每日口說挑戰腔調的心理學 (The Psychology of Accents)

我的是台灣腔…

Introduction
Hey VoiceTube pals! Whatcha all doing?

So it appears that the way we talk affects how people perceive you, as in, the mere way that you sound like. This brings us to the topic of accents.

I absolutely love spotting different accents, whether it’s in videos or in real life. It brings me so much joy. Notable movies/shows off of the top of my mind that have accents that are not the typical American accent are: How to Train Your Dragon - The adults in it have Scottish accents; Leap Year - the movie is set in Ireland so there’s your Irish accent (adorable); then there’s the new Netflix original Ginny and Georgia where Georgia has that Alabama/Southern American accent; the Indian accent in 3 Idiots; and then there’s all the British shows were you get that posh British accent. Of course, there are a bunch of different accents from all over the world, and apparently, accents affect perception.

Check it out in our sentence of the day:

Sentence
35-44 secs
Even when we're talking to someone in the same language, our body language, tone, pitch, and accent convey information beyond what we intend.
即使以相同語言交談，我們的肢體、語氣、聲調與口音，透露的訊息比我們想像得還多。



Pronunciation tips

accent
intend



Vocabulary

pitch /pɪtʃ/
n. 水準；程度；音調
the level or degree of something

Example:
Your pitch is a little off. Could you lower it a bit?
你的音有點偏掉了（走音）。可以調低一點嗎？


Footnotes:
Pitch n.
a speech or an action that attempts to persuade someone to buy or do something
推銷用語；推銷

Pitch v.
to move or be moved suddenly, especially by throwing or being thrown
（使）突然移動；（尤指）投，扔


Pitch v.
to try to persuade someone to do something
竭力勸說




convey /kənˈveɪ/
v. 表達，傳達（思想、感情或想法）
to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people


Example:
Norah could never understand what the art pieces are trying to convey.
Norah 總是無法理解畫作想表達的含義。

Footnotes:
Synonyms - express, communicate, impart



intend /ɪnˈtend
V. 打算，計劃
to have as a plan or purpose


Example:
He intends to propose to Mary and make her his intended.
他打算和 Mary 求婚，讓她成為他的未婚妻。




Footnotes:

someone’s intended n.
the person that you are going to marry
未婚夫；未婚妻

intention n.
something that you want and plan to do
意圖，打算

intent adj.
giving all your attention to something
專心致志的，專注的


Outro
And there you have it! On a final note, my opinion (for what it’s worth) is that your accent doesn’t really matter when it comes to learning a language - a lot of English language learners I’ve come across care a lot about their accent and put in a lot of effort to quote and unquote “correct” it, but I think what’s important is you are able to communicate. Focus on sharpening your communication skills first and foremost, because that’s ultimately what’s important when it comes to languages. Don’t forget your recordings, and enjoy your day!

☺Even when we're talking to someone in the same language, our body language, tone, pitch, and accent convey information beyond what we intend.
即使與他人交談時，彼此使用相同的語言，但我們的肢體、語氣、聲調與口音所透露的訊息比我們所說出的話語還要多。
【心得】這讓我想到，以前有個同學的姐姐接到女生和男生電話時，回話的態度和語調天差地遠XD
■pitch [pɪtʃ] (n.C) 音高、聲調；推銷(用語)、叫賣；投球；(尤指屋頂的)坡度、傾斜度； {英式用法}運動場地(尤指足球場)、攤位、露營地；{美式口語}情況、現狀；{機器}間距、螺距
(n.C or U)水準；程度
(n.U)柏油；(船等)前後顛簸
(vi.&vt.)(使)突然移動；(尤指)投、扔；投(球) ；竭力勸說；向前跌、猛然摔倒；向外摔出
(vt.)調校至某一水準；帶著特定感情說或寫；為…定音高或音調；支、搭(帳篷)
(vi.)傾斜；(船等)前後顛簸、搖晃
■convey [kənˋve] (vt.) 傳達、傳遞、表達[(+to)][+(that)][+wh-]；運送、轉運[(+from/to)]；傳播(聲音等)；轉讓(財產等) [(+to)]
■intend [ɪnˋtɛnd] (vt.) 想要、打算[+to-v][+v-ing][+(that)]；打算使…(成為) 、(為…而)準備[(+for/as)]；意指、意思是

Even when we're talking to someone in the same language, our body language(肢體語言), tone(/toʊn/語氣n.), pitch(/pɪtʃ/聲調n.), and accent(/ˈæk.sənt/口音n.) convey(/kənˈveɪ/傳達v.) information beyond(/biˈjɑːnd/超出prep.) what we intend(/ɪnˈtend/計畫v.).

0:28 Hey VoiceTube pals(/pæl/=friend)! Whatcha(=What you are) all doing? So it appears(v.顯示) that the way we talk affects(v.影響) how people perceive(/pəˈsiːv/看待v.) you, as in(就是), the mere(/mɪr/僅僅的) way that you sound like. This brings us to the topic of accents. I absolutely love spotting(注意v.) different accents, whether it’s in videos or in real life, it just brings me so much joy. And just so , you know, notable(/ˈnoʊ.t̬ə.bəl/值得注意的) movies and shows *off of the top of my mind(不假思索地) that have accents that are not the typical(a.典型的) American accent are: How to Train Your Dragon(馴龍高手), because adults(/ˈæd.ʌlt/ /əˈdʌlt/成人) in it have Scottish(/ˈskɑː.t̬ɪʃ/蘇格蘭的) accents.And the movie, Leap Year(閏年) is set in Ireland(/ˈaɪr.lənd/愛爾蘭), there’s your adorable(/əˈdɔːr.ə.bəl/可愛的) Irish(/ˈaɪə.rɪʃ/愛爾蘭的) accent. And then there’s the new Netflix original Ginny and Georgia, where Georgia has that Alabama(/ˌæl.əˈbæm.ə/阿拉巴馬州), Southern American accent. And the Indian(印度的) accent in 3 Idiots(/ˈɪd.i.ət/傻瓜n.), and then there’s all the British(英國的) shows were you get that posh(/pɑːʃ/談吐高雅的) British accent. Of course, there are a bunch of different accents from all over the world, and apparently, accents affect perception(/pəˈsep.ʃən/看法n.). Check it out in our sentence of the day.

1.1 pitch /pɪtʃ/ n. 水準；程度；音調 = the level or degree of something
Your pitch is a little off(走音). Could you lower it a bit?

1.2 pitch (n.) 推銷用語；推銷 = a speech or an action that attempts(/əˈtempt/嘗試v.) to persuade(說服v.) someone to buy or do something
+ The man in the shop gave me his (sales) pitch about quality(n.品質) and reliability(/rɪˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/可靠性n.).

1.3 pitch (v.) 竭力勸說 = to try to persuade someone to do something
+ She pitched her idea to me over a business lunch.
她在一次吃商業午餐時竭力遊說我接受她的想法。

1.4 pitch (v.) （使）突然移動；（尤指）投，扔 = to move or be moved suddenly, especially by throwing or being thrown
+ She pitched the stone into the river. 她把石頭扔到河裡。

1.5 pitcher (n.) 投手
The pitcher threw a hard fastball.

2.1 convey /kənˈveɪ/ v. 表達，傳達（思想、感情或想法）
to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people

Synonyms(同義詞n.) : express, communicate(傳達,表達,傳遞,溝通v.), impart(/ɪmˈpɑːrt/告知;傳授v.)

Norah could never understand what the art(n.藝術) pieces(作品n.) are trying to convey.

2.2 convey (v.) 運送，運輸
+ The goods are usually conveyed by rail.
這種貨物通常透過鐵路運輸。

3.1 intend /ɪnˈtend/ v. 打算，計劃 = to have as a plan or purpose
He intends to propose(/prəˈpoʊz/求婚v.) to Mary and make her his intended(未婚妻).

3.2 intended /ɪnˈten.dɪd/ n. 未婚夫；未婚妻 = the person that you are going to marry
+ I shall be there with my intended.

3.3 intention /ɪnˈten.ʃən/ n. 意圖，打算 = something that you want and plan to do
+ I've no intention of changing my plans just to fit in with his. 我不打算改變自己的計劃來遷就他。

3.4 intent (a.) 專心致志的，專注的 = giving all your attention to something
+ She had an intent look on her face. 她的面部表情非常專注。

3.5 intent (n.) 意圖，目的
+ I spent half the morning on the phone, which wasn't really my intent. 我半個早上都花在了打電話上，這可不是我真正想做的。

And there you have it! On a final note, my opinion (for what it’s worth值得的) is that your accent doesn’t really matter(v.要緊) when it comes to learning a language - a lot of English language learners I’ve come across(偶然碰見) care(v.在意) a lot about their accent and put in a lot of effort(n.影響) to quote(kwoʊt/引用v.) and unquote(/ʌnˈkwəʊt/引文結束v.) “correct(矯正v.)” it, but I think what’s important is you are able to communicate. Focus on sharpening(sharpen/ˈʃɑːr.pən/改善v.) your communication skills first(首先adv.) and foremost(/ˈfɔːr.moʊst/最重要地adv.), because that’s ultimately(adv.最終地) what’s important when it comes to languages because languages are there for communication. So don’t forget your recordings, and enjoy your day!

【acclimate】/ˈæk.ləˌmeɪt/ （使）適應；（使）習慣於；（使）服水土
－ to acclimatize
・Early on, the goal is to simply get the body acclimated to physical activity.

Even when we're talking to someone in the same language, our body language, tone, pitch, and accent convey information beyond what we intend.

365 English Speaking Challenge Day1-20210419

好羞恥><