Accent is a combination of three main components: intonation (speech music), liaisons (word
connections), and pronunciation (the spoken sounds of vowels, consonants, and combinations).
Accents are influenced by a people’s geographical region of origin, their age, social background and education, and whether they have moved away from their home area. Nowadays it may also be influenced by external factors such radio or television. Amongst speakers of English as an additional language accent is often influenced by the pronunciation and intonation patterns of the first language.
Contrary to popular belief, grammar and accent are completely different, unrelated terms. Part of the difference is that grammar and vocabulary are systematic and structured— the letter of the language. Accent, on the other hand, is free form, intuitive, and creative— more the spirit of the language.
connections), and pronunciation (the spoken sounds of vowels, consonants, and combinations).
Accents are influenced by a people’s geographical region of origin, their age, social background and education, and whether they have moved away from their home area. Nowadays it may also be influenced by external factors such radio or television. Amongst speakers of English as an additional language accent is often influenced by the pronunciation and intonation patterns of the first language.
Contrary to popular belief, grammar and accent are completely different, unrelated terms. Part of the difference is that grammar and vocabulary are systematic and structured— the letter of the language. Accent, on the other hand, is free form, intuitive, and creative— more the spirit of the language.
My accent, being from south-west, has to be different from someone far off, say north-east. Here's a story:
An Outsider in a small Texas town around Christmas time, saw a "Nativity Scene" that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. But one small feature was all wrong: the three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, he left. At a "Quik Stop" on the edge of town, he asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets.
She exploded into a rage, yelling, "You darn Yankees never read your Bibles!"
The Outsider assured her that he did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible.
She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and riffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in the guys face she said, "See, it says right here, 'The three wise men came from afar.'"
An Outsider in a small Texas town around Christmas time, saw a "Nativity Scene" that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. But one small feature was all wrong: the three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, he left. At a "Quik Stop" on the edge of town, he asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets.
She exploded into a rage, yelling, "You darn Yankees never read your Bibles!"
The Outsider assured her that he did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible.
She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and riffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in the guys face she said, "See, it says right here, 'The three wise men came from afar.'"
by Ben69 September 6, 2006
Get the accent mug.Guy from California: Accent? What accent? I have no accent.
Guy from South Carolina: Shit, you got a cold? Cus you sound like your nose is all stuffed up.
Guy from South Carolina: Shit, you got a cold? Cus you sound like your nose is all stuffed up.
by Gumbo man April 11, 2009
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accent
• accenture
• accentuate
• Accentident
• accentism
• accentist
• accentsexual
• accent block
• Accent Candy
• Accent catfished
by zanipa January 19, 2009
Get the Accent mug.countable, uncountable a way of pronouncing the words of a language that shows which country, area, or social class a person comes from
a Southern/New York/Greek/British accent
a heavy/thick accent (= one that is very noticeable)
She spoke English with an accent.
compare dialect
singular a special importance that is given to something
synonym emphasis
In all our products the accent is on quality.
a Southern/New York/Greek/British accent
a heavy/thick accent (= one that is very noticeable)
She spoke English with an accent.
compare dialect
singular a special importance that is given to something
synonym emphasis
In all our products the accent is on quality.
by Viszuals On YOUTUBE June 2, 2020
Get the Accent mug.Someone who usually doesn't have an accent, but every now and then, an obnoxious one sneaks its way into conversation.
by RobinSparkles1983 August 16, 2010
Get the accent ninja mug.Having a great affinity for people with accents. Any applies, though it's usualy confined to one or two.
~ Accent Fetish at work ~
Danni: "How ya' been?
Figure.10: "I had a dream I was at an Australian boy's school"
Danni: "Ooo, nice"
Danni: "How ya' been?
Figure.10: "I had a dream I was at an Australian boy's school"
Danni: "Ooo, nice"
by Figure.10 May 30, 2009
Get the Accent Fetish mug.Woman who finds guys with foreign accents attractive, regardless of who they are or what kind of obnoxious dribble may be emanating from their mouths.
Mike: What does Julie possibly see in a bald, alchoholic, cockney soccer hooligan?
Tome: She's an accent slut dude, no other possible explanation.
Tome: She's an accent slut dude, no other possible explanation.
by huggybeer July 16, 2009
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