Learn the New Orleans Yat Accent

(76MB, 75 minutes)  2011 Edition

This download includes a written examination for learning a New Orleans 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 Yat accent (4:18)
2. Consonant sound changes for speaking with a New Orleans accent (14:24)
3. Vowel sound changes for Yat accents (9:29)
4. changes to Diphthongs in a New Orleans accent (5:10)
5. Alternate Pronunciations for terms in a New Orleans Yat accent (4:11)
6. Wrap up for speaking with a New Orleans accent (2:10)
7. White New Orleans Yat Female reading (1:01)
8. + her conversation (9:43)
9. White/Hispanic New Orleans Male reading (1:30)
10. + his conversation (2:20)
11. “Terlet” New Orleans Female reading (1:25)
12. + her conversation (1:26)
13. “Race Car” New Orleans Yat Male reading (1:29)
14. + his conversation (profanity) (6:02)
15. “Oyster” New Orleans Male conversation (1:57)
16. New Orelans “Yat” Male conversation (:38)
17. New Orleans African-American Female reading (1:07)
18. + her conversation (3:29)
19. “Tours” New Orleans African-American Female reading (1:08)
20. + her conversation (2:43)

New Orleans accents are somewhat a-typical for the south, and are sometimes mistaken for New York accents.  One major New Orleans accent is called Yat or Y'at because of the phrase "Where you at?" or "Where y'at?" meaning "How are you?"  New Orleans accents are influenced by Gulf Coast southern accents, Cajun and Creole, which are all, largely, non-rhotic, which means that R sounds at the ends of words are commonly dropped, much like New York City accents and many accents of England.  

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's also included in this download.)

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.