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The USA

The sound of America

Map of the United States illustrating different dialects with text saying “You guys”, “Y’all” and “You all”

The sound of America

The sound of America

What is the official language of the USA? Most people think it’s English, but actually there is no official language. Although English is the most widely spoken language, it only has official status in 30 of the 50 states. In addition, just about every language in the world is spoken in different parts of the USA.

A regional accent or a dialect is the way people speak in a particular part of a country. In the USA there are clear differences in the way people speak English in the north, south, central and western parts of the country.

There are many examples of different kinds of English in Mini movies. Here you’re going to listen to three American regional accents. What differences can you hear in the way Rob, Tina and Scott speak? You don’t need to understand everything they say. Just listen to how they speak. Listen to all three before you do the exercises.

USA_34b_Rob_Kemter_iStock_000011453291_s.jpg

© Kemter/iStockphotos

Drag

Rob

USA_35_Tina_DRB-Images-LLC_iStock_000023323867_s.jpg

© DRB-Images-LLC/iStockphotos

Drag

USA_36_Scott_DRB-Images-LLC_iStock_000019433284_s.jpg

© DRB-Images-LLC/iStockphotos

Drag

Digging deeper

Place names in the USA can tell you something about the history of the country. They also reflect the many nationalities that have settled there. Here are four possible categories:

  1. Names based on Native American names, eg Seattle, Alabama, Miami
  2. Descriptions of the landscape, eg Lakeview, Willow Creek, Pine Bluffs
  3. Names from the countries colonists have come from, eg New York, Oslo, New Orleans
  4. Names expressing hopes for a place, eg Harmony, Sweet Home, Success

Work in groups of four. Look at a map of the USA.

  1. Each person is to find five examples from one of the categories above. Write down the names and the states they are in. Read your list aloud to the rest of the group. They are to write down the names.
  2. Can you think of any other categories?