NationStates Jolt Archive


Accents: let's settle this once and for all

Ryadn
02-05-2008, 07:29
Or at least for the next two weeks, after which everyone will have forgotten we ever discussed it and it will come up again.

1. Go to the Speech Accent Archive. (http://accent.gmu.edu/)
2. Search for accents recorded by people in your area.
3. Listen to them.
4. Pick the one that's closest to your accent and post a link to it.
5. We knowledgeable folks of NSG will listen to it and tell you if you have an accent. Then we'll make fun of it, probably.

English252 (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=856), a female speaker from San Jose, California, has the accent closest to mine, only I talk faster.
Arroza
02-05-2008, 07:41
English 170 (http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=556) - Elmore, Mississippi....
Except I'm a dude.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
02-05-2008, 07:44
Ugh. Quicktime.
Copiosa Scotia
02-05-2008, 07:49
At the moment, I'm at a loss to try and find an accent matching mine. There's nothing from Austin, where I live. There's nothing from Denver, where I was born. There's not even anything from Huntsville, where I lived for four months -- not that I sound hick enough for this to matter.
Arroza
02-05-2008, 07:51
At the moment, I'm at a loss to try and find an accent matching mine. There's nothing from Austin, where I live. There's nothing from Denver, where I was born. There's not even anything from Huntsville, where I lived for four months -- not I sound hick enough for this to matter.

! Wait, I don't sound like a hick...

No wait, yes I do.
Copiosa Scotia
02-05-2008, 08:02
! Wait, I don't sound like a hick...

No wait, yes I do.

Post a speech sample for proof. :p

It's occurred to me that there's another problem: I actually have no idea what I sound like. If they could create a program that compared my sounds to the sounds in other samples, that'd be quite a trick.
Ryadn
02-05-2008, 08:06
English 170 (http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=556) - Elmore, Mississippi....
Except I'm a dude.

Awww! It's so... charming.

Ugh. Quicktime.

Oh, hush, you!

At the moment, I'm at a loss to try and find an accent matching mine. There's nothing from Austin, where I live. There's nothing from Denver, where I was born. There's not even anything from Huntsville, where I lived for four months -- not that I sound hick enough for this to matter.

That's very bizarre. Nothing at all from Colorado! Perhaps you should add to the research, if one can still do that...
Ryadn
02-05-2008, 08:07
Post a speech sample for proof. :p

It's occurred to me that there's another problem: I actually have no idea what I sound like. If they could create a program that compared my sounds to the sounds in other samples, that'd be quite a trick.

I matched mine to how my voice sounds the answering machine rather than in my head. My voice is way lower and cooler in my head. :-/
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
02-05-2008, 08:08
! Wait, I don't sound like a hick...

No wait, yes I do.

If "kids" has two syllables... :p
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
02-05-2008, 08:26
This guy:

http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=567

...sounds the most like I would think I used to before I left IL. He's the only male voice on the list with any kind of Chicago accent at all, in fact, although a couple of them were obviously trying to hide any accent.

In any case, "we'll meet her" should *not* have any "t" sound in it at all. It should sound like "wheel mead 'er," or even "wool mead'r" if you're not consciously trying to hide your accent, like some of them were. :p
greed and death
02-05-2008, 08:29
At the moment, I'm at a loss to try and find an accent matching mine. There's nothing from Austin, where I live. There's nothing from Denver, where I was born. There's not even anything from Huntsville, where I lived for four months -- not that I sound hick enough for this to matter.

the only reason to be in Huntsville is because your in prison or your in school.
so which was it ?
Arroza
02-05-2008, 08:41
the only reason to be in Huntsville is because your in prison or your in school.
so which was it ?

She could have meant another Huntsville like the one up here in N. Alabama...you know the one with all the rockets.
Levee en masse
02-05-2008, 08:52
For some reason there is no accent between Stafford and Glasgow :confused:


Which I suppose is appropriate since I don't have much of an accent.
Kyronea
02-05-2008, 09:53
From a lot of listening, I finally settled for this possible Mormon:

http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=124

Thing is, I can't figure out my own accent. I was born in Georgia, but grew up in Ohio, then lived in Southern California for a couple of years and have been in Colorado since...let me give you a voice sample.

http://media.putfile.com/Voice-Sample-94-71
Pure Metal
02-05-2008, 10:00
i already posted my actual voice in the other thread. surely that's better than picking someone who sounds like me?
Daisetta
02-05-2008, 10:00
Once again from the top:

EVERYONE has an accent. Your accent is the way you speak. Therefore everyone on the planet who is capable of speech has one. End of story. Get over it.
Philosopy
02-05-2008, 10:05
None of them really have my accent. I suppose this one (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=97) is closest if I were forced to choose, but it's still not right.
Ifreann
02-05-2008, 10:40
I could look for which one sounds like me, but fuck it. I sound like this (http://media.putfile.com/Ifreann-ag-caint). Bit old, but I doubt my voice has changed much.
Extreme Ironing
02-05-2008, 10:58
I couldn't find a close match. The one from Henley is quite near geographically but is an older generation so the accent has changed.
Chandelier
02-05-2008, 12:02
Hard to tell. There were only two in Florida and one was from Pensacola so that's more of a southern accent. This one is closer: http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=490. It's the one that doesn't sound like an accent to me, so it's probably closest to my accent, I guess. Not exact though, I don't think, but the closest one I could find.


Here's my voice (http://media.putfile.com/kindoframbling). I haven't listened to that in a while. Hope it's good enough for you guys to tell me what my accent is like.
Tsaphiel
02-05-2008, 12:28
None of them sound right at all.
The one that sounds more like me than the others though is

Bury St. Edmunds, England, UK
http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=521

Which is odd, considering Bury St. Edmunds is on the opposite side of the country to me.
Dalmatia Cisalpina
02-05-2008, 13:14
*grumbles about lack of speakers from upper Great Plains*
Either yiddish2 or english179, though I'm probably actually closer to yiddish2.
Dundee-Fienn
02-05-2008, 13:17
None of them really match me so here (http://media.putfile.com/Stella-99-46) is my reading of the passage.
Kryozerkia
02-05-2008, 13:27
My browser is allergic to Quicktime.

For this reason, I instead post my own voice recording and you can figure out if I'm on the dot with my assessment.

Kryo's Accent (http://media.putfile.com/Kryos-Accent)

I read the same sample given on the same site.

Below are the two that I think are closest to my accent.

http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=541 (Ottawa)

The above is from one region I grew up in.

http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=86 (Toronto)

But I've lived here more of my life. But I was born here, then moved to Ottawa then moved back here almost six years ago. Mind you, I'm female so ignore the fact that the speaker is a male. My accent should be close to one of those two.
Nanatsu no Tsuki
02-05-2008, 13:41
Spanish 22 (http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=337), female from Madrid has the accent closest to mine.
Boonytopia
02-05-2008, 13:49
Somewhere between this:

http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=143

and this:

http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=140
Smunkeeville
02-05-2008, 13:50
There isn't one from my area, I don't have quicktime to listen and I can't find my microphone.......so there.
Levee en masse
02-05-2008, 14:22
Once again from the top:

EVERYONE has an accent. Your accent is the way you speak. Therefore everyone on the planet who is capable of speech has one. End of story. Get over it.

I'm always amazed at the things people get het up about.

(Incidently "not much" =/= "no" if the above post was aimed at me)
Dorstfeld
02-05-2008, 14:43
Acktzent?! Vot Acktzent?
I haff no acktzent votsoeffer.
Copiosa Scotia
02-05-2008, 15:01
She could have meant another Huntsville like the one up here in N. Alabama...you know the one with all the rockets.

He. :p

But you're right on the other thing, that's the Huntsville I was talking about. Not even really in Huntsville though. Some remote housing development well outside of Huntsville. We occasionally had cattle running through our backyard.
Snafturi
02-05-2008, 15:19
From a lot of listening, I finally settled for this possible Mormon:

http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=124

Thing is, I can't figure out my own accent. I was born in Georgia, but grew up in Ohio, then lived in Southern California for a couple of years and have been in Colorado since...let me give you a voice sample.

http://media.putfile.com/Voice-Sample-94-71
You seriouly need to go into radio.
The Blaatschapen
02-05-2008, 15:29
OMG :eek:

I've got a Belgian accent :(

Actually, I've got some from the Nijmegen accent (dutch1) the Belgian Limburg (of all places:()accent(dutch4 iirc) and afrikaans2 also looks familiar.

Or maybe I'm just deaf and should upload a file myself to here to let you hear my accent.


And why are there no people from my area of The NL in the list (Brabant).

Then again, my dutch has for some strange reason some influences of the Eastern Accents (Eastern part of the netherlands that is. IE. Overijssel and Achterhoek, not that you know what I'm talking about anyway). While I never even lived there..
Dyakovo
02-05-2008, 19:49
This (http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=489) is the closest I could find...
Dyakovo
02-05-2008, 19:52
Spanish 22 (http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=337), female from Madrid has the accent closest to mine.

I demand a sample of your actual voice...
:p
Nanatsu no Tsuki
02-05-2008, 20:21
I demand a sample of your actual voice...
:p

I'll see what I can do for you as soon as I get home.;)
Conserative Morality
02-05-2008, 20:25
Crap, I can't find one that sounds like mine! They all sound nothing like me (At least on the east coast where my whole FRICKEN family resides) Might have to post a sample later...
Yootopia
02-05-2008, 20:26
None of the ones from the UK normally (clipped tones and all that), somewhere between 82 and 611 after spending 0.6 seconds in the company of anyone from Scotland.
Galloism
02-05-2008, 20:29
Well, I was looking for one that sounds like me, then I stumbled across this. Somehow... well, just listen: Wierd (http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=129)
Fassitude
02-05-2008, 20:36
None of those for Sweden resemble mine.
Yootopia
02-05-2008, 20:38
None of those for Sweden resemble mine.
Then put your own voice up on there.
Fassitude
02-05-2008, 20:38
Then put your own voice up on there.

No.
The_pantless_hero
02-05-2008, 20:39
Hmm, the people here who didn't grow up in the boonies generally have a generic non-accent.
Mott Haven
02-05-2008, 20:46
Yo, fuggedabowdit. I don hafta tell nobuddy whakinda axen I got.
Potarius
02-05-2008, 21:05
The one from Vancouver talks almost just like me, though he's significantly older and his voice has a higher pitch.

http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=103

Maybe I should move there. :p
Kryozerkia
02-05-2008, 21:40
No.

It didn't stop you yesterday during that little ego-feast. You have no problems sharing your voice when your ego is stroked. :)
Fassitude
02-05-2008, 21:44
It didn't stop you yesterday during that little ego-feast.

I uploaded a sample of my voice to that site yesterday? You're certainly imaginative.

You have no problems sharing your voice when your ego is stroked. :)

It was pertinent for the thread. Notice the files having been taken down once they were no longer so.
Yossarian Lives
02-05-2008, 22:00
Mine's not that far off this one, if you subtract the Australian twang.

http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=492
Kyronea
02-05-2008, 22:56
You seriouly need to go into radio.

If I find an opportunity to get into radio somehow while in the Navy, I'll keep that in mind.
Potarius
02-05-2008, 23:12
http://media.putfile.com/Please-call-Stella-55

There's me doing the Stella thing.
Dundee-Fienn
02-05-2008, 23:24
http://media.putfile.com/Please-call-Stella-55

There's me doing the Stella thing.

You sound a little bit pissed off with Stella
Kyronea
02-05-2008, 23:55
You sound a little bit pissed off with Stella

The woman is being forced to go grocery shopping for people all over the world. I'd be pissed too.
Potarius
03-05-2008, 00:07
You sound a little bit pissed off with Stella

You'd be pissed off too, if you had a bout of food poisoning.
Copiosa Scotia
03-05-2008, 01:03
I'm male, but this female (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=455) from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is probably the closest I've found. The major difference from what I can tell is that she says "Winds-dee" where I say "Winds-day."

Edit: Actually, this one (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=871) from Phoenix, Arizona is probably better.

It's fun to click around their map of North America. The Missisippi, Brooklyn and Boston samples are all very stereotypical.
Potarius
03-05-2008, 01:13
I'm male, but this female (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=455) from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is probably the closest I've found. The major difference from what I can tell is that she says "Winds-dee" where I say "Winds-day."

Edit: Actually, this one (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=871) from Phoenix, Arizona is probably better.

It's fun to click around their map of North America. The Missisippi, Brooklyn and Boston samples are all very stereotypical.

Yeah, but that Boston one is soothing, to say the least.
Rasselas
03-05-2008, 01:22
http://media.putfile.com/Stella-62-70

I feel the need to apologise for my Northern accent :p
Potarius
03-05-2008, 01:28
http://media.putfile.com/Stella-62-70

I feel the need to apologise for my Northern accent :p

Why? Sounds good to me. Quite good.
Dyakovo
03-05-2008, 01:29
Yeah, but that Boston one is soothing, to say the least.

Boston accent soothing?
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Sarothai/Smileys/puke3.gif
Potarius
03-05-2008, 01:33
Boston accent soothing?
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Sarothai/Smileys/puke3.gif

How is it not soothing?
Shotagon
03-05-2008, 01:35
At the moment, I'm at a loss to try and find an accent matching mine. There's nothing from Austin, where I live. There's nothing from Denver, where I was born. There's not even anything from Huntsville, where I lived for four months -- not that I sound hick enough for this to matter.How strange - I live in Austin as well.
Dyakovo
03-05-2008, 01:35
How is it not soothing?

Boston accents grate on my nerves...
Potarius
03-05-2008, 01:36
Boston accents grate on my nerves...

Yeah, well the Mississippi and Arkansas ones make me want to scoop my eyes out with a spoon.
Nanatsu no Tsuki
03-05-2008, 01:43
Boston accent soothing?
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Sarothai/Smileys/puke3.gif

Mine is soothing.:D
Dyakovo
03-05-2008, 01:49
Yeah, well the Mississippi and Arkansas ones make me want to scoop my eyes out with a spoon.
Meh, the accents didn't really bother me, the speakers' voices in general on the other hand...
Mine is soothing.:D
I still demand proof :D
Also, you don't have a Boston accent...
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
03-05-2008, 01:51
Boston accents grate on my nerves...

I wanted him to say "Vote Quimby!" but he didn't. :(
Nanatsu no Tsuki
03-05-2008, 01:51
Meh, the accents didn't really bother me, the speakers' voices in general on the other hand...

I still demand proof :D
Also, you don't have a Boston accent...

I´m trying to record myself speaking Spanish. But this damned Mac! I can´t find how to record on it. Waaaahhhhh!!!:(
Dyakovo
03-05-2008, 01:54
I´m trying to record myself speaking Spanish. But this damned Mac! I can´t find how to record on it. Waaaahhhhh!!!:(

Well, if you had a real computer...
You'd quite possibly have the same problem since I cannot get a microphone to work on mine...
Nanatsu no Tsuki
03-05-2008, 01:58
Well, if you had a real computer...
You'd quite possibly have the same problem since I cannot get a microphone to work on mine...

I´ll record and upload it in a few minutes, you impatient American.
Dyakovo
03-05-2008, 02:01
I´ll record and upload it in a few minutes, you impatient American.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Sarothai/Smileys/LO6bigHug02HL2.gif
Rasselas
03-05-2008, 02:03
Why? Sounds good to me. Quite good.
I've found that Mancunian accents are never among peoples favourites :P Perhaps thats because they're basing their opinions on the accents of Oasis, the Happy Mondays, and the like. Or maybe it's because Manc accents just aren't that great.
Boonytopia
03-05-2008, 02:03
Hmm, the people here who didn't grow up in the boonies generally have a generic American accent.

Edited for accuracy.
Arnout
03-05-2008, 02:08
um closest were english 13 and english 14

I speak with a very slightly posh english accent with some elements of welsh, geordie, indian, yiddish and for some reason dutch and swedish. Not all the elements show up all the time and it depends on who I am talking to, the problem is I don't notice it which is highly annoying.
Nanatsu no Tsuki
03-05-2008, 02:12
Does anyone here know of a website where I can record my voice? My Mac´s acting up.
Dyakovo
03-05-2008, 02:15
Hmmm, was just randomly hopping around and found this, (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=19) which is pretty much dead on to my sister-in-law.
Nanatsu no Tsuki
03-05-2008, 02:41
My Mac´s an ass.

Take a look at this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHEusJYzOoI&feature=related). Although that´s not me, that´s the way I speak in Spanish.

For a sample of how Asturian sounds, take a look at this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBcuJ6in6fM).

Incidentally, I also found this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPI_OENSwUs&feature=related) and it made me cry. It reminded me of my grandma singing.
Copiosa Scotia
03-05-2008, 03:55
Boston accents grate on my nerves...

Seconded. Fortunately the sample doesn't show that strong of an accent... I consider a strong Boston accent to be pretty much the worst accent in the world.
Melkor Unchained
03-05-2008, 04:40
English 165, all the way

138's pretty close too. Not hearing much of a difference tbh.
Layarteb
03-05-2008, 04:43
Kat back me up. New Yorkers don't have accents.
Marrakech II
03-05-2008, 06:19
I would have to go with English 175

http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=572
Marrakech II
03-05-2008, 06:20
Kat back me up. New Yorkers don't have accents.

Everyone else does.
St Bellamy
03-05-2008, 06:43
english106 (http://accent.gmu.edu/searchsaa.php?function=detail&speakerid=408)
Dundee-Fienn
03-05-2008, 07:15
Does anyone here know of a website where I can record my voice? My Mac´s acting up.

If you download this (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17392) you can do it. At least that's what i'm using. You might need to convert the file to wmv or something for putfile if you're using that. You can convert it on here (http://www.media-convert.com/) if you like
Copiosa Scotia
03-05-2008, 08:23
New Yorkers don't have accents.

what

The Brooklyn sample is the most immediately recognizable accent I've found on that site.

How strange - I live in Austin as well.

Well, it's not that strange. I'd imagine Austinites make up a significantly larger portion of the Internets population than the general population.

Technically, I live in Evanston, IL, but Austin's my home.
Nanatsu no Tsuki
03-05-2008, 17:57
If you download this (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17392) you can do it. At least that's what i'm using. You might need to convert the file to wmv or something for putfile if you're using that. You can convert it on here (http://www.media-convert.com/) if you like

Dundee, thanks a lot for the links but my Mac is just a bitch. It won´t let me create a file with that application. I´ll see what I can do later on. But again, thanks for the links.
The blessed Chris
03-05-2008, 18:09
English 170 (http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php?function=detail&speakerid=556) - Elmore, Mississippi....
Except I'm a dude.


Ahahahaha. Very instructive.

Anyway, since my search only revealed 2 English accents, from Chester and Manchester, and neither applied, I'm unable to provide a sample.
Rejistania
03-05-2008, 18:11
Ugh. Quicktime.

I second that statement!
Nanatsu no Tsuki
03-05-2008, 20:18
Quicktime sucks.