Learn the New England Accent

(72.8MB, 112 minutes)  2011 Edition

This download includes a written examination for learning a New England 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 speaking with a New England accent (6:09)
2. Consonant sound changes for Downeast accents (10:46)
3. Vowel sound changes for learning a New England accent (7:50)
4. changes to Diphthongs in a New England accent (4:53)
5. Alternate Pronunciations of words and phrases when speaking with a New England accent (4:39)
6. Wrap up for learning a Downeast accent (1:37)
7. Portland Maine Male—Lobsters (1:28)
8. Portland Maine Male—Limo (3:26)
9. Female Maine reading (1:15)
10. + her conversation (3:05)
11. Male Penobscot Bay Maine conversation (5:30)
12. 2 Males from Matinicus Maine conversation (4:09)
13. Male Bridgeton Maine reading (1:08)
14. + his conversation (3:36)
15. Male Center Harbor New Hampshire reading (1:19)
16. + his conversation (6:55)
17. Female Center Harbor New Hampshire reading (1:44)
18. + her conversation (6:38)

New England has a number of accent variations, including the distinct Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island accents.  This download, however, focuses on the New England accents of Maine and New Hampshire.  The Maine accent is also commonly called a Downeast accent, especially along the coast of Maine.  Maine and New Hampshire accents have a lot in common with the accents of other parts of New England as well, but we have separate materials to more acutely reflect the distinctions in some of the urban New England accents.

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.

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.