How to Stop Talking With a Southern Drawl
People often make conscious or subconscious assumptions about others based on the way they speak. If you need to lose your Southern twang for business or personal reasons, such as a career in performing arts or journalism, practicing a new accent will help you learn to speak differently. There's no such thing as a neutral accent or a language without accent, but you can adjust your Southern accent to an accent that is used more widely in the United States.
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Instructions
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Reduce the length of your vowels. People who have a Southern accent often extend vowels longer than other American accents.
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Make sure you pronounce your -ing's. For example, say "going" and "walking," not "goin'" or "walkin.'"
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Use a /z/ sound in contractions, not a /d/ sound. For example, do not pronounce "wasn't" as "wadn't."
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Avoid using colloquialisms associated with a Southern accent, such as "fixing to" or "y'all."
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Listen to news reports or podcasts spoken in the accent you wish to adopt. If possible, replay news reports and speak along with the reporters, trying to mimic their accent.
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Read newspaper articles out loud, focusing on your pronunciation and accent. Record yourself reading a newspaper article and replay the recording, listening for extended vowels, -ing's and /z/ contractions.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice your new accent as much as possible. If you're shy about speaking differently, practice while on the telephone or with a select group of friends.
Don't worry if your new accent feels unnatural at first; it will feel more normal with time.
Professional accent reduction therapists can also help you reduce your accent.
References
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