

Vowels The vowels unit will introduce you to the pure vowel sounds of the dialect. The techniques involved in successful vocal dynamics include: vocal range, tempo, pacing, inflection and pausing. Intonational Patterning of American English The next unit of this course attends to the music of Standard American English Dialect and is most essential to support and increase meaning.

These concepts include sound identification, voiced and voiceless sounds, syllabification, and aspiration and unaspiration of the three stop-plosive consonant groups. This course is divided into five sections or units: Foundations of Speech This first unit of the course is an overview of some of the basic concepts that will lay a foundation for your study of the Standard American English dialect. Speaking Standard American dialect means speaking English that will sound American-simple, unaffected and distinct, devoid of regional influences. It does not burden the listener with the extra cognitive load of filtering out regional differences before reaching the meaning or intent of the speaker. Instead it is a standard for clear, consistent speech recognizable to listeners across dialects.

“Standard American” is not a judgment of value none of the numerous American dialects is superior to the others. As a professor of speech for actors, Baker-Shirer aims to teach a manner of speech that communicates the content of words with clarity and consistency. It is true that there is no official standard, but there is an understood range of acceptability for American English. An accent or a dialect that could interfere with a clear exchange of ideas with those using a differing dialect or accent. grow up speaking Standard American English Dialect geography plays a major role in the way people speak. In the context of effective speech, “Standard American” refers to a single standard, devoid of regional influences.
