Thursday, September 2, 2010

jaw movements

"The language. Most Indian languages are flat and do not entail much voice modulation or waviness. Most regional Indian languages are spoken with horizontal jaw movements, whereas the standard American accent requires vertical jaw movements. In addition, for many Indian speakers, English is a second language. As a result, they reflexively carry the horizontal jaw movement of their mother tongue into English speaking. So, Indian English is spoken with the mouth closed and with rapid lip movements. This often makes it difficult for an American to comprehend the offshore agent. Dropping the jaw as in the American speech automatically slows the speech."

From here

These guys don't explain the necessity of jaw dropping in AmE. It has to do with the dynamic of hyoid bone and larynx: this dynamics helps vary the pitch, dammit.

Screw all accent reduction therapists!! Go to hell!

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