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Find out your accent with this test: https://myaccent.cambridgeconsultants.com
You just have to read a sentence, and it will give you a percentage showing how American or British you do sound. And it will also detail what lead them to that conclusion.
That's pretty cool. I'll try it later in my best Churchill voice.
Must try in a bit.. what happens when you try and fool it?
Will it recognize my dulcet Glasgow accent?
Will it recognize that I really am Sean Connery?
Must try in a bit.. what happens when you try and fool it?
Well, I am not a native and I tried my best American accent BAAAB the FRAAAG (Bob the frog).
My husband tried his British accent and got 98% British and 2% American - he is pretty proud of his results, and so I am of mine!
At the end of the game you are asked to confirm if you speak American / British or another English, so that they will use your recording to fine tune their algorithm.
Will it recognize that I really am Sean Connery?
Not unless they can check under your kilt 
To be clear, there is not an ounce of British in my pronunciation.
I call BS.
Correction: My mic was recording gibberish.
Once I fixed it, things got better. At least, more accurate:
Still 10% off.
And how it had thought to identify anything at all the first time around, is beyond me.
Correction: My mic was recording gibberish.
Once I fixed it, things got better. At least, more accurate:
Still 10% off.
And how it had thought to identify anything at all the first time around, is beyond me.
Tell the truth, @ Ben -- weren't you just a little pleased with the first result?
I'm going to practice my Diana Rigg before trying this --
Hmm, my first try was almost 70% British even though I am 100% American. On the second try it recognized me as 95% American.
On a similar note, I can relate to various levels of British happiness. Not too bad, thanks!
What is this weird way of talking in America? It's truly horrible.
What is this weird way of talking in America? It's truly horrible.
I think it's just the 80s valley girl voice they satire in TV and movies often. Apparently as well in the series you posted. Probably annoying to the Hollywood TV writers who live in that southern California bubble, though far from a phenomenon of the entire USA.
You’re right, aficionado . Like, TOTALLY.
Though as mentioned by that LAtimes article, Val speak might have come from Australia before California. I recalled the many articles discussing "vocal fry" 10+ years ago, but not much since the pandemic. Perhaps making the rounds again on the 'net. That might be the modern version which has spread out geographically. Still it is mostly a young person's technique. https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-pub…-vocal-fry.html
I think it's just the 80s valley girl voice they satire in TV and movies often. Apparently as well in the series you posted. Probably annoying to the Hollywood TV writers who live in that southern California bubble, though far from a phenomenon of the entire USA.
Thanks for this. I had no idea it was a thing!
aficionado , what an interesting article! I was unaware of the term “vocal fry.”
I wonder if there’s a name for the trendy cadence of many young journalists? It’s a sort of rush through a bunch of words, with an abrupt stop mid-sentence, then a rush through another sentence fragment. It is so annoying and distracting that I can’t listen to certain NYT podcasts.
And the habit of making a statement with an upward inflection to make it sound like a question?
A defining characteristic of Valley Girl talk.
And the habit of making a statement with an upward inflection to make it sound like a question?
A defining characteristic of Valley Girl talk.
Yes. Valley talk or UpTalk. Since at least the 80s and mostly from Southern California. Google around to find the resurgence of discussion which finally quieted down by 2020.
thoughtco.com/uptalk-high-rising-terminal-1692574
A defining characteristic of Valley Girl talk.
And Australians, which found itself to the UK. I blame the soap, Neighbours, for that.
Oops, posted that without reading through the NYT snippet!
