English is one of the most popular languages in the world today, with approximately 380 million speakers worldwide. It is used extensively in academics and business-and like it or not, a speaker's proficiency with the 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 simple: The Complete Idiot's Guide® to American Accent. In this book, communication is improved by working with readers through a program that combines pronunciation, word connections, and intonation-with intonation being the most important.
Expert author and language expert, Diane Ryan, provides readers with confidence in their American English skills to speak in a way that can be more readily understood by Americans with this accessible accent-reduction program. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to American Accent is an easy and enjoyable way to master the most challenging American English speech characteristics, such as:
- Proper pronunciation of even the most problematic American English sounds
- The ability to hear the difference between the correct and incorrect sound
- Placement practice-shaping the mouth in the correct way to produce the proper sound.
- Mirror exercises to reinforce correct placement.
- Using the correct sounds in words, sentences, and conversations.
- Using rhythm, pitch, and intonation affect to increase intelligibility.
- Stress in words and phrases and how it influences timing.
The book is packaged with a 60-minute audio CD that readers can follow along with to cover the sounds that prove most problematic to those looking to improve their American accent. And for advanced pronunciation practice, readers can go to the book's companion site, accentmasters.com.
