Condition of Children

Have you ever heard someone speak and immediately knew that he or she came from a different country, region, or state? If you have, that is because speech patterns and accents are often particular to specific geographic areas. Think about all of the different accents and peculiarities of speech you may have heard in person, in movies and TV shows, or online. Have you ever learned a new word or phrase in English that is not used in the area where you live? What were some of the hardest accents to understand? Have you ever read a phrase or heard a pronunciation that was almost impossible to comprehend? On the other hand, have you ever heard someone speak with an accent that you found interesting or attractive or recognized someone's writing as coming from a different region than yours? Have you ever tried to imitate an accent or dialect from another region when speaking or writing?

Take a moment to think about these questions and post your responses in the discussion area. Then, return to the topic several times over the next few days to read your coursemates' posts. Reply to at least two of them, making sure to ask questions and encourage further conversation.