Here's How to Do Accent Modification: A Manual for Speech-Language Pathologists is designed for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working with clients on accent modification in American English. A growing number of non-native speakers are interested in improving their communication skills and SLPs need preparation to work with this clientele. The text provides copious advice and many diverse techniques for teaching accent modification, from the level of basic sounds to the level of discourse. The text emphasizes realistic goal setting, so that clients focus on becoming effective communicators as opposed to sounding exactly like native speakers. The objective is a balance between clear and natural speech. Many SLPs favor intelligibility over naturalness because of their backgrounds working with speech delayed children, but with non-native speakers this often leads to unnatural speech and listeners focus on how something is said as opposed to what is said. Here's How to Do Accent Modification is uniquely geared toward the skills and backgrounds of SLPs working with clients in a one-on-one setting, but is also an excellent introductory text for any English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. Robert McKinney brings this unique perspective as a speech-language pathologist with degrees in both Communication Disorders and Teaching English as a Second Language. Also included with the text are numerous practical activities and worksheets for working with clients. The ebook includes audio files and video clips to demonstrate working with non-native speakers.

This unique book offers a complete course in how to do any accent and also gives you the tools to navigate your way through a specific accent. Using solid technical know-how, clear practical steps, real-life examples, and the occasional dose of humour, the Haydn/Sharpe System brings to the surface the underlying structure of accents. The authors share the processes that they, as specialist dialect coaches, have developed, to give you the insight, tools and confidence to work with accents. This second edition includes examples and exercises for six new accents. Includes a free online code to access detailed exercises and sample sentences – giving you the sounds you need to get your accent skills going! Also includes ready-to-use resource recordings of the following accents: Norfolk (NEW), Yorkshire (NEW), Standard Canadian (NEW), Standard Australian (NEW), Standard American, Northern Irish (Belfast), Southern Irish (Cork), Scottish (Glasgow), Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, South Wales (Swansea), West Midlands (Walsall), Cockney, Neutral Standard English, Contemporary 'Street' London (NEW), Cornish.

Accent Reduction for Chinese Speakers targets the most common pronunciation problems and accent errors for Chinese speakers of English. This targeted focus guarantees Chinese speakers the greatest improvement in the shortest amount of time. After more than 15 years working with Chinese professionals in the pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, information technology and other industries, Accent reduction expert Lauren Supraner summarizes in this book the key pronunciation errors for Chinese speakers, along with the tools to help correct them. You will master : - Problem consonants and vowels - Word stress, sentence stress, and rhythm - Linking, which runs words together for fluency - Common intonation patterns This book includes: - Over 170 activities targeting the most common accent errors for Chinese speakers - 4 hours of recordings accessible on line to sharpen your listening and mimicking skills - Explanations for more than 20 common mistakes due to first language - Photographs and figures to help you master tongue, lip and jaw placement. Accent Reduction for Chinese Speakers is also an excellent reference for ESL and pronunciation teachers.

Directed to speakers of English as a second language, a multi-media guide to pronouncing American English uses a "pure-sound" approach to speaking to help imitate the fluid ways of American speech.

Mastering the American Accent is an easy-to-follow approach for reducing the accent of non-native speakers of English. Well-sequenced lessons in the book correspond over eight hours of audio files covering the entire text. The audio program provides clear models (both male and female) to help coach a standard American accent. The program is designed to help users speak Standard American English with clarity, confidence, and accuracy. The many exercises in the book concentrate on topics such as vowel sounds, problematic consonants such as V, W, TH, the American R and T and others. Correct lip and tongue positions for all sounds are discussed in detail. Beyond the production of sounds, the program provides detailed instruction in prosodic elements such as syllable stress, emphasis, intonation, linking words for smoother speech flow, common word contractions, and much more. Additional topics that often confuse ESL students are also discussed and explained. They include distinguishing between casual and formal speech, homophones (e.g., they're and there), recognizing words with silent letters (e.g., comb, receipt), and avoiding embarrassing pronunciation mistakes, such as mixing up "pull" and "pool." Students are familiarized with many irregular English spelling rules and exceptions, and are shown how such irregularities can contribute to pronunciation errors. A native language guide references problematic accent issues for 13 different language backgrounds. Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.

The emergence of empirical approaches to L2 pronunciation research and teaching is a powerful fourth wave in the history of the field. Authored by two leading proponents of evidence-based instruction, this volume surveys both foundational and cutting-edge empirical work and pinpoints its ramifications for pedagogy. The authors begin by tracing the history of pronunciation instruction and explicating L2 phonetic learning processes. Subsequent chapters explore the themes, strengths, and ethical problems of the field through the lens of the intelligibility principle. The importance of error gravity, and the need for assessment and individualized instruction are highlighted, and the role of L2 accents in social contexts is probed. Material readily available elsewhere has been omitted in favour of an emphasis on the how, why, and when of pronunciation instruction. Anyone with an interest in L2 pronunciation–especially graduate students, language teachers, and experienced researchers–will find much value in this indispensible resource.

In British society, we celebrate diversity and champion equality across many areas, such as race and religion. However, where do British accents stand? Do notions such as 'common' or 'posh' still exist regarding certain accents, to the extent that people are deemed fit, or not, for certain professions, despite their qualifications? Accent and Teacher Identity in Britain explores these questions and Alex Baratta's research shows that those with accents regional to the North and Midlands are most likely to be told by mentors and senior staff to essentially sound less regional, whereas those from the Home Counties are less likely to be given instructions to change their accent at all. Baratta investigates the notion of linguistic power, in terms of which accents appear to be favoured within the context of teacher training and from the perspective of teachers who feel they lack power in the construction of their linguistic teacher identity. He also questions modifying one's accent to meet someone else's standard for what is 'linguistically appropriate', in terms of how such a modified accent impact on personal identity. Is accent modification regarded by the individual neutrally or is it seen as 'selling out'?