accent changes

Being in this class has definitely changed the way I listen to and think about speech. When I meet someone, I try to identify their accent and notice unusual characteristics of their speech. I have become very attune to regional vocabulary (soda/pop/coke type things) and to pronunciation of vowels. I've begun to listen closely whenever people say "pin" or "pen" to see if they've merged and to comment on pronunciations of "orange."

Being at Stanford, there is a wealth of accents for me to hear. International or within the US, there are countless dialects represented here. It has been interesting to hear how everyone adjusts their vocabulary and pronunciation after living with such diverse influences. Several of my international friends complain that they are beginning to sound like Americans. Although I haven't picked up on the change, their friends and family back home can hear it every time they talk on the phone. I have also noticed American speakers who have changed. Many of them have picked up new expressions from roommates or classmates, and nearly all of them have gotten better at understanding formerly unfamiliar accents.

As for myself, I haven't noticed any great changes, except for the use of Stanford abbreviations and acronyms. I still don't use "hella" (thank goodness), and I don't think my pronunciation is very different than in September. I am interested, however, to see if my family notice any changes when I am back for Christmas break. Maybe they will hear differences that I can't.