S. have different
styles of speaking, here I’m going to be explaining

how to sound like the most general American
accent, which is that of news reporters or

Hollywood.

When you think about Tom Cruise, this is the
accent that I’m talking about.

I’m not talking about a New York accent, a
Southern accent, a California accent.

I’m talking about standard American English.

Of course, if you want to sound more American,
you need to use American expressions instead

of British or Australian expressions.

If you would like to know some differences
between these expressions, make sure you check

out the playlist that I’ll link here and
in the description.

Finally, the best way to improve your pronunciation
to sound more American or if you want to sound

more British or Australian is to shadow, and
this means you’re imitating word for word

everything that that person is saying.

You’re repeating directly after the speaker.

I have a couple of videos where I explain
the shadowing technique, so be sure to click

there or in the description to check out those
videos.

It’s also great to be able to break down the
sounds of a language, and that’s what I’m

going to do today is talk about four important
concepts that you need to include in your

speaking if you want to sound more American.

Are you ready?

The first way that you can sound more American
is to change your T sounds to D sounds when

they are between two vowels.

Let’s listen to a sentence that uses a lot
of these.

Dan: In New York City he wore an exciting
sweater because that always made him satisfied.

In New York City he wore an exciting sweater
because that always made him satisfied.

Vanessa: City, exciting, sweater.

Here we have at T between two vowel sounds
like I mentioned and it’s changing to a D.

It’s not a “Tuh” sound.

It is “Duh.”

This also happens between words.

You heard that always, that always.

This isn’t always done, but it’s often done
when native speakers are talking quickly.

We link together words by making the final
T change into a D, that always.

Oh, so this can be used in a lot of different
situations.

A couple years ago, I had a British friend
who I always teased because whenever I asked

him to speak in an American accent, the only
thing he would say is, “Water bottle, water

bottle, water bottle,” again and again and
again, and it was so funny because it really

is the perfect example of an American accent.

It uses the T changing to a D, water bottle,
and it also uses one more concept that we’re

going to talk about a little bit later in
this video.

Now I want to give you a chance to practice
this pronunciation, T changing to a D.

We’re going to listen to that clip one more
time of that sample sentence, and then there’s

going to be a pause.

I want you to read that sentence and try to
imitate, try to shadow that pronunciation.

Are you ready to use your speaking muscles?

Let’s do it.

Dan: In New York City he wore an exciting
sweater because that always made him satisfied.

Vanessa: The second way to sound more American
when you speak is to use the colored R. What

in the world is that?

Well it’s in the middle of the word when there
is an R plus a consonant.

A consonant is any letter that’s not a, e,
i, o, u.

It might be RS, RD, any word that has an R
plus a consonant.

It’s going to sound like, “Err, err.”

Let’s listen to a sample sentence that uses
this a lot.

Dan: The first word that you learned is the
one you heard the most.

The first word that you learned is the one
you heard the most.

Vanessa: Did you notice something in this
sentence?

There are a lot of different vowel sounds
that change to sound like one sound, err.

In the word first, there is an I. In the word
word, there is an O. In the word heard and

learned, there is E, A, but they all sound
like “Err, err.”

This is the colored R and it’s really typical
in American English, err, heard.

Let’s listen to that clip again, and the same
as before, I want you to try to imitate and

shadow that pronunciation style.

Test your pronunciation muscles.

Try to sound like an angry dog.

First, word, learned.

It sounds a little crazy when you’re practicing,
but of course when you’re speaking with other

people, you can tone it down, but it’s good
to exaggerate when you’re practicing pronunciation

because you’re getting your muscles prepared.

Then when they’re already ready to use those
sounds, it will feel more natural.

Your muscles will know where to go and then
you can tone it down and not sound so crazy

when you’re speaking with other people.

When you’re practicing, don’t worry about
exaggerating.

“The first word that I learned.”

Take it easy, try it yourself and let’s listen
and pause, and it’s your turn to speak.

Dan: The first word that you learned is the
one you heard the most.

Vanessa: My next tip for sounding American
is to include in an E-R at the end of your

words, er.

This is really typical in American English,
so before I explain it any further, let’s

listen to a sentence that includes this a
couple of times.

Dan: In the letter he wrote, “Remember to
water the flowers.”

In the letter he wrote, “Remember to water
the flowers.”

Vanessa: When my British friend was saying,
“Water bottle,” this was the second American

sound that he was using, the E-R at the end
of the word, er, water.

“Don’t forget to water the flowers.

Remember to water the flowers,” and this
is going to really test your R pronunciation.

We used it in the previous tip and now we’re
using it, er, again.

You really need to make sure your Rs are strong
and powerful.

“Remember to water the flowers.”

All right, let’s listen to that clip one more
time and then we’re going to pause, and I

want you to say it out loud.

Speaker 2: In the letter he wrote, “Remember
to water the flowers.”

Vanessa: My fourth and final tip is a specific
contrast with British English.

It is the ending A-R-Y.

Again, we’re talking about R because R is
essential in English and it’s essential in

a lot of different languages.

I think oftentimes the R is the most challenging
sound in other languages because it’s so integral.

Well in this case, A-R-Y at the end of words
is going to indicate that in American English

we’re going to pronounce the full word.

Library, secretary, military.

Do you hear that ending?

Ary, ary, ary.

Library.

Cool.

We’re going to say the full word.

Let’s listen to a quick sentence that uses
a couple of these examples.

Speaker 2: At the library, the secretary read
a book about the military.

At the library, the secretary read a book
about the military.

Vanessa: In American English, you’re going
to pronounce each of the final letters, A-R-Y,

military.

In British English, they often cut out the
A, so instead of, “Military,” it would

be, “Military, military.”

That A is just gone, but in American English,
each of those letters are pronounced, “Military,

ary.”

Let’s listen to this clip one more time, and
then I want to pause and let you have a chance

to repeat the sentence yourself.

Speaker 2: At the library, the secretary read
a book about the military.

Vanessa: How did you do with these American
English pronunciation sentences?

Did you challenge your pronunciation?

Do you think that you can sound more American
after watching this video?

I hope that these tips are useful to you,
and let me know in the comments below.

Are there any other words that you can use
to sound more American using these four tips?

Let me know, and I hope that you enjoyed this
lesson.

I’ll see the next time.

Bye.

The next step is to download my free e-book,
Five Steps to Becoming a Confident English

Speaker.

This will help you know what is the next step
in your English journey to help you really

master English and speak fluently.

Thanks so much and I’ll see you later.

Bye.

Vanessa:嗨,我是 SpeakEnglishWithVanessa.com 的 Vanessa。

让我们谈谈
当你说英语时听起来更美国化的四种方法。

你有没有看过一部美国电影
并想,“哦,如果我

能听起来像汤姆克鲁斯就好了?”

或者,也许你已经看过我的一个视频
并想,“我很想听起来

像 Vanessa。”

那么今天我将给你一些提示
,帮助你让你的发音听起来

更像美国人,而美国人的
意思是美利坚合众国。

不过,有几件事我们需要
先谈谈。

美国口音到底是什么?

因为在美国很多人
说话的风格不同,这里我将解释

如何听起来像最普通的美国
口音,即新闻记者或

好莱坞的口音。

当你想到汤姆克鲁斯时,这
就是我所说的口音。

我说的不是纽约口音、
南方口音、加利福尼亚口音。

我说的是标准的美式英语。

当然,如果你想听起来更美,
你需要使用美式表达,而

不是英国或澳大利亚的表达。

如果您想了解
这些表达式之间的一些区别,请务必

查看我将在此处链接的播放列表和
说明中的内容。

最后,提高你的
发音听起来更像美国或如果你想听起来

更像英国或澳大利亚的最好方法是模仿,
这意味着你正在逐字模仿

那个人所说的一切。

你直接在演讲者之后重复。

我有几个视频解释
了阴影技术,所以一定要点击

那里或在描述中查看这些
视频。

能够分解
一种语言的声音也很棒,这就是我

今天要做的就是谈论四个重要的
概念,

如果你想听起来更美国化,你需要在口语中包含这些概念。

你准备好了吗?

让你听起来更美国化的第一种方法
是,当它们位于两个元音之间时,将 T 音变为 D 音

让我们听一个使用了很多这些的句子

丹:在纽约市,他穿着一件令人兴奋的
毛衣,因为这总是让他感到满意。

在纽约市,他穿着一件令人兴奋的毛衣,
因为这总是让他感到满意。

Vanessa:城市,令人兴奋,毛衣。

在这里,我们在两个元音之间出现了 T,
就像我提到的那样,它正在变为 D。

这不是“Tuh”的声音。

是“呃”。

这也发生在单词之间。

你总是这样,总是那样。

这并不总是这样做,
但当母语人士快速说话时,通常会这样做。

我们通过将最后的
T 变为 D 来连接单词,总是这样。

哦,所以这可以在很多不同的
情况下使用。

几年前,我有一个英国朋友
,我总是取笑他,因为每当我让

他用美国口音说话时,
他只会说“水瓶,

水瓶,水瓶”,一遍又
一遍 ,这很有趣,因为它确实

是美国口音的完美典范。

它使用 T 变为 D,水瓶
,它还使用了另一个概念,我们

将在
本视频稍后讨论。

现在我想给你一个机会练习
这个发音,T 变成 D。

我们要再听那个
片段的那个例句,然后

会有一个停顿。

我想让你读那句话,试着
模仿,试着模仿那个发音。

你准备好使用你的口语肌肉了吗?

我们开始做吧。

丹:在纽约市,他穿着一件令人兴奋的
毛衣,因为这总是让他感到满意。

Vanessa:第二种听起来更美国化的方法
是使用有色 R。这

到底是什么?

好吧,当有一个 R 加一个辅音时,它就在单词的中间

辅音是任何不是 a、e、
i、o、u 的字母。

它可能是 RS、RD,任何有 R
加辅音的单词。

它会听起来像,“错误,错误。”

让我们听一个经常使用
这个的例句。

丹:你学的第一个词是
你听得最多的。

你学的第一个词是
你听得最多的词。

瓦内萨:你注意到这
句话里有什么吗?

有很多不同的元音声音
会变成听起来像一个声音,错误。

在first这个词中,有一个I。在word
word中,有一个O。在heard and learn这个词中

,有E、A,但它们听起来都
像“Err, err”。

这是彩色的 R,它
在美式英语中非常典型,呃,听说过。

让我们再听一遍那个片段,和
以前一样,我想让你试着模仿和

模仿那个发音风格。

测试你的发音肌肉。

试着听起来像一只愤怒的狗。

首先,单词,学到了。

练习的时候听起来有点疯狂
,当然当你和别人说话的时候

,你可以把声音调低一些,但是
练习发音的时候夸大一点是好的,

因为你正在为你的肌肉做准备。

然后当他们已经准备好使用这些
声音时,感觉会更自然。

你的肌肉会知道去哪里,然后
你可以把它调低,

当你和其他人说话时听起来不会那么疯狂。

练习时,不要担心
夸大其词。

“我学会的第一个词。”

放轻松,自己尝试一下,让我们
边听边停,轮到你说话了。

丹:你学的第一个词是
你听得最多的。

Vanessa:我的下一个听起来像美国人的建议
是在你的话的末尾加上一个 E-R

,呃。

这在美式英语中非常典型,
所以在我进一步解释之前,让我们

听几次包含这个的句子

丹:在他写的信中,“记得给
花浇水”。

他在信中写道:“记得给
花浇水。”

Vanessa:当我的英国朋友说
“水瓶”时,这是他使用的第二个美式

发音,E-R 在
单词结尾,呃,water。

“别忘了给花浇水。

记得给花浇水,”
这将真正考验你的 R 发音。

我们在上一个技巧中使用它,现在我们
再次使用它。

您确实需要确保您的 Rs 强大
而强大。

“记得给花浇水。”

好吧,让我们再听一遍那个
片段,然后我们要暂停,我

希望你大声说出来。

演讲者2:在他写的信中,“记得
给花浇水。”

Vanessa:我的第四个也是最后一个建议是
与英式英语的具体对比。

这是结局 A-R-Y。

同样,我们在谈论 R,因为 R
在英语中是必不可少的,并且

在许多不同的语言中也是必不可少的。

我认为 R 通常是其他语言中最具挑战性的
声音,因为它是如此完整。

好吧,在这种情况下,单词末尾的 A-R-Y
表示在美式英语中

我们将发音完整的单词。

图书馆、秘书、军人。

你听到那个结局了吗?

阿里,阿里,阿里。

图书馆。

凉爽的。

我们要说完整的话。

让我们听一个简短的句子,它使用
了几个这样的例子。

演讲者2:在图书馆,秘书读
了一本关于军队的书。

在图书馆,秘书读了一本
关于军队的书。

Vanessa:在美式英语中,你
要发音每个最后的字母,A-R-Y,

军事。

在英式英语中,他们经常删掉
A,所以不是“军事”,而是

“军事,军事”。

那个 A 刚刚消失,但在美式英语中,
每个字母都发音为“Military,

ary”。

让我们再听一遍这个片段,
然后我想暂停一下,让你有机会

自己重复这句话。

演讲者2:在图书馆,秘书读
了一本关于军队的书。

Vanessa:你是怎么处理这些
美式英语发音的?

你挑战你的发音了吗? 看完这个视频

,你觉得你听起来更像美国人
吗?

我希望这些提示对您有用,
并在下面的评论中告诉我。 使用这四个技巧

,您可以使用任何其他词
来听起来更美国化吗?

让我知道,我希望你喜欢这
节课。

下次我会看到的。

再见。

下一步是下载我的免费电子书《
成为自信英语

演讲者的五个步骤》。

这将帮助您了解
您的英语之旅的下一步是什么,以帮助您真正

掌握英语并流利地说。

非常感谢,稍后再见。

再见。