Learn the New York City Accent

(93.7MB, 95 minutes) 2012 Edition

This download includes a written examination for learning New York City accents, such as the Brooklyn accent,and the following sound files featuring Accent Help coach Jim Johnson:

Play Audio Sample:

1. Introduction to Sound Placement, Intonation and Helpful Hints for learning a New York accent (4:52)
2. Consonant sound changes for a New York City accent (17:02)
3. Vowel sound changes for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and other New York regional accents (7:47)
4. changes to Diphthongs for New York accents (4:23)
5. Alternate Pronunciations for words when speaking with a New York City accent (3:01)
6. Wrap up for learning to speak with a New York accent (6:45)
7. Female Brooklyn reading (1:09)
8. + her conversation (1:52)
9. Female Queens reading (1:43)
10. + her conversation (1:36)
11. Male Queens reading (1:21)
12. + his conversation (:52)
13. Male Brooklyn reading (1:03)
14. + his conversation (1:56)
15. Male Long Island reading (1:15)
16. + his conversation (1:38)
17. Female Long Island Jewish reading (1:38)
18. + her conversation (4:48)
19. Female Brooklyn reading (1:13)
20. + her conversation (5:04)
21. Female Brooklyn Jewish reading (1:21)
22. + her conversation (4:49)
23. Male Bronx Jewish reading (1:03)
24. + his conversation (4:12)
25. BONUS Practice Monologue (6:52)
26. BONUS Practice Intonation (5:40)
27. BONUS Monologue Performance (1:06)

New York City accents include speakers in the various NYC boroughs (Brooklyn accents, Bronx accents, Queens accents, Staten Island, Long Island and Manhattan accents) as well as accents in nearby suburbs and into northern New Jersey.  Though it is commonly believed that each borough has its own distinct accent, this is not really accurate.  There is a stereotype of a strong Bronx accent and a strong Brooklyn accent, but even these are not consistent or overtly distinct.  There is more variation based on ethnicity and religion than based upon the boundaries of boroughs.  These ideas are covered in these materials.

Whatever accent you're working on, it's a good idea to get our FREE guide to learning accents and dialects - it will help you to get started with some basic terms and ideas for learning accents.  It also comes with this download.

This latest update includes bonus tracks of coach Jim Johnson teaching you a monologue in the New York City accent, exploring the variations in the boroughs!

Though these sound files have been remastered to reduce background noise, most of these recordings are made "in the field" so you will hear such things as birds, cars or other people in the background.  A transcription of the conversations is included to help you follow along.  This download also contains four versions of the written materials:  A printer-friendly pdf, a pdf that is in a larger format for use on a portable reading device, and both mobi and epub editions for other portable readers.