Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Why singers lose their accents. Why the 'I before E' rule is weird.

Aug 6, 2024

Joining the conversation are Adele, the British powerhouse known for her soulful ballads, and Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer who captivated hearts on 'Britain's Got Talent'. Together with linguist Susan K. Herman, they explore why singers often sound American despite their accents. The discussion delves into the quirky 'I before E' rule and its multitude of exceptions. They also share insights on how accents transform in music, and the personal connection language has through charming familial mispronunciations.

18:29

Creator website

Episode guests

Susan K. Herman

Susan Boyle

Adele

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Singers often modify their vowel sounds and articulation while performing, resulting in a neutralized accent that appeals to mainstream audiences.

The 'I before E' rule in English is fraught with exceptions and inconsistencies, complicating language learning for students.

Deep dives

Accents and Their Influence in Singing

Singers often exhibit different accents when performing compared to their everyday speech, which raises intriguing questions about linguistic adaptation. Examples such as Adele and Ed Sheeran illustrate how artists can lose their regional accents while singing, sounding more American despite their distinct speaking voices. Linguist David Crystal categorizes the factors behind this phenomenon into phonetic and social influences; phonetic aspects involve changes in intonation and vowel enunciation, while social reasons include the desire to appeal to mainstream audiences. Ultimately, these factors contribute to a neutralized accent that many artists adopt in order to connect better with their listeners.

Intro

2min

The Transformation of Accents in Song: Phonetics and Influence

8min

Exploring Accents and Language Learning Challenges

3min

The Complexity of the 'I Before E' Rule and Its Historical Roots

5min

The Hopsicle and Other Familects

3min

1007. Why do Adele and Susan Boyle sound American when they sing? We have answers. Plus, with all the talk about "weird" lately, we think it's time to examine the old "I before E except after C" rule that has so many exceptions it's hardly a rule at all — until you add W for "weird."

The singing segment is written by Susan K. Herman, a former multidisciplined linguist, editor, and instructor for the U.S. government.

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