Anchor Phrases
An anchor phrase (a.k.a. a hook line, kickstart phrase, springboard sentence, or a bridge), is a sequence of words or an entire sentence that includes key words intended as a vocal bridge for someone preparing to speak in a particular accent. Even though the phrases are listed here under particular accents, it's not really a case of one-size-fits-all, as individuals will have their own challenges depending on various unique factors and influences: their L1, the specific variety of the accent they speak, and the target accent they're acquiring.
Each one of the following anchor phrases has been designed for an individual acquiring the accent.
It is a work in progress, so check back to see more at a later time.
Click on one for detailed information
Modern RP / Southern Standard British English phrases
So sorry to ask, but is Harry's tutor's mirror a lot better than all yours?
The courtier's daughter isn't owed that man's gold.
Phrases used by famous actors
Can you find the accent in the phrase
but lose it when you start speaking your audition text?
That's exactly where individual coaching can help.
Modern RP / SSBE
So sorry to ask, but is Harry's tutor's mirror a lot better than all yours?
Phone-by-phone notes
so
GOAT: This diphthong starts with a shwa (centred flat-tongue vowel) with no tension at the back of the tongue (except when followed by an /l/),
then the back of the tongue raises a little as the lips round.
sorry
LOT is short and has no r-colouring. Lips must be rounded.
Final vowel (happY) is short but tense as in ‹pea›. It has a little diphthong movement [ɪ̝i] in Modern RP.
to ask
‹to› is usually unstressed and short.
Things are changing regarding how it links with a word starting with a vowel sound...
Option 1 (original): same as ‹two›, using a glide /w/ to link into ‹ask›; Option 2: (heard more among younger speakers) glottal 'attack' [təʔɑːsk].
BATH vowel in [ɑːsk] (further back and longer than TRAP).
but
STRUT when stressed, otherwise schwa [ə].
Mod. RP usually realises final /t/ as a glottal stop [ʔ], the consonant you hear in the word ‹uh-oh›.
Harry's
TRAP, short vowel, no r-colouring.
happY, short but tense as in ‹pea›.
tutor's
GOOSE, somewhat fronted, somewhere between [u] and [i]; tyu- → 'chew' /du- → 'Jew'/ nyu-.
/t/ between vowels is NOT tapped but usually aspirated [tʰ].
/r/ not immediately followed by a vowel sound → dropped.
mirror a
KIT, not r-coloured, distinct from ‹mere›. Same quality as ‹mid›.
-rr- followed by vowel sound → pronounced.
final ‹r› is usually dropped, but here something must link into the immediately-following 'schwa' (flat-tongued vowel) for ‹a›, using either...
Option 1: Linking /r/, Option 2: (heard more among younger speakers) glottal 'attack' [ʔ].
lot
LOT, some lip rounding/protrusion
Mod. RP usually realises final /t/ as a glottal stop [ʔ], the consonant you hear in the word ‹uh-oh›.
better
DRESS vowel followed by aspirated [tʰ] between vowels, NOT tapped.
Final ‹r› is dropped.
than
Usually unstressed with a barely-audible shwa /ə/
all
The THOUGHT set does not contain the same vowel as the LOT set. It is a) long, b) said with rounded lips/slightly protruding lip corners, and c) the back of the tongue is higher. This makes it the same vowel as the one in the next word. Note: ‹court› is a homophone of ‹caught› (not ‹cot›) in this accent!
yours
NORTH vowel is long, rounded. No following vowel sound = no /r/ being pronounced.
Modern RP / SSBE
The courtier's daughter isn't owed that man's gold.
Phone-by-phone notes
courtier's
FORCE: long monophthong. Eventhough this word has two ‹r›s, neither is heard as neither one is followed by a vowel sound. It sounds the same as "caught ears" in this non-rhotic accent.
daughter
THOUGHT is as long and as rounded as the stressed vowel in ‹courtier's›, i.e. they should have the same quality.
The final ‹r› would usually be silent, but here it is followed by the vowel sound beginning the next word.
Be sure NOT to rhotacize the final lettER vowel, which should always have the same quality but with the /r/ added on as if the next word were "rizzn't".
isn't
The ‹t› is final, and so it will usually be glottal (like the stop in ‹uh-oh›).
owed
The GOAT diphthong in RP starts with the central flat-tongued schwa [ə], and then the back of the tongue simultaneously rises slightly as the lip corners protrude a little.
that
As this usage of the word is demonstrative, it has a full open-front TRAP vowel with a cupped tongue (more open/cupped than older speakers).
Again, the ‹t› is final, and so it will usually be glottal or a little like an unreleased ‹p› if the lips come together early in preparation for the first consonant of the next word...
man's
As with other British accents, there should be NO /æ/ raising, so the TRAP vowel should be just as open (and have no tension) as the ‹a› in ‹cat› or the previous word in this anchor sentence.
gold
Because this GOAT vowel is followed by a dark/velarized /l/, this version of the diphthong starts with a further-back, rounded quality, not unlike that heard in Generican accents.
Hugh Jackman uses this 'trigger' phrase (which he alleges he 'stole' from Johnny Depp) to get into a So-Called General American accent
How many times have you asked Sam whether or not his daughter's learning disorder was caused by a genetic abnormality?
Phone-by-phone notes
How
MOUTH nucleus, which tends to start with a more OPEN onglide in So-Called General American (SCGA) compared to Australian English accents.
many
DRESS nucleus is also more OPEN in SCGA compared to AusEng.
times
PRICE nucleus onglide is more FRONT in SCGA compared to the further BACK AusEng starting point.
have
TRAP nucleus (when stressed).
you
GOOSE nucleus.
asked
BATH nucleus in SCGA tends to match that in TRAP in contrast to some AusEng accents that have a long FRONT monophthong.
Sam
This TRAP (TRAM) nucleus in SCGA is usually affected by 'ash tensing/raising' before a nasal consonant like 'm' or 'n'.
whether
DRESS nucleus + lettER nucleus, which is rhotic in SCGA (the ‹r› is pronounced)
or
FORCE nucleus (when stressed) is rhotic in SCGA
not
LOT nucleus is usually OPEN and unrounded in SCGA compared to AusEng's being rounded.
his
KIT nucleus is a little less tense in SCGA compared to AusEng
daughter's
THOUGHT nucleus is short and OPEN in SCGA, contrasting with the long, closer vowel heard in AusEng. In Western US varieties, it tends to be unrounded and identical to LOT, compared to the more rounded Eastern US varieties that match CLOTH.
lettER nucleus (see above).
learning
NURSE nucleus in SCGA is rhotic, compared to AusEng's long FRONTed rounded non-rhotic version.
disorder
KIT + NORTH (see FORCE above) + lettER
was
STRUT nucleus in SCGA / LOT nucleus in AusEng (when stressed)
caused
THOUGHT (see above)
by
PRICE (see above)
genetic
DRESS + KIT (see above)
abnormality
TRAP + NORTH + TRAP + happY, which in AusEng can be a narrow diphthong
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Dialect Coaching by Mark Byron Dallas
Toronto, Canada