The Complete Idiot's Guide to the American Accent

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The Complete Idiots Guide American Accent
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  1. Paperback: 240 pages: 1 item
  2. Publisher: Alpha; 2009-11-03
  3. Author: Diane Ryan
  4. ISBN: 1592579183
  5. Sales Rank in Books: #1119023

Product Review

Accent reduction for non-native speakers of English - with practice CD!

A speaker's proficiency with the English language often reflects how others view them. For people who are already familiar with the vocabulary and grammar rules, yet still find it difficult to communicate effectively in the United States, the solution is: The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to the American Accent. In this book, communication is improved by working with readers through a program that combines pronunciation, word connections, and intonation. The goal is not to eliminate a reader's non-native accent or erase cultural identity but to improve intelligibility.

The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to the American Accent is an easy and enjoyable way to master the most challenging American English speech characteristics through techniques such as:

•The ability to hear the difference between the correct and incorrect sound

•Practice shaping the mouth in the correct way to produce the proper sound

•Using the correct sounds in words, sentences, and conversations

•Understanding why rhythm, pitch, and stress affects intelligibility

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An easily understood book for all desiring everyday American speech, December 28, 2009
Shamrock Guy "Lover of Life" (Gulf Coast, Florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the American Accent (Paperback)
I work with individuals whose English ranges from barely discernible to articulate but accented. I bought this book and decided that, before I recommended it to these folks, I ought to read it myself. In short, it is wonderfully written and the DVD that accompanies it is a Godsend and I recommend it without reservation!

Whether a speaker is a recent immigrant or a long-time resident who wants to sound more "American", this book is the answer.

The author makes it almost enjoyable and leaves a sense of taking the reader by the hand toward improved speaking ability. It is done in a user-friendly, light-hearted fashion and there is help here for all interested in Americanizing their speech.

Even native-born people with regional accents can benefit from this gem of an instructional book.


1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Not good, May 1, 2011
Mr. Kiyasudeen Aliyar - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the American Accent (Paperback)
It is waste of time,for example, regarding connecting word to word rules , she reads the sentences very fast without any thoughts about the audience she is teaching and not explaining the rules, meaning, one has to tell the wrong way and then the right way so we know the difference.I see it is missing.

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