Here's today's English lesson. Do you refer to someone as having a Southern Accent? Is it accent? Or is it dialect? World Atlas explains it this way:
The process of forming a dialect from the main language may also lead to the acquisition of a new accent. However, it is possible that when a person speaks in the dialect of a given region, they will likely speak in the accent of that particular region. But when a visitor speaks the same dialect of that particular region, he will most likely do so in a different accent. Therefore a different dialect has a greater impact than a different accent. This also happens to people who have emigrated ... from their country to another country. They may develop a dialect from the main language or speak the same language in a different accent.
Confusing? Double speak? Technically, it's a Southern Dialect, not accent. Why am I splitting hairs today?
I've taken on a new project. Often, people want to hear authors read their own work - audiobooks narrated by the original author. I attempted to do this once years ago and gave up. I didn't have the patience, didn't have a process in place. After venturing in the podcast realm, I thought I might give it another go. I'm currently recording the audiobook version of Landslide, my romance novella. I figured I could start out with something short. I'm pleased to say it's going well - better than my first foray into narrating an audiobook. I am, however, hearing my Midwestern dialect. As annoying as it is, I'm not sure I know how to correct it without adopting something completely different.
I've always been a good mimic. I can do several other accents or dialects easily, although when a Scottish friend of mine dared me to try a Scottish accent (no, I can't do one), they teased me for sounding Irish. I can distinguish between Scottish and Irish and English and Australian and even South African, but that doesn't mean I can mimic all of them. I've seen some brilliant videos of people switching seamlessly between them as they read a scripted newscast. I also have an affinity for foreign language. I've studied several, can converse passably in a couple of them, but if someone speaks to me in those languages, my brain struggles to keep up.
Which brings me back to the audiobook. This project is a learning experience, and while I may be doing a creditable job, I know I can improve on the process. The question is, should I?
Are you one of those people who want to hear your favorite author reading/acting their own work?
(Did you know you can download the ebook of Landslide by signing up for my newsletter?)
