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American Southern Hard-R Accents

American Southern: Hard-R Accent

The Hard-R accent is spoken all across the South, and this covers the varied elements of the dialect, explaining the difference between twang and drawl. From the Ozark mountains to the backwoods of Georgia, you'll hear 'em all, y'all!
$30.00
$30.00

American Southern: Hard-R Accent Learning Materials

  • The Hard-R Southern materials include recordings of AccentHelp coaches Jim Johnson and Carolyn Johnson guiding you through learning the accent, using the text, as well as over 150 recordings of native speakers. They've lived in and traveled all over the South on numerous occasions, bringing the experience back to you in this download, which includes almost 17 hours of recordings!
  • You'll get a PDF to accompany the teaching audio, plus three more formats of the same book: a PDF for printing, MOBI for Kindle, and EPUB for other portable readers.
  • This accent is appropriate for productions of August: Osage County, Steel Magnolias, Miss Firecracker Contest, The Great American Trailer Park Musical and lots of other plays. You also hear it in films like Coal Miner's Daughter and from actors like Holly Hunter, Reba McEntire and Lucas Black.
  • This download includes tracks of coach Jim Johnson leading you through a practice monologue in the accent.
  • All of the sound files are in MP3 format so that you can play them on your computer, load them onto your phone, or burn them to a CD.
  • You'll receive a link via email so that you can download all of the materials as ZIP files directly to your computer.
  • You'll also get future updates for free! (last update: 2020)

5% of all profits from these materials go to diversity scholarships for actors at the University of Houston.

Listen to a Sample!

Audio files in Eight Volumes (987.3 MB, 1019 minutes)

Volume 1: Learning the Hard-R Southern Accent

  1. Introduction, Sound Placement, Intonation, & Helpful Hints (13:33)
  2. Consonant sound changes (12:13)
  3. Vowel changes (18:12)
  4. Changes in Diphthongs (12:14)
  5. Alternate Pronunciations for words (5:09)
  6. Practice Sentences for American Southern Drawl (4:58)
  7. Practice Sentences for American Southern Twang (4:01)
  8. Practice with Sound Changes using a monologue (12:01)
  9. Continuing with monologue Sound Changes (11:21)
  10. Practice with Intonation & Placement (11:27)
  11. Demonstration of the Practice Monologue (3:10)

Volume 2: Recordings of Native Speakers from Arkansas & Louisiana

  1. Murfreesboro AR Female reading (1:09)
  2. + her conversation part 1 (3:43)
  3. Reydell AR Female reading (:58)
  4. + her conversation (1:54)
  5. Fifty-Six AR Male reading (1:25)
  6. + his conversation (3:39)
  7. Maynard AR Male reading (1:13)
  8. + his conversation (3:26)
  9. Mountain View AR Female reading (1:10)
  10. + her conversation (4:46)
  11. Izzard County AR Female reading (1:04)
  12. + her conversation (3:58)
  13. Timbo AR Female reading (1:13)
  14. + her conversation (3:23)
  15. Helena AR Male reading (:50)
  16. + his conversation (5:12)
  17. Big Flat AR Female reading (:57)
  18. + her conversation (4:48)
  19. Natchitoches LA Female reading (1:17)
  20. + her conversation (5:15)
  21. Louisiana Male reading (1:20)
  22. + his conversation (4:01)
  23. Ebarb LA Male reading (:54)
  24. + his conversation (3:03)
  25. Natchitoches LA Female reading (1:07)
  26. + her conversation (3:10)
  27. Homer LA Female reading (1:45)
  28. + her conversation (4:05)
  29. Delhi LA Female reading (1:05)
  30. + her conversation (2:19)
  31. Bastrop LA Female reading (1:21)
  32. + her conversation (1:21)
  33. Mansura LA Female reading (1:04)
  34. + her conversation (1:45)
  35. Oil City LA Female reading (1:09)
  36. + her conversation (1:10)
  37. Baton Rouge LA Female reading (1:03)
  38. + her conversation (7:00)
  39. Natchitoches LA Female conversation (9:04)
  40. Natchitoches LA Females conversation 1 (8:18)
  41. Natchitoches LA Females conversation 2 (7:38)
  42. Natchitoches LA Females conversation 3 (8:46)
  43. Natchitoches LA Females conversation 4 (5:27)
  44. Natchitoches LA Females conversation 5 (6:15)

Volume 3: Recordings of Native Speakers from Alabama & Mississippi

  1. Lanett AL Female reading (:59)
  2. + her conversation (1:52)
  3. Dothan AL Male reading (1:08)
  4. + his conversation (1:55)
  5. Langdale AL Female reading (1:06)
  6. + her conversation (1:27)
  7. Birmingham AL Female reading (1:14)
  8. + her conversation (:31)
  9. Athens AL Female reading (:51)
  10. + her conversation (5:55)
  11. Demopolis AL Female reading (1:19)
  12. + her conversation (4:33)
  13. Elkmont AL Male reading (1:14)
  14. + his conversation (6:35)
  15. Hartselle AL Female reading (8:08)
  16. + her conversation (4:15)
  17. Muscle Shoals AL Male reading (1:08)
  18. + his conversation (5:28)
  19. Selma AL Female reading (1:20)
  20. + her conversation (4:31)
  21. Meridian MS Female reading (1:55)
  22. + her conversation (1:37)
  23. Meridian MS Female reading (:53)
  24. + her conversation (7:59)
  25. Enterprise MS Female reading (1:10)
  26. + her conversation (7:44)
  27. Catahoula MS Female reading (1:22)
  28. + her conversation (8:20)
  29. Houston MS Male reading (:54)
  30. + his conversation (3:40)
  31. Jackson MS Female reading (1:12)
  32. + her conversation (3:25)
  33. Natchez MS Female reading (1:33)
  34. + her conversation (4:15)
  35. Maben MS Male reading (1:11)
  36. + his conversation (6:36)
  37. Aberdeen MS Female reading (1:00)
  38. + her conversation (7:43)
  39. Helena MS Female reading (1:02)
  40. + her conversation (5:53)
  41. Forest MS Female reading (:54)
  42. + her conversation (6:59)
  43. Kilmichael MS Male reading (1:05)
  44. + his conversation (5:43)
  45. Tunica MS Female reading (1:09)
  46. + her conversation (5:37)

Volume 4: Recordings of Native Speakers from Georgia & Florida

  1. Albany GA Female reading (:58)
  2. + conversation with her and son (4:02)
  3. Cairo GA Male reading (1:05)
  4. + his conversation (:52)
  5. Colquitt GA Female reading (1:05)
  6. + her conversation (1:37)
  7. Savannah GA Female reading (1:08)
  8. + her conversation (1:23)
  9. Cairo GA Male reading (:53)
  10. + his conversation (:37)
  11. Whigham GA Female reading (:55)
  12. + her conversation (1:26)
  13. Vidalia GA Male reading (1:13)
  14. + his conversation (2:19)
  15. Vidalia GA Male reading (1:05)
  16. + his conversation (1:09)
  17. Savannah GA Male reading (:59)
  18. + his conversation (3:24)
  19. Gainesville GA Female reading (1:12)
  20. + her conversation (1:33)
  21. Cottondale Sneads FL Female reading (:54)
  22. + her conversation (2:45)
  23. Panama City FL Female reading (1:04)
  24. + her conversation (1:57)
  25. Fernandina FL Male reading (1:08)
  26. + his conversation (2:57)
  27. Lake Butler FL Female reading (:56)
  28. + her conversation (5:54)
  29. Stark FL reading (1:04)
  30. + her conversation (2:45)
  31. Hampton FL Male reading (1:12)
  32. + his conversation (5:44)
  33. Macclenny FL Female reading (1:09)
  34. + her conversation (8:15)
  35. Madison FL Female reading (1:00)
  36. + her conversation (4:57)
  37. Marianna FL Female reading (:54)
  38. + her conversation (5:31)
  39. Chipley FL Female reading (1:06)
  40. + her conversation (3:22)

Volume 5: Recordings of Native Speakers from North & South Carolina

  1. Boone NC Bristol VA Female reading (1:20)
  2. + her conversation (1:55)
  3. Western NC Male reading (1:00)
  4. + his conversation (4:07)
  5. Wise NC Female reading (1:17)
  6. + her conversation (3:02)
  7. Jamesville NC Female reading (1:01)
  8. + her conversation (2:41)
  9. Ellerbe NC Male reading (1:19)
  10. + his conversation (5:50)
  11. Louisburg NC Female reading 1:20)
  12. + her conversation (7:18)
  13. Eden NC Male reading (1:19)
  14. + his conversation (2:32)
  15. Waynesville NC Female reading (1:33)
  16. + her conversation (4:27)
  17. Waynesville NC Male reading (1:14)
  18. + his conversation (7:00)
  19. Edneyville NC Two Females reading (2:02)
  20. + their conversation (6:00)
  21. Marietta SC Female reading (:58)
  22. + her conversation (2:46)
  23. Spartanburg SC Female reading (1:10)
  24. + her conversation (3:17)
  25. Spartanburg SC Female reading (1:19)
  26. + her conversation (5:38)
  27. Spartanburg SC Female reading (1:12)
  28. + her conversation (5:10)
  29. Gaffney SC Female reading (1:04)
  30. + her conversation (1:47)
  31. Gaffney SC Male reading (1:25)
  32. + his conversation (6:42)
  33. Loris SC Female reading (1:07)
  34. + her conversation (4:00)
  35. Orangeburg SC Female reading (1:18)
  36. + her conversation (2:08)
  37. Hardeeville SC Female reading (1:19)
  38. + her conversation (4:03)
  39. Waterboro SC Male reading (1:06)
  40. + her conversation (4:57)
  41. Beaufort SC Male reading (:59)
  42. + his conversation (10:00)
  43. Pamlico SC Female reading (1:24)
  44. Pamlico SC Male reading (1:22)

Volume 6: Recordings of Native Speakers from Virginia & West Virginia

  1. Bristol VA Female reading (1:07)
  2. + her conversation (2:36)
  3. Big Hill VA Female reading (2:24)
  4. + her conversation (2:33)
  5. Danville VA Female reading (:52)
  6. + her conversation (1:23)
  7. Tidewater VA Male reading (1:37)
  8. + his conversation (1:03)
  9. Winchester VA Female reading (:59)
  10. + her conversation (5:17)
  11. Winchester VA Female reading (1:03)
  12. + her conversation (6:53)
  13. Bristol VA Female reading (1:09)
  14. + her conversation (4:51)
  15. Honaker VA Male reading (1:04)
  16. + his conversation (4:43)
  17. Big Stone Gap VA Female reading (1:06)
  18. + her conversation (3:26)
  19. Big Stone Gap VA Male reading (1:02)
  20. + his conversation (7:31)
  21. Richwood WV Male reading (:58)
  22. + his conversation (2:46)
  23. Martinsburg WV Female reading (1:08)
  24. + her conversation (4:23)
  25. Charleston WV Female reading (:56)
  26. + her conversation (2:21)
  27. Charleston WV Female reading (1:04)
  28. + her conversation (7:22)
  29. Point Pleasant WV Female reading (1:12)
  30. + her conversation (4:20)
  31. Huntington WV Male conversation (4:57)
  32. Parsons WV Female reading (:54)
  33. + her conversation (7:14)
  34. Petersburg WV Male reading (1:06)
  35. + his conversation (7:28)
  36. Parsons WV Female reading (:59)
  37. + her conversation (5:04)
  38. Buckhannon WV Female reading (1:12)
  39. + her conversation (7:58)
  40. Elkins WV Male reading (1:28)
  41. + his conversation (3:35)

Volume 7: Recordings of Native Speakers from Kentucky & Tennessee

  1. Berea KY Female reading (1:00)
  2. + her conversation (4:40)
  3. Wakefield KY Female reading (1:19)
  4. + her conversation (2:40)
  5. Berea KY Female reading (1:00)
  6. + her conversation (2:41)
  7. Frankfort KY Female reading (1:03)
  8. + her conversation (4:28)
  9. Irvine KY Female reading (1:13)
  10. + her conversation (8:17)
  11. Richmond KY Male reading (1:05)
  12. + his conversation (3:58)
  13. Louisville KY Female reading (1:07)
  14. + her conversation (5:12)
  15. Boston KY Female reading (1:09)
  16. + her conversation (2:18)
  17. Leitchfield KY Male reading (1:11)
  18. + his conversation (6:47)
  19. Greenville KY Female reading (1:09)
  20. + her conversation (5:04)
  21. Pike County KY Male reading (1:03)
  22. + his conversation (3:44)
  23. Campbellsville KY Male reading (1:20)
  24. + his conversation (10:23)
  25. Jellico TN Female reading (1:12)
  26. + her conversation (2:41)
  27. Bristol TN Female reading (1:12)
  28. + her conversation (1:01)
  29. Bristol TN Female reading (1:07)
  30. + her conversation (7:06)
  31. Lexington TN Female reading (1:03)
  32. + her conversation (4:26)
  33. Lobelville TN Female reading (1:19)
  34. + her conversation (5:53)
  35. Linden TN Male reading (8:13)
  36. + his conversation (4:59)
  37. Leipers Fork TN Female reading (1:15)
  38. + her conversation (4:57)
  39. Crossville TN Female reading (1:24)
  40. + her conversation (2:12)
  41. Kingston TN Female reading (:56)
  42. + her conversation (8:59)
  43. Dandridge TN Female reading (1:02)
  44. + her conversation (2:39)
  45. Newport TN Male reading (1:05)
  46. + his conversation (6:31)
  47. Chattanooga TN Female reading (1:27)
  48. + her conversation (4:37)
  49. Somerville TN Female reading (1:16)
  50. + her conversation (4:12)

Volume 8: Recordings of Native Speakers from Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio & Maryland

  1. Blackwell OK Female reading (1:13)
  2. + her conversation (4:36)
  3. Blackwell OK Female reading (:50)
  4. + her conversation (1:27)
  5. Checotah OK Female reading (1:05)
  6. + her conversation (3:19)
  7. Pawhuska OK Female conversation (16:47)
  8. Pawhuska OK Male conversation (12:44)
  9. Pawhuska OK Male conversation (5:41)
  10. Pawhuska OK Male conversation (7:42)
  11. Lebanon MO Male reading (1:09)
  12. + his conversation (4:07)
  13. Lebanon MO Female reading (1:00)
  14. + her conversation (4:47)
  15. Sikeston MO Female reading (1:03)
  16. + her conversation (3:57)
  17. Poplar Bluff MO Female reading (1:00)
  18. + her conversation (5:36)
  19. Mound City IL Male reading (1:00)
  20. + his conversation (6:25)
  21. Grayville IL Female reading (1:20)
  22. + her conversation (5:17)
  23. Scottsburg IN Male reading (:56)
  24. + his conversation (3:35)
  25. Underwood IN Female reading (1:01)
  26. + her conversation (4:57)
  27. Laurelville OH Male reading (1:16)
  28. + his conversation (5:12)
  29. Laurelville OH Male reading (1:18)
  30. + his conversation (7:43)
  31. Rio Grande OH Male reading (1:17)
  32. + his conversation (4:10)
  33. Coshocton OH Female reading (1:11)
  34. + her conversation (2:27)
  35. Jefferson MD Male reading (1:13)
  36. + his conversation (6:52)
  37. McCoole MD Female reading (1:13)
  38. + her conversation (6:59)

Most of these recordings are made "in the field" so you will hear such things as birds, cars or other people in the background. A transcription of the conversations is included to help you follow along.

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