# 2. Paco was getting used to American pronunciation (US v GB pronunciation)

> You are probably used to British standard pronunciation, not to American pronunciation. Pay attention to some changes in the pronunciation of the letters t, r and vowel sounds. They are very different from the pronunciation you know.

# Reflexiona

One aspect of the differences between American and British pronunciation is the accent. American and English accents have some outstanding differences.
Watch the first two videos to get an idea of the typical American accent. Then watch the last two videos so that you can appreciate the differences with British English pronunciation. All four of them are comedies so, have fun.

Video de Best of TV en Youtube | Video de Amazon Prime Video en Youtube

Video de Kanizu00 en Youtube | Video de bassdownunder en Youtube

# Retroalimentación

Click on the image below and you will find lots of British and American both male and female accents. Choose those ones you want to listen to and you will notice some strong differences between them.

Imagen de honeycut07. Licencia CC

# Curiosidad

The Washington Post Newspaper

Imagen de Hephaestos. Dominio público.

The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest, founded in 1877. Located in the nation's capital, The Post puts a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation.
The newspaper is written as a broadsheet, with photographs printed both in colour as well as in black and white. Weekday printings include the main section, containing the first page, national, international news, business, politics, and editorials and opinions, followed by the sections on local news (Metro), sports, style (feature writing on pop culture, politics, fine and performing arts, film, fashion, and gossip), and classifieds. The Sunday edition includes the weekday sections as well as several weekly sections: Outlook (opinion and editorials), Style & Arts, Travel, Comics, TV Week, and the Washington Post Magazine. Beyond the newspaper, the Washington Post operates a syndication service (The Washington Post Writers Group) and under its parent company of The Washington Post Company, is involved in the Washington Post Media, Washington Post Digital, and washingtonpost.com.
Perhaps the most notable incident in the Post's history was when, in the early 1970s, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein led the American media's investigation into what became known as the Watergate scandal. The newspaper's reporting greatly contributed to the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon.
Taken from Wikipedia.

Differences between British and American pronunciation can be easily seen nowadays in music. Many songs are performed by both American and British singers.

Video en YouTube de Sting

Listen to this song performed by two famous singers, a British singer (Sting) and an American singer (Bruce Springteen). Notice some differences in their pronunciation.
Every breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take, I'll be watching you
Every single day and every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay, I'll be watching you
Oh can't you see you belong to me?
How my poor heart aches with every step you take
Every move you make and every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake, I'll be watching you
Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace
I dream at night
I can only see your face
I look around but it's you I can't replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby please
Oh can't you see you belong to me?
How my poor heart aches with every step you take
Every move you make
And every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake, I'll be watching you
Every move you make
Every step you take, I'll be watching you, I'll be watching you
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take, I'll be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay, I'll be watching you
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake, I'll be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay, I'll be watching you
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take, I'll be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay, I'll be watching you
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake, I'll be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay, I'll be watching you
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take, I'll be watching you

# Ejercicio Resuelto

Which words sound more American?

Video de AccurateEnglish en Youtube

city or cidy
computer or compuder
butter or budder

Watch this video about the American pronunciation of the T sound.

# Retroalimentación

The American pronunciation of T sounds more like a d rather than a t.

When T is between vowels: water /'wɔ:də(r)/. In British English is /'wɔ:tə/

# Comprueba lo aprendido

# Pregunta

Choose the typical American pronunciation of these words which contain the letter T.
1) better.

# Respuestas

Opción 1

a) /'beddər /

Opción 2

b) /'betə/

# Retroalimentación

Correct.
Wrong. The American pronunciation of T sounds more like a d rather than a t.

# Solución

1. Opción correcta (Retroalimentación)
2. Incorrecto (Retroalimentación)

# Pregunta

2) metal.

# Respuestas

Opción 1

a) /'metḷ/.

Opción 2

b) /'meddḷ/.

# Retroalimentación

Wrong.
Correct. The pronunciation is the same as the British one for the word medal.

# Solución

1. Incorrecto (Retroalimentación)
2. Opción correcta (Retroalimentación)

# Para saber más

In this dictionary you can check the pronunciation of any word.

Click here for instant sound and online pronunciation.

Here you can learn about the pronunciation of American t, l, th.

Interested in the American printed press? Here you have a brief tour of the Washington Post printing plant.

Video de Olivia Ma en Youtube