People who aren't American...?

Question

Do americans have a specific accent like other languages do, like, can you immitate an american accent?


this is a serious question, ive always wondered this

Answer 1

Americans have regional accents. There's Jersey, Boston, Georgia, Texas, Vermont, Chicago, corn...we got a lot of accents running around here. As for a distinctly "american" accent...well, I'd imagine BSE (Broadcast Standard English, what the newspeople speak) probably qualifies as "standard american".
Edit: Ummm...why the holy * did someone downthumb me for this?!?!?!? I can't imagine who I could have possibly offended. If I piss you off, email me with your complaint. I'd love to hear it. Thanks, y'awl.

Answer 2

I am Scottish and I can imitate Irish accents, Welsh accents, English accents and American but I'm not too good at Australian lol. But yes, certain American accents can easily be imitated.

p.s. it does mean which type of american accent, as there are loads. I love the New York accent but can only imitate a few words cause it's harder!

Answer 3

I don't immitate an American accent. I have a very weird accent and people say it's American.. Well it sounds American but that's how i speak.

Answer 4

Oh hell yes we have geographic specific accents. As a matter of fact, I have a Rhode Islander accent which is ENTIRELY different from a Boston accent or a New York accent. If you head to the mid-west, you can hear that "country drawl" and then head down south to where you can hear numerous southern accents which are entirely different from one another. My personal southern accent is the Cajun variety....."ohhhhhh dat sounds soooo gooood, ya". Anyway, to make a long story short, America has hundreds of different accents and it all depends where you go geographically.

Answer 5

Have you ever seen the television show "House?"

Do you know who is playing "Dr. House?" Its Hugh Laurie. He is British, but is imitating an American accent excellently. Just check out some of his interviews, and compare his actual accent. Its really a very good impersonation of a New Jerseyan, where the show takes place (I live in NJ).

Americans have varying accents by region. Just travel to different states to hear for yourself.

Answer 6

I studied at an American High School in Turkey.
Our English teachers had accents. Their accents depended on which city they came from.
I can imitate Southern American accent:-)

Answer 7

Technically speaking, unless you are a Native American, we are all foreigners. That being said, yes there are very distinct "accents" from different states. I'm from California and my husband is from Wisconsin, and *I* think his accent is decidedly "nasal" and he said that I am the one with the west coast, almost "English" accent. Then there is the southern accent, the one that is happy and polite and they say words such as "y'all" for you all. You get the idea! America is a rich stew of cultures, words and accents, that is for sure! ♥

Answer 8

YES!!! it is really strong the american accent! i can mimick it but thats because i can mimick any accent but there is a very strong distinction between american accent and a horey accent like mine. i come from New Zealand and the Maori accent is like slang and body language. its kind of like a slack type of english. we use words like, 'oi', 'e'you', 'not even ow', 'dat fulla' and 'cher'. we're pretty slack and i find that americans and englishmen are pretty on to it. Crack up eh'

Answer 9

American is the most normal accent I know.I can talk in american, as I'm american.It's not specific at all.It's much easier than british, for example.

Answer 10

There are many different accents in North America; generally when people say "American accent" without any qualifier they mean a mid-Atlantic one - although nowadays I suspect they may be thinking of Californian accents which are so recognisable thanks to Hollywood.

Both are VERY easy to imitate!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Atlantic_English