Can a person actually learn a new accent? Many people feel that after a certain age, it's just not possible. Can classical musicians play jazz? If they practice, of course they can! For your American accent, it's just a matter of learning and practicing techniques this book and CD set will teach you——《American Accent training》
1. 两本书的简介
英语有很多种口音，但美式英语和英式英语无疑是最主流的两种口音。
我曾经有幸看到一个我个人觉得非常好的英语学习观念：先系统学习发一种口音，然后不断训练听各种口音。系统学习一种发音是为了让你说得好，而训练听各种口音是为了让你听得懂。
《Mastering the American Accent 》和《American Accent Training》这两本书均由美国人编写，美国人录音，非常详细非常系统，有书有音频完全满足自学美语发音的条件。
这两本书的内容大致包括元音、辅音、易混淆音（包括元音和辅音）的比较、美语的“t”和“r”、音节重读、单词重读、声调（语调）、连读、reduced sounds（at, for , from, from, or ,are,can, and 等的读法，这个不一定要全部会读，但是学习了之后对听力的提高有所帮助）
以下是两本书大致的目录。
《Mastering the American Accent 》
Chapter 1: The Vowel Sounds
Chapter 2: Vowels in Detail
Chapter 3: Consonants
Chapter 4: Problematic Consonants
Chapter 5: Syllable Stress
Chapter 6: Word Stress
Chapter 7: Intonation
Chapter 8: Sound Like a True Native Speaker（涉及连读）
《American Accent Training》
Chapter 1 American Intonation
Chapter 2 Word Connections
Chapter 3 Cat? Caught? Cut?
Chapter 4 The American T
Chapter 5 The El
Chapter 6 The American R
Chapters 1-6 Review and Expansion
Chapter 7 Tee Aitch
Chapter 8 More Reduced Sounds
Chapter 9 "V" as in Victory
Chapter 10 S or Z
Chapter 11 Tense and Lax Vowels
Chapter 12 Nasal Consonants
Chapter 13 Throaty Consonants
Chapters 1-13 Review and Expansion
Nationality Guides
2．如何利用这两本书
《Mastering the American Accent 》涵盖所有音标的发音和易混淆音的比较，而且比《American Accent Training》排版更清晰，适合先学。
不管是想纠正发音还是初学英语发音，都可以利用此书系统学习所有元音和辅音。
从这两本书的目录可以看出，这两本书的内容其实都差不多，但是在音节重读、单词重读、声调（语调）还有一些技巧方面，《American Accent Training》较《Mastering the American Accent 》更为详细，可以在学习《Mastering the American Accent 》后，学习《American Accent Training》作为补充。
此外，学习发音后，还可以就用这两本书进行跟读训练，选自己喜欢的段落来进行跟读。不过刚开始进行跟读训练时，可能会觉得语速有些快。
3. 举例：连读和Colloquial（口语体的）Reductions and Liaisons
连读
我们都知道英语中连读非常重要，学好连读对于提高语速和流利度来说至关重要。
以前我们学习英语连读，大多都只涉及辅音后接着元音的连读，但这两本书中都会提及四种连读情况。
以下四种连读情况摘自《Mastering the American Accent 》
（1）Linking Consonant to Vowel，例如hold on.
（2）Linking Consonant to Same Consonant，例如She speaks Spanish.
（3）Linking Vowel to Vowel，即在元音与元音之间加入/w/ sound或者/y/ sound，例如go out 听起来像“go – wout”.
（4） Final Stop Between Consonants，
“In Chapter Three,you learned the difference between stops and continuants. Remember, when a stop is followed by another consonant, do not release the stop. The release creates a puff of air and an extra syllable. Make sure that good time doesn’t sound like “good a time” and that help me doesn’t sound like “help a me.””（这段是书中的原文）
第四种情况需要结合Chapter Three中的“Stops and Continuants”部分来学习，学习这部分时，你会发现这部分和我们所学的爆破音很相似（我不知道是不是完全一样），这里可以结合咱们所学的爆破音来学习，这样效果会更好。
连读部分，《Mastering the American Accent 》和《American Accent Training》这两本书的分法稍有不同，可以结合起来学习。
Colloquial（口语体的）Reductions and Liaisons
口语体的弱读和连读不一定要都会读，但是学了有助于听懂美国人的口语（毕竟美国人说话不会那么书面）
以下是一些例句，左或上为例句，右或下为读音
I have got to go. I've gotta go.
I have got a book. I've gotta book.
Do you want to dance? Wanna dance?
Do you want a banana? Wanna banana?
Let me in. Lemme in.
Let me go. Lemme go.
I'll let you know. I'll letcha know.
Did you do it? Dija do it?
Not yet. Nä chet.
I'll meet you later. I'll meechu layder.
What do you think? Whaddyu think?
What did you do with it? Whajoo do with it?
How did you like it? Howja like it?
When did you get it? When ju geddit?
Why did you take it? Whyju tay kit?
Why don't you try it? Why don chu try it?
What are you waiting for? Whaddya waitin' for?
What are you doing? Whatcha doin'?
How is it going? Howzit going?
How about it? How 'bout it?
He has got to hurry because he is late. He's gotta hurry 'cuz he's late.
I could've been a contender. I coulda bina contender.
Could you speed it up, please? Couldjoo spee di dup, pleez?
Would you mind if I tried it? Would joo mindifai try dit?
Aren't you Bob Barker? Arnchoo Bab Barker?
Can't you see it my way for a change? Kechoo see it my way for a change?
Don't you get it? Doancha geddit?
I should have told you. I shoulda toljoo.
Tell her (that) I miss her. Teller I misser.
Tell him (that) I miss him. Tellim I missim.
这两本书有一个共同特点，就是语速有些快，是美国人说话的正常语速，刚开始可能会有些不适应。
注意《Mastering the American Accent 》文本和音频对不上，但是没什么影响。
学习这两本书不一定能让你说一口极其标准的美语，但一定能让你说英语的标准度有很大的提升，不仅如此，你还可以学习到很多和语言有关的单词。