Learn the Central Plains Midwest Accent

(79.5MB, 83 minutes) 2011 Edition

This download includes a written examination of how to learn the Central Plains American Midwest accent, and the following sound files featuring Accent Help coach Jim Johnson:

Play Audio Sample:

1. Introduction to Sound Placement, Intonation, and Helpful Hints (5:50)
2. Consonant sound changes for learning a Central Plains accent (6:27)
3. Vowel sound changes in a Midwest accent (11:18)
4. changes in Diphthongs for this "General American" accent (1:40)
5. Alternate pronunciations for words in this standard American accent (4:11)
6. Wrap up to learning a Central Plains American accent (1:43)
7. Female from Southeast Iowa reading (1:08)
8. + her conversation (3:18)
9. Female from Newell Iowa reading (1:32)
10. + her conversation (4:45)
11. Female from Lincoln Nebraska conversation (4:30)
12. Female from Cedar Rapids Iowa reading (1:05)
13. + her conversation (10:19)
14. Female from Arkansas City Kansas reading (:48)
15. + her conversation (3:02)
16. Male from Laramie Wyoming reading (1:01)
17. + his conversation (5:51)
18. Female from Colorado & Evanston Wyoming reading (1:00)
19. + her conversation (5:21)
20. Female from Bozeman Montana reading (:55)
21. + her conversation (3:27)
22. Male from Windsor Colorado reading (:55)
23. + his conversation (3:34)

Central Plains covers an accent that many consider to be the Standard American accent or the General American accent; however, one major difference is that this Central Plains accent isn't as formal as some versions of the General American accent.  It is common, for example, to say "git" instead of "get" in this more relaxed neutral American accent.  

This accent covers learning the central Midwest accent that carries west to the Rocky Mountains, including Colorado and Wyoming, as well as the Midwestern states of Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.  Some people expect the more Western accents to sound more Southern, but in reality, a Laramie, Wyoming accent doesn't contain these southern sound changes - it's still largely Midwest sounding.  This accent can also carry over into surrounding states, such as South Dakota, Montana, and Illinois.  

If you're looking for training in a General American, Neutral American or Standard American accent, you can find an extensive training download from AccentHelp coach Kate DeVore at her General American Accent site.  This will be especially useful if you have any strong regional dialect or accent.

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 actually included with this download as well.

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.