Review of "How not to do an American accent"

This blog post is a review about the BBC article linked to here. It seems that there is some demand in the world to be able to create and use an American accent. How interesting and flattering--though it should not be flattering. Somewhat ironically, the expert in the article helps people, such as Americans, form a British accent, not an American one. Reverse engineering?

Anyway, apparently, compared to Britons, Americans speak with wide mouths and smiles, with the tongue high in the mouth. Guessing that translates into Britons, compared to Americans, speaking with narrow and slack mouths, and the article suggests that Britons' standard tongue placement is on the aveolar ridge behind the teeth.

Many Americans would want to be able to use a British accent. The BBC should make an article for them.

While it's interesting that some people would want to pick up an American accent, it is not all that surprising, given the impact of American films, television, and the power the United States wields in the world. Still, from an American point of view, an American accent is just plain ol' normal, while the 'typical' British accent has a connotation of being cultured and sophisticated. For the Britons out there angry that the 'bad guys' in a lot of American movies have British accents, it is--at least partially--because Americans tend to associate British accents with acculturation. If you'll notice, oftentimes those bad guys are quite upper crust and part of high society.

You'll also notice that sophisticated 'good guys' also frequently have a British accent--or an attempt at one. Meanwhile, the 'ordinary' characters, usually including the the protagonist, tend to have American accents because: a) the film is American, and b) the American accent is taken to be the accent of the 'common people.'

Take Star Wars, for instance. The Imperial officials tend to have British accents, but so does Obi-Wan Kenobi, Threepio, Crix Madine, and Mon Mothma. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker have American accents. Leia does a 180. In A New Hope, the accent is British. In the following film, the accent turns American. A similar thing occurs with Amidala. When stately, they have a British accent. When just ordinary folk, they have an American accent.

Figure this is just another manifestation of the mutual love fest many Americans and Britons have with each others' cultures.

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Found this article interesting? Check out:
History: The Roadmap to the Future.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

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The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries + Biologeel.

Rule Americana: How American Culture Is Assimilating the World.

In light of tomorrow's anniversary of Independence Day, it seems fitting to write about how American culture, or Americana, has had an enormous impact on the world. Not by giving people something to entertain themselves or to merely view as a curiosity. As something which has changed their worldview, values, and standards, hopefully for the good of the world.

Toy Story exhibits American culture.

Firstly, the realm of entertainment. American music has swept across the planet, and rock, jazz, rap, and hip-hop can be heard in practically any country on Earth. American literature, although more subdued, also has a strong representation in the world's bookstores.

Arguably, however, it is the visual media of American television and movies which has had the greatest impact disseminating American values to peoples flung far and wide. For almost every movie that is crass, vulgar, crude, or just pathetically pathetic, there is a movie or television show which is a jewel of crystallized and concentrated Americana. And whether by design or accident, these shows and films are often targeted at the young.

Of course there is that junk load of low quality movies that appear in theaters around Christmas, but for the large part, American children's movies, are actually extraordinarily rich. Foremost among the companies responsible for this is Disney, which is still the foundation of the children's movie business. However, it is joined by others such as Dreamworks, Paramount, and Fox, too.

One of the most common features of many of these films and shows is formation of a family or community from a diverse spread of beings. This is extraordinarily common, and reflects the American view that a single, unified nation--a real race--can be formed out of people not bound by blood or ancestry, but by people with a common goal, although they might be otherwise quite diverse. Shrek has an ogre, an ogre-human hybrid that is the child of a human and a frog, and a talking donkey, with an extended gang including: a dragon, dragon-donkey babies, pigs, a wolf, a gingerbread cookie, a wooden puppet, and blind mice. Ice Age groups together a mammoth, a sloth, a saber-toothed tiger, and a human infant. Toy Story has a community of toys containing a cowboy, a spaceman, a slinky dog, an etch-a-sketch, and a potato head. Star Wars has a backwater peasant who can use the Force, a princess-senator-rebel (who happens to be the twin of the peasant), a drug smuggler, his ex-slave, former hero, Wookiee partner, an uptight etiquette droid, and a plucky and salty mechanic droid.

Along with lumping together these disparate parts which make the whole greater than the sum of their parts, the individuals in all of these films each bring to their 'nation' their own strengths and talents--or not. In Ice Age, Sid (the sloth) brings no discernible talent to the group, but is still part of the group and not ostracized. In Firefly, River Tam starts out as a mentally disabled invalid, yet the other members of the crew grow attached to her. So while individuals with a unique or special talent are an advantage to the nation, they aren't the only people worth being part of the nation.

Further enshrined in American film is the concept of "All for one and one for all," especially the "all for one" part--as opposed to China, where the emphasis is on the "one for all" portion. In the sequel to Toy Story, a rescue mission is sent out to retrieve Woody after he is stolen--while trying to rescue Wheezy. The crew of Firefly protects River from the authorities. In Star Wars, Leia, Lando, Chewbacca, Luke, and the droids set out to free Han from Jabba's Palace, where he is frozen in carbonite. Saving Private Ryan is an adult film which explores this concept.

However, it is not only American art which infuses the increasingly homogenized global civilization with American values. Also influencing the world is the United States' politics.

Take this current Presidential election contest, for instance. If Barack Obama wins, and his Presidency is deemed a success, the ramifications for the world would be huge--although unfortunately Obama has foolish views on abortion, Iraq, and free trade. Nations where one 'racial' group is in charge while others are lower on the social ladder would be faced with the fact that the most powerful--in terms of economy, military, and culture--nation on Earth had chosen a member of their 'lower caste' to lead them, and he was a success. Ordinary people in those countries would have to wonder whether or not the 'lower castes' in their own countries, whether they be ainu, Roma, aborigine, 'black', or Amerindian, etc. should be so casually dismissed as failures. People from those oppressed groups would be given hope that a member of their group could ascend the rungs of power in their countries.

A 'black' American President could have enormous repercussions worldwide.

And not only those 'racially' heterogeneous countries would be affected. Even homogeneous societies such as Korea would be impacted.

They would see a majority group that they view as being higher in the racial strata, 'whites', voluntarily trusting and choosing a member of a group they view as being lower in the racial strata, 'blacks', to represent them to the world. That would throw their racist preconceptions into flux. If 'white' people have confidence in a 'black' man as the leader of the free world, then should Asians, Middle Easterners, etc. look at 'blacks' less derogatorily?

But among the greatest of the cultural endowments the United States has already bestowed on the world is the one which is considered to have burst into flame--even if it wasn't the first spark--on the fourth day of July in 1776. The thirteen British colonies which on that day declared themselves to be independent states from Britain, were the first colonies in modern history to declare their independence, fight for their independence, and win their independence. The United States set the model for the independence of Latin America and the Caribbean, which freed those states from European rule. The United States continued to be looked up to by subjugated colonies as a source of hope in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, even as the United States partook in empire itself. Its representative political standards influenced the development of Western Europe--and were aspirations for Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe in the Cold War.

Long live American values.

On July 4, 1776, the people of the thirteen new states comprising the United States of America chose to free themselves from the rule of a British king and decide their own futures. The people of New Spain were Spanish subjects. The people of Brazil were Portugeuse subjects. The people of British North America (Canada) were British subjects.

The people of the United States, the first sovereign states in the Americas, were no longer British, nor were they subjects to an earthly king. They could not be Spanish subjects, Portuguese subjects, British subjects, French subjects, Dutch subjects, etc. They had severed their ties to Europe, and now they were tied only to the land of this continent. They were not European subjects any more.

They were American citizens. And they changed the world.

Rule Americana. Long live the United States of America.

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Found this article interesting? Check out:
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

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The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries.

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Found this article interesting? Check out:
History: The Roadmap to the Future.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries + Biologeel.

The World's Candidate: Barack Obama.

Followers of the 2008 American Presidential campaign have discovered various things about the candidates along the way. John Edwards got a roughly $400 haircut and plastic surgery. Mitt Romney--had he won the election--would have been the first Mormon President. Hillary Clinton is not used to losing, and is a bad sport when she does. John McCain has a temper and he is one of the top candidates for the Republicans in this Republican-hostile electoral season.

And Barack Obama is the overwhelming choice for American President among people across the world.

From Europeans to African tribesmen, from Hamas to the Farc, Obama has the endorsement of many foreigners. If the election were global, Obama would undoubtedly win against McCain.

For many in Europe and the West, support for Obama is largely due to 'race,' although many such supporters of his would be loath to acknowledge that is the primary reason why they have chosen him. They shouldn't be so ashamed that 'race' is the major factor in their decision making. A 'black' President would be enormously helpful as serving as a role model for young 'black' children, encouraging them to succeed and not get drawn into crime and gangsterism. A 'black' President would be a step toward proving to older 'blacks' that progress is being made to the end of eradicating racism and that the glass ceiling is no longer there (although prospective 'blacks' may still face more obstacles than their 'white' counterparts). If both candidates had the same beliefs, values, and ideas, but one was 'white' and the other 'black,' the 'black' candidate would stand the greater chance of unifying the country and gaining greater respect from the world (along with tossing down the gauntlet for them to elect/place a member of their most oppressed 'racial' minority into their highest office). But the candidates do not have the same beliefs, values, and ideas. And because of that, Obama is not a good candidate.

Which leads to Hamas' and Farc's endorsements of Senator Obama. Across the Muslim world, many believe Mr. Obama to be a Muslim because his father was. In that, they are as deluded as some 'white,' blue-collar Appalachians. However, this misunderstanding results in widespread support of Obama in that region of the world (not least because his Democratic rival is a woman). But Mr. Obama is not a Muslim. He is, however, naive in his ideas about how to engage with more extreme Muslim states.

He is as idiotic as former President Carter is believing that using 'soft power' with Hamas will lead to peace between Israel and its Arab/Iranian neighbors. Protestations to the contrary, he did not state that he would talk with Hamas only when they recognized Israel and used solely peaceful methods for achieving their goal (something which Senator McCain did state). Similarly with Iran, Senator Obama is prepared to talk with them, President to President (or President to Ayatollah) in high level talks which could be seen as a propaganda coup.

His statement that he would be willing to bomb Pakistan, while in general a decent view, was extremely moronic because he made those comments when Pakistan was in turmoil over the Red Mosque incident, and it wasn't assured that the Musharaff government would survive. By making that threat at such a critical point, Mr. Obama showed himself to be extraordinarily inexperienced in foreign affairs, supposedly his strong suit. (As for domestic affairs, his lethargy in wooing the Latino vote and his miniscule trip to Puerto Rico--winning a primary in a Latino-majority territory might turn some Latinos in the 50 states into supporters--show that he is inexperienced there, too).

Obama's idea to withdraw from Iraq upon becoming President all but sets a timetable for the Islamists in Iraq. Another sign of his naivete, if Iraq can be made a success--and it can be--that would show that an Arab, Muslim country could thrive, be an ally of the United States; and renew respect for the American military and American will and determination. Withdrawing would give the impression that the United States is weak, can be defeated, and would give rise to radical Islamist governments following Sharia not only in Iraq, but across the Muslim world. Look at Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and, more recently, Lebanon. Each was touted as a Palestinian or Hezbollah victory and an Israeli defeat, not as Israel being kind and letting Palestinians govern themselves or not bombing civilians en masse to wipe out Hezbollah. And look at how Hamas and Hezbollah have either fully taken over government (as in Gaza) or now wield major influence in government (in Lebanon). If the United States withdraws from Iraq, that is what will happen to Iraq, the United States, and the Muslim world. A massive lack of foresight on Obama's part.

Senator Obama is one the most leftist, liberal politicians in Washington, which would explain his support in parts of Latin America and the Middle East. In Africa, they are supporting 'one of their own.' And as for the rest of the world, he draws attention because people in those regions are amazed that the United States may be poised to give the highest political position on Earth to a 'black' man.

The latter two are completely acceptable, but it is the former--his support from Islamist and Communist criminals--that should throw up red flags for American citizens.

And it they--the adult, American citizenry--and not foreigners around the world, that have an actual say in choosing whether or not Senator Obama become President Obama.
--------
Found this article interesting? Check out:
The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries.

Tag this post with:
Delicious	Digg	Technorati	reddit	Facebook	StumbleUpon	Furl	blinklist

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Found this article interesting? Check out:
History: The Roadmap to the Future.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries + Biologeel.