Learn to Speak Like a Native with American Accent Training by Ann Cook: A Book Review
American Accent Training By Ann Cook 3rd Edition: A Comprehensive Guide
Do you want to speak English with an American accent? Do you want to sound more natural, confident, and fluent in your conversations? Do you want to improve your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this article is for you.
American Accent Training By Ann Cook 3rd Edition
In this article, we will review one of the most popular and effective books for learning an American accent: American Accent Training by Ann Cook. We will explain what this book is, who it is for, and how it can help you achieve your goals. We will also give you some tips and tricks on how to use the book and the accompanying audio CDs, as well as some common mistakes and how to avoid them. Finally, we will highlight some of the main features of the American accent that you will learn from this book, such as vowels, consonants, stress, intonation, linking, and reduction.
By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what American Accent Training by Ann Cook can offer you, and how you can use it to improve your spoken English. You will also find some FAQs at the end of the article to answer some of your possible questions. So let's get started!
Introduction
What is American Accent Training?
American Accent Training is a book that teaches you how to speak English with an American accent. It was written by Ann Cook, a renowned accent coach and author who has been teaching accent reduction for over 25 years. The book was first published in 1991, and has since been updated and revised several times. The latest edition, which came out in 2012, is the third edition.
The book is designed for intermediate to advanced learners of English who want to sound more like native speakers of American English. It covers all aspects of pronunciation, such as vowels, consonants, stress, intonation, linking, and reduction. It also includes exercises, quizzes, dialogues, stories, jokes, and cultural notes to help you practice and apply what you learn.
The book comes with five audio CDs that contain over eight hours of recordings by native speakers of American English. The CDs are essential for listening to the correct pronunciation of words and sentences, as well as for practicing along with the speakers. You can also download the audio files from the publisher's website or use an app to access them on your smartphone or tablet.
Who is Ann Cook?
Ann Cook is a professional accent coach and author who specializes in teaching American English pronunciation. She has a master's degree in education from Columbia University and a certificate in teaching English as a second language from New York University. She has taught at various institutions such as New York University, Columbia University, and the United Nations.
Ann Cook has developed her own method of teaching accent reduction, which is based on her extensive research and experience. She believes that learning an accent is not only about changing the sounds of your speech, but also about changing your attitude, your identity, and your perception of yourself and others. She also believes that learning an accent should be fun, engaging, and rewarding.
Ann Cook is the author of several books and materials on American English pronunciation, such as American Accent Training, American Accent Training: Grammar, American Accent Training: A Guide to Speaking and Pronouncing American English for Everyone Who Speaks English as a Second Language, and American Accent: The New York Dialect. She also has a website and a YouTube channel where she shares more tips and resources on accent reduction.
What are the benefits of learning an American accent?
Learning an American accent can have many benefits for your personal and professional life. Here are some of the main ones:
It can help you communicate more clearly and effectively with native speakers of American English, as well as with other non-native speakers who are familiar with the American accent.
It can help you avoid misunderstandings, confusion, and frustration that may arise from having a different accent or pronunciation.
It can help you express yourself more confidently and comfortably in various situations, such as socializing, studying, working, traveling, or giving presentations.
It can help you improve your listening comprehension and vocabulary by exposing you to more authentic and natural speech.
It can help you enhance your image and credibility by showing that you are well-educated, cultured, and professional.
It can help you enjoy more aspects of American culture, such as movies, music, literature, and humor.
Of course, learning an American accent does not mean that you have to lose or forget your own accent or identity. You can always switch between different accents depending on the context and the audience. Learning an American accent is simply a way of expanding your linguistic repertoire and skills.
How to use the book and the audio CDs
Overview of the book's structure and content
The book consists of 13 chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of pronunciation. The chapters are organized as follows:
The first chapter introduces the concept of accent and explains why it is important to learn an American accent. It also gives you some tips on how to approach accent training and how to monitor your progress.
The second chapter teaches you how to produce the most common sound in American English: the schwa. The schwa is a neutral vowel sound that occurs in unstressed syllables. It is represented by the symbol /ə/ in phonetic transcription.
The third chapter teaches you how to pronounce the rhotic R, which is a distinctive feature of the American accent. The rhotic R is a consonant sound that is pronounced in all positions: at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a word. It is represented by the symbol /r/ in phonetic transcription.
The fourth chapter teaches you how to pronounce the flap T, which is another characteristic sound of the American accent. The flap T is a consonant sound that is produced by tapping the tongue briefly against the roof of the mouth. It occurs between two vowel sounds or between a vowel and a rhotic R. It is represented by the symbol /t̬/ in phonetic transcription.
The fifth chapter teaches you how to stress words correctly in American English. Word stress refers to the emphasis or loudness that you give to one syllable over others in a word. Word stress affects the meaning and pronunciation of words in English.
The sixth chapter teaches you how to stress sentences correctly in American English. Sentence stress refers to the emphasis or loudness that you give to certain words over others in a sentence. Sentence stress affects the meaning and intonation of sentences in English.
The seventh chapter teaches you how to use rising and falling intonation patterns in American English. Intonation refers to the variation of pitch or tone that you use when speaking. Intonation affects the mood, attitude, and intention of your speech.
The eighth chapter teaches you how to link consonants and vowels smoothly in American English. Linking refers to the connection or transition that you make between two sounds in speech. Linking affects the rhythm and fluency of your speech.
The ninth chapter teaches you how to drop sounds in certain words and phrases in American English. Dropping refers to the omission or reduction of sounds that are not essential for communication. Dropping affects the speed and naturalness of your speech.
The main features of the American accent
Vowels and consonants
One of the most important aspects of pronunciation is the correct production of vowel and consonant sounds. Vowels are sounds that are made by letting the air flow freely through the mouth, while consonants are sounds that are made by blocking or restricting the air flow in some way. In American English, there are 15 vowel sounds and 24 consonant sounds.
In this section, we will focus on three vowel and consonant sounds that are particularly characteristic of the American accent: the schwa, the rhotic R, and the flap T. These sounds are often difficult for non-native speakers to master, but they are essential for sounding natural and clear in American English.
The schwa sound
The schwa is the most common sound in American English. It is a neutral vowel sound that occurs in unstressed syllables. It is represented by the symbol /ə/ in phonetic transcription. For example:
about /əˈbaʊt/
banana /bəˈnænə/
camera /ˈkæmərə/
doctor /ˈdɑktər/
family /ˈfæməli/
The schwa sound is very easy to produce. You just need to relax your tongue and jaw and let the air flow out of your mouth. The schwa sound is the same as the sound you make when you say "uh" or "huh". The key to pronouncing the schwa correctly is to make it very short and weak. Do not stress or elongate the schwa sound, or you will sound unnatural and unclear.
The schwa sound can be spelled in many different ways in English. Sometimes, it is spelled with a vowel letter, such as a, e, i, o, or u. Sometimes, it is spelled with a combination of vowel letters, such as ai, ea, ie, oa, or ou. Sometimes, it is spelled with a silent e at the end of a word. Sometimes, it is not spelled at all. For example:
a: again /əˈɡen/, sofa /ˈsofə/, America /əˈmerɪkə/
e: taken /ˈteɪkən/, seven /ˈsevən/, lesson /ˈlesən/
i: pencil /ˈpensəl/, animal /ˈænɪməl/, delicious /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
o: lemon /ˈlemən/, cotton /ˈkɑtən/, tomorrow /təˈmɑroʊ/
u: circus /ˈsɜrkəs/, medium /ˈmidiəm/, beautiful /ˈbjutəfəl/
ai: mountain /ˈmaʊntən/, certain /ˈsɜrtən/, captain /ˈkæptən/
ea: heaven /ˈhevən/, ocean /ˈoʊʃən/, teacher /ˈtitʃər/
ie: friend /frend/, cookie /ˈkʊki/, movie /ˈmuvi/
oa: season /ˈsizən/, reason /ˈrizən/, coach /koʊtʃ/
ou: cousin /ˈkʌzən/, double /ˈdʌbəl/, trouble /ˈtrʌbəl/
e: love /lʌv/, come /kʌm/, have /hæv/
none: rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/, button /ˈbʌtn/, listen /ˈlɪsn/
The best way to learn how to spell and pronounce the schwa sound is to listen to native speakers and imitate them. You can also use a dictionary or an online tool to check the phonetic transcription of words that contain the schwa sound. Remember, the schwa sound is always unstressed, so you should not emphasize it or make it louder than other sounds.
The rhotic R
The rhotic R is a consonant sound that is pronounced in all positions: at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a word. It is represented by the symbol /r/ in phonetic transcription. For example:
red /red/
car /kɑr/
bird /bɜrd/
star /stɑr/
near /nɪr/
The rhotic R is a distinctive feature of the American accent. In other varieties of English, such as British English, the R sound is not pronounced at the end of a word or before a consonant, unless it is followed by a vowel sound in the next word. For example:
American English: car /kɑr/, hard /hɑrd/, work /wɜrk/, first /fɜrst/, water /ˈwɔtər/, here /hɪr/, more /mɔr/
British English: car /kɑː/, hard /hɑːd/, work /wɜːk/, first /fɜːst/, water /ˈwɔtə/, here /hɪə/, more /mɔː/
The rhotic R is also different from the R sound in many other languages, such as Spanish, French, or German. In those languages, the R sound is produced by rolling or trilling the tongue against the roof of the mouth or the back of the teeth. In American English, the R sound is produced by curling the tongue back and raising it slightly towards the roof of the mouth. The tip of the tongue should not touch anything in your mouth. The air should flow over the sides of your tongue and create a slight vibration.
The best way to learn how to pronounce the rhotic R is to practice with words and sentences that contain this sound. You can also use a mirror or a video camera to check your tongue position and movement. Remember, the rhotic R is always pronounced, regardless of its position in a word or a sentence.
The flap T
The flap T is a consonant sound that is produced by tapping the tongue briefly against the roof of the mouth. It occurs between two vowel sounds or between a vowel and a rhotic R. It is represented by the symbol /t̬/ in phonetic transcription. For example:
butter /ˈbʌt̬ər/
city /ˈsɪt̬i/
water /ˈwɔt̬ər/
party /ˈpɑrt̬i/
letter /ˈlet̬ər/
The flap T is another characteristic sound of the American accent. In other varieties of English, such as British English, the T sound is pronounced more clearly and sharply in these positions, with a brief pause or stop of the air flow. For example:
American English: butter /ˈbʌt̬ər/, city /ˈsɪt̬i/, water /ˈwɔt̬ər/, party /ˈpɑrt̬i/, letter /ˈlet̬ər/
British English: butter /ˈbʌtə/, city /ˈsɪti/, water /ˈwɔtə/, party /ˈpɑti/, letter /ˈletə/
The flap T is very similar to the D sound in American English, and sometimes they are indistinguishable. For example:
better /ˈbet̬ər/ and bedder /ˈbed̬ər/ sound the same.
writer /ˈraɪt̬ər/ and rider /ˈraɪd̬ər/ sound the same.
latter /ˈlæt̬ər/ and ladder /ˈlæd̬ər/ sound the same.
The flap T is very easy to produce. You just need to tap your tongue lightly and quickly against the roof of your mouth, without stopping the air flow. The flap T sound is the same as the sound you make when you say "uh-oh" or "tut-tut". The key to pronouncing the flap T correctly is to make it very short and soft. Do not stress or elongate the flap T sound, or you will sound unnatural and unclear.
The flap T sound can only occur between two vowel sounds or between a vowel and a rhotic R. It cannot occur at the beginning or at the end of a word, or before or after a consonant sound. For example:
top /tɑp/ (no flap T)
bat /bæt/ (no flap T)
cat /kæt/ (no flap T)
stop /stɑp/ (no flap T)
best /best/ (no flap T)
The best way to learn how to pronounce the flap T is to practice with words and sentences that contain this sound. You can also use a dictionary or an online tool to check the phonetic transcription of words that contain the flap T sound. Remember, the flap T sound is always between two vowel sounds or between a vowel and a rhotic R.
Stress and intonation
Another important aspect of pronunciation is the correct use of stress and intonation. Stress refers to the emphasis or loudness that you give to certain sounds over others in speech. Intonation refers to the variation of pitch or tone that you use when speaking. Stress and intonation affect the meaning and pronunciation of words and sentences in English.
In this section, we will focus on two types of stress and two types of intonation patterns that are particularly characteristic of the American accent: word stress, sentence stress, rising intonation, and falling intonation. These patterns are often difficult for non-native speakers to master, but they are essential for sounding natural and clear in American English.
Word stress
Word stress refers to the emphasis or loudness that you give to one syllable over others in a word. Word stress affects the meaning and pronunciation of words in English. For example:
record /ˈrekɔrd/ (noun) vs. record /rɪˈkɔrd/ (verb)
present /ˈprezənt/ (noun) vs. present /prɪˈzent/ (verb)
object /ˈɑbdʒekt/ (noun) vs. object /əbˈdʒekt/ (verb)
permit /ˈpɜrmɪt/ (noun) vs. permit /pərˈmɪt/ (verb)
contest /ˈkɑntest/ (noun) vs. contest /kənˈtest/ (verb)
In American English, word stress is usually predictable based on the type and structure of the word. For example:
Most two-syllable nouns and adjectives are stressed on the first syllable: table, happy, window, yellow, etc.
Most two-syllable verbs are stressed on the second syllable: decide, forget, enjoy, reply, etc.
Most compound words are stressed on the first part: blackboard, bedroom, airport, notebook, etc.
Most words ending in -tion, -sion, -ic, -ical, -ity, -ian are stressed on the second-to-last syllable: nation, vision, music, musical, ability, musician, etc.
The best way to learn how to stress words correctly is to listen to native speakers and imitate them. You can also use a dictionary or an online tool to check the stress pattern of words that you are not sure about. Remember, stressed syllables are louder, longer, and higher in pitch than unstressed syllables.
Sentence stress
Sentence stress refers to the emphasis or loudness that you give to certain words over others in a sentence. Sentence stress affects the meaning and intonation of sentences in English. For example:
I love you. (normal stress)
I love you. (emphatic stress on I)
I love you. (emphatic stress on love)
I love you. (emphatic stress on you)
In American English, sentence stress is usually based on the type and function of the words in the sentence. For example:
Most content words are stressed in a sentence. Content words are words that carry the main meaning and information of the sentence, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Most function words are unstressed in a sentence. Function words are words that serve a grammatical purpose and connect the content words, such as articles, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and auxiliary verbs.
For example, in the sentence "She is going to the park with her dog", the content words are she, going, park, and dog, and the function words are is, to, the, and with. The content words are stressed and the function words are unstressed.
The best way to learn how to stress sentences correctly is to listen to native speakers and imitate them. You can also use a dictionary or an online tool to check the type and function of words that you are not sure about. Remember, stressed words are louder, longer, and higher in pitch than unstressed words.
Rising and falling intonation
Rising and falling intonation are two common intonation patterns in American English. Intonation refers to the variation of pitch or tone that you use when speaking. Intonation affects the mood, attitude, and intention of your speech. For example:
Rising intonation is when your voice goes up at the end of a sentence or a phrase. Rising intonation is usually used to indicate a question, a request, a doubt, a surprise, or an unfinished thought.
Falling intonation is when your voice goes down at the end of a sentence or a phrase. Falling intonation is usually used to indicate a statement, a command, a confirmation, an agreement, or a finished thought.
For example:
You're from New York? (rising intonation: question)
You're from New York. (falling intonation: statement)
Can you pass me the salt? (rising intonation: request)
Pass me the salt. (falling intonation: command)
I don't know if I can go. (rising intonation: doubt)
I know I can go. (falling intonation: confirmation)
Wow, that's amazing! (rising intonation: surprise)
Yes, that's amazing. (falling intonation: agreement)
I was thinking