Identify the Accent

Now that you know the key features, practice identifying accents by their signature sounds:

Quick identification guide:

• GenAm: Neutral, rhotic, no strong vowel shifts
• Californian: Uptalk, cot-caught merger, relaxed reductions
• Southern: Monophthong "I", drawl, pen-pin merger
• NYC: Short-a split, non-rhotic, fast pace, cot-caught distinction
• Midwestern: Flat intonation, cot-caught merger, /æ/ raising, "ope!"

Listen carefully and try to mimic each one!