ENGLISH ACCENT VARIATIONS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH (AmE) AND BRITISH ENGLISH (BrE): AN IMPLICATION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

(1)

SKETCH JOURNAL: Journal of English Teaching, Literature and Linguistics

Volume 3 Nomor 1 (2023) 1

ENGLISH ACCENT VARIATIONS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH (AmE) AND BRITISH ENGLISH (BrE): AN IMPLICATION

IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

Tira Nur Fitria

Institut Teknologi Bisnis AAS Indonesia, Sukoharjo Central Java, Indonesia

Email: [email protected]

Abstract

This research describes English accent variations including American English (AmE) and British English (BrE) and its implication in English Language Teaching (ELT).This research is library research. The analysis shows that the two most common varieties of English are American and British English. To learn English accents both American English and British English, we can use several online tools, such as Google Translate and Text-to-Speech apps (NaturalReader and toPhonetics).American English dialects usually pronounce the letter 'r' by rolling the tongue back and pressing the roof of the mouth together whereas the British English dialect does not pronounce the 'r' in words, especially when it occurs at the end of a word. There are several benefits to learning English accents, including facilitating communication and interaction with native speakers, giving the impression of our English ability, provide a positive to increase communication skills. Knowing the English accent makes it easier for us to get better understand English, so the spoken language cannot be separated from the accent. Therefore, this is important for teachers to recognize the existence of American English and British English with the intention that teachers are not faced with any difficulties that might be encountered later. They need to know and understand the characteristics of the differences between the two variants for the sake of strengthening the provision of their teaching and learning process. The problem of using English variants is not the most important thing to note. Being able to speak English fluently with a fluent accent, maybe a pride for people. But there are no provisions governing the use of certain variants. Both teachers and students can speak English freely accordingly to their desired variants.

Keywords: American English, British English, English Language Teaching (ELT), English variations

A. INTRODUCTION

Communication is one of the self-skills that a person must have. Meanwhile, language is the main medium of communication itself, both in the form of communication oral and written. Indonesia itself is a country multicultural that has a wealth of languages.

As unifying the nation, Indonesian is designated as the official language of the country spoken and mastered by all levels of society. Indonesia is also opening up to mastering a second or foreign language. When talking about foreign languages, it is common sense when hearing English terms as also the language of instruction (lingua franca) in various sectors on an international scale (Dinamika & Saputra 2022).

English is a language used as an international language. English can be a communication tool that bridges language differences between countries. English is something that people from all walks of life have to learn nowadays. In the fields of politics, economics, education, culture, and other social fields, English is currently required to enter the international arena. Seeing the importance of mastering a foreign

(2)

ENGLISH ACCENT VARIATIONS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH (AmE) AND BRITISH ENGLISH (BrE): AN IMPLICATION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING Tira Nur Fitria

SKETCH JOURNAL

Journal of English Teaching, Literature and Linguistics

language, the Indonesian government allows various sectors such as education to use the language English. In terms of English acquisition, It's better to start from the initial foundation of education someone, both from the elementary school level to the level of higher education. Learning English is always included in curricula at various levels of education in Indonesia with various weights. However, this is not immediately making all language learners get acquisition of full English. This is precisely because it triggers the emergence of new language problems.

According to Floris (2010), English is not only used by people from ENL (English as a native language) countries to communicate with people from ESL (English as a second language) and EFL (English as a foreign language) countries, but it also functions as a lingua franca among non-native speakers. As a result, English varieties or English esemerged. Various language problems that follow after language learning can be; the inability to say the words, caused by the different forms of writing and form of pronunciation of English words; difficulty understanding articulation and quite a variety of English accents, such as British-Accent, American-Accent, Australian-Accent, Canadian-Accent, Asian-Accent and so on. When learning English we are usually constrained in terms of accent. Actually, regarding the accent of a language, including things full of debate. Maybe someone thinks that the accent is not important because what matters is being able to speak English and those listening to understand it (Fitria, Uswatunnisa, & Pattiasina 2022). On the other hand, some might argue that an accent is important because to understand language and a certain community, we have to understand an accent. The accent is not important but depends on the priorities and reasons of each.

English is an international language that has been used almost all over the other world except in Indonesia (Fitria, 2022a). Language English consists of several dialects such as Australian English (AuE), Canadian English (CanE), American English (AmE), British English (BrE), and others. Although composed of many dialects, mostly linguists classify English into two categories, namely: American English (AmE) and British English (BrE). Good AmE and BrE, both of which have their differences and uniqueness (Setiawan, 2020). Accents usually describe someone's origin, so that we can easily find out that person's origin (Nurinda, 2012). The most dominant variations or accents of English are American English (AmE) and British English (BrE) (Kwary & Chasanah 2004).

British English and American English are the smallest cultural products of the English language's development, which is known for their variants (Sari & Ginting 2021).

(Hermini, 2019) There are two standard varieties of English. Both American and British English exist. The countries that use English as a second language may use one or more of these varieties, or they may simply be influenced by a single variety. Compared to countries that employ. As a foreign language, English undoubtedly, it is unclear which variants are utilized most frequently. The dominant input of English varieties may become the predominant English variety in those countries. However, this cannot be guaranteed because the varieties of English taught in schools may vary. Based on the research written by Adityarini et.al. (2009), in terms of delivery dimensions, the variation of AmE is considered the most interesting. Meanwhile, the BrE variation that has been considered the most prestigious has been considered as a pace that is difficult to follow, unclear pronunciation, and delivery that is not attractive.

(3)

American English is spoken in America and other American-influenced countries.

Canada also uses American English because it is close to America. British English besides being used in England is also used by Commonwealth countries. New Zealand English is also more British English. In the context of English, British English (BrE) and American English (AmE) have different standards. BE has strong roots in their grandmother's language his ancestry is like French and German, so the tone and dialect are more complicated than (AmE). (BrE) purity is higher than (AmE). He's very conservative and not easy to listen to for those who haven't normal in English. In contrast, AE is English which is easier to digest of its tone and dialect and is a confluence of many languages, be it the languages of the Mayans, Aztecs, Africa, Latin America, and so on. The pronunciation is easier for other speakers to understand than BE. Although in history, BE is an ancestor who has contributed make English a consensus international language because colonized nearly two-thirds of the world, America with technology has bewitched the world to change (BrE) to (AmE). It is undeniable, America with all its super power is more influential to the world than England in most affairs up to date even though they are of the same lineage (Mubarak 2019).

Based on the explanation above, the researcher is interested to know more about the differences between American English and British English. Therefore, the objective of this research is to describe the differences between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE) and its implication in English Language Teaching (ELT).

B. METHOD

This research is library research. In search for theory, researchers gather as much information as possible from the literature related (Evanirosa et.al., 2022). Source- Bibliographical sources can be obtained from: books, journals, magazines, research results, and sources other appropriate (Internet, newspapers, etc.). When we have obtained the relevant literature, then immediately to be prepared regularly for use in a study. Therefore the literature study includes general processes such as: identifying theory systematic research, literature discovery, and document analysis containing information related to the topic study. The method of collecting data is by using documentation.

Document study is a data collection method that is not addressed directly to the research subject. Document study is a type of data collection researching various kinds of documents that are useful for analysis material (Junaidi, 2019). In this research, the researcher uses books and articles related to the research focus both from national and international journals. Then technically literature review is a process of deepening, studying, and identifying existing knowledge in the literature (source readings, reference books, or research results) related to the problem under study (Evanirosa et.al., 2022).

C. RESULT AND DISCUSSION 1. Results

English is used as a means of communication both formally and informally. In Indonesia, the two most common varieties of English are the American and British varieties (Ilham, 2021). To learn English accents both American English and British English, we can use several online tools, one of them being Google Translate. We can visit https://translate.google.co.id/?hl=id. We only need to open the Google Translate application and type the word we want to translate. After that, tap the available voice/audio/speaker icon and the sound of the word being pronounced will appear.

(4)

SKETCH JOURNAL

AMERICAN ENGLISH ON GOOGLE TRANSLATE

Google Translate, can use to find out how to read a word in an English accent.

When we want to know how to read a word in an American English accent, we can type visit the website American (US) at https://translate.google.as/. When we want to know how to read a word in an American English accent, we can type a website. By using this feature, we can find out how a word is pronounced in an American accent. We need to type a word then click the available voice/audio/speaker icon and the sound of the word being pronounced in American English will appear. Google Translate is indeed able to show an American accent in a word/phrase/sentence, but the results shown are just audio/voice without showing the phonetics (IPA phonetic transcription).

BRITISH ENGLISH ON GOOGLE TRANSLATE

(5)

In Google Translate, we can use it to find out how to read a word in an English accent. When we want to know how to read a word in an American English accent, we can type visit the website American (US) at British (UK) https://translate.google.co.uk/.

When we want to know how to read a word in an American English accent, we can type a website. By using this feature, we can find out how a word is pronounced in an American accent. We need to type a word then click the available voice/audio/speaker icon and the sound of the word being pronounced in American English will appear.

Google Translate is indeed able to show a British accent in a word/phrase/sentence, but the results shown are just audio/voice without showing the phonetics (IPA phonetic transcription).

Besides using Google Translate, we can use an app of Text-to-Speech. Text-to- speech (TTS) is an assistive technology that can read a text and convert it into sound.

First, use NaturalReader. NaturalReader is a text-to-speech app that reads text, PDF, web pages, and eBooks in a quality natural-sounding voice.

HOME OF NATURALREADER APP ON THE WEBSITE

NaturalReader is one of text to speech solutions for personal, commercial, and educational use (Fitria 2022). There are several features in the Natural Reader App. 1.

Voice and Language Setting Features. In this feature, we can make sound settings in terms of the available voices for the voices. Apart from that, we can also choose or set the language we want to use, for example, English. 2. Speed Setting feature. Apart from being able to convert text into voice, of course, other features that support this are also needed, such as a speed setting feature. With this feature, we can adjust by editing the sound speed we need. 3. Convert Text to Voice feature This feature can convert text into a robotic voice that sounds natural and professional. Premium Voices is available in the following languages such as English (US and UK), Dutch, French (European, Canadian), German, Italian, Portuguese (European, Brazilian), Spanish (European, Mexican, US), and Swedish. While, Plus Voices is compatible with the following languages such as English (US, UK, Australian, Indian, Welsh), Danish, Dutch, French (European, Canadian), German, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (European, Brazilian), Romanian, Russian, Spanish (European, US), Swedish, and Turkish.

(6)

SKETCH JOURNAL

USING NATURALREADER APP ON THE WEBSITE

We can visit the website at https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/ or visit www.naturalreaders.com/ and select the 'Online Reader' icon to be redirected to the application. We can select the Pinned Voices. It will show any available accents such as English (US), English (UK), English (Australia), English (India), English (Wales), etc.

SELECTING ENGLISH ACCENT IN NATURALREADER APP ON THE WEBSITE

We can select English US or English UK. There are male and female voices in each English accent, so we can select male or female voices. We can also adjust the speaking speed by changing the “Speed”. We make sure that we stop the audio first before we change any settings (speed, voice, etc.). By using this tool, we can learn English accents such as American English and British English. But, this tool only shows the pronunciation (accent).

Second, using toPhonetic (text-to-speech). To learn how to pronounce words in different English accents both American and British accents, we can use other tools/websites besides Google Translate. We can use toPhonetics application to get an English text and want to see how to pronounce it. The toPhonetics application converts our English writing/text into a phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet.

(7)

TOPHONETICS APP ON THE WEBSITE

A toPhonetic is an online English text-to-IPA phonetic transcription converter that will convert our English text into its International Phonetic Alphabet phonetic transcription. There are several features of the toPhonetics application. There is English accent such as British and American accents. Following British phonetic convention, the [r] sound after a word is only voiced when it is followed by a vowel when the British option is selected. The symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The output of phonetic transcription preserves the structure of the text and its sentences (line breaks, punctuation, etc.), making it simpler to comprehend. The option to modify the pronunciation of words based on their position in the sentence (checkbox "Show weak forms"), as in connected speech. If a term is not found in the database, it is interpreted as an acronym if it appears in all capital letters. The transcriptions of acronyms will include hyphens between the letters. In addition to common vocabulary, the database contains a large number of place names (including country names, capitals, US states, and UK counties), nationalities, and prominent names. We can output the text and its phonetic transcription side-by-side or line-by-line so that it is simpler to refer back to the original text. Simply select the appropriate checkbox on the form. If a word has multiple possible pronunciations (highlighted in blue in the output), we can select the correct one by tapping on it. Move the mouse cursor over the word to see a pop-up with a selection of potential pronunciations. Note that various pronunciations of the same word may represent separate meanings or variations in pronunciation with the same meaning. Consult a dictionary if you are dubious of the correct pronunciation in a given circumstance. The dictionary database is routinely updated with the most common absent terms (displayed in red in the output). The text can be read aloud in browsers that support speech synthesis (Safari is recommended; Chrome is also supported).

(8)

SKETCH JOURNAL

USING TOPHONETICS TO LEARN AMERICAN ACCENT WITH PHONETIC TRANSCRIPTION

We visit toPhonetics at https://tophonetics.com/. We type or paste or type our English word/text into the field available, select the available accent such as America, select ‘Transcription only’, ‘Side by side with English text’, or select ‘Line by line with English text’. We can also click ‘Show weak forms, then click the "Show transcription"

icon (or use the [Ctrl+Enter] keyboard shortcut from the text input area). To know the pronunciation (accent), we can select play, then the pronunciation of the text will be spoken. The app also will show the IPA Phonetic transcription of the text written/inputted.

For example, we write ‘The accent is one of the things that clearly distinguishes British English from American English’ then the toPhonetic app shows the phonetic transcription ðiˈæksɛnt əz wʌn əv ðə θɪŋz ðət ˈklɪrli dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪz ˈbrɪtɪʃ ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ frəm əˈmɛrəkənˈɪŋɡlɪʃ. We can pronounce it based on the phonetic transcription because it shows the pronunciation in American spelling.

USING TOPHONETICS TO LEARN AMERICAN ACCENT WITH PHONETIC TRANSCRIPTION

(9)

We visit toPhonetics at https://tophonetics.com/. We type or paste or type our English word/text into the field available, select the available accent such as British, select

‘Transcription only’, ‘Side by side with English text’, or select ‘Line by line with English text’. We can also click ‘Show weak forms, then click the "Show transcription" icon (or use the [Ctrl+Enter] keyboard shortcut from the text input area). To know the pronunciation (accent), we can select play, then the pronunciation of the text will be spoken. The app also will show the IPA Phonetic transcription of the text written/inputted.

For example, we write ‘The accent is one of the things that clearly distinguishes British English from American English’. The toPhonetic app shows the phonetic transcription ðiˈæksənt s wʌn əv ðə θɪŋz ðət ˈklɪəli dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃɪz ˈbrɪtɪʃˈɪŋɡlɪʃ frəm əˈmɛrɪkən ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ. We can pronounce it based on the phonetic transcription because it shows the pronunciation in British spelling.

2. Discussion

English has certain accents, which are usually adapted to each individual's country of origin. The greater the number of speakers of a language and the wider the area of that language used, the more varieties or variations that appear for that language (Wibowo et.al., 2021). Due to its status as an international language, English is currently used by almost everyone around the world. Language English consists of several dialects such as Australian English (AuE), Canadian English (CanE), American English (AmE), British English (BrE), and others. Although composed of many dialects, mostly linguists classify English into two categories, namely: American English (AmE) and British English (BrE).

Good AmE and BrE, both of which have their differences and uniqueness (Setiawan, 2020). In Indonesia, we generally learn American English or British English. Due to globalization and Asia's rapid growth, another is the use of good grammar, and an understanding of accents is quite important. Some countries have accents of different English (Kurniawan, 2014). The most dominant variations or accents of English are American English, also known as General American, and British English (Kwary &

Chasanah, 2004).

Veza (2016) states that to trace the differences between English American accents with British, we should refer to events 300-400 years ago, and we will realize that the British role in the United States is very strong. The written difference between the two is not too obvious. But if we listen to the accent and pronunciation, we can find quite a big difference. The pronunciation emphasis on British English sounds heavier and more formal. (Atmaja, 2021) states that there are some differences in pronunciation between British and America. The letter la/ in English-American, is pronounced /æ/, while in English-British read /a:/. 1) The letter /r/ is in English-American, clearly read on all positions, while in English-British it is not read clearly, but pronounced only before vowels. Example: 2) The letters /n/, /d/, and /t/, if followed by the sound /u/, in English- American, it is pronounced the same (unchanged). However, deep English-British will be pronounced /j/, /dj/, and /th/. 3) The ending /-ile/ in American-English is pronounced /-I/, while in English-British it is pronounced /-ail/. 4) The ending /-ary/ in American-English is pronounced /-eri/, while in English-British it is pronounced /-ori/.

American English dialects usually pronounce the letter 'r' by rolling the tongue back and pressing the roof of the mouth together whereas the British English dialect does not pronounce the 'r' in words, especially when it occurs at the end of a word. British English still retains more French spellings. Meanwhile, American English is more often

(10)

SKETCH JOURNAL

spelled in a way that is almost the same as how it is pronounced, and American English removes unnecessary letters. Watzke et.al. (2022) state that American pronunciation was rated easiest to comprehend. (Tracy dan Robles 2013) add that American accents are on their way to becoming the preferred form of English worldwide. The variety of English spoken by the educated elite in Britain, known as received pronunciation (RP), was until recently the preferred accent worldwide. British accent dialects are one of the languages that accent England's most famous and are sometimes difficult to understand (Manalu, 2020).

There are several ways to imitate American accents, including 1) Learn Basic Pronunciation. Relax our tongue. Before starting to speak, prepare our mouths in a relaxed position. In general, our lips, chin, and entire face should be relaxed while pronouncing the American English accent. American English accents are pronounced with "neutral"

mouth movements and do not require loud voices or difficult oral techniques. 2) Pronounce each syllable. Break the word into syllables and pronounce each syllable. As we get better at pronouncing these sounds individually, we can increase our speed and start speaking more fluently. 3)Pronounce vowel sounds loose. In general, American vowels are "wider" and not "tall." This means that the corners of our mouth will work harder than our chin. 4) Emphasize the "r" sound. Keep our tongue in the center of our mouth and lift it slightly so that it is towards the teeth (but doesn't touch the roof of our mouth). Purse our lips and let the sound escape our throats. Our mouth will return to this position every time we say the letter "r".5) Master the different pronunciations for "th."

Press our tongue against the back of your front teeth so that the tip sticks out slightly.

Exhale through our teeth to form a soft "th" sound. For a noticeable "th" sound, keep your mouth in the same position, but this time make the sound instead of using our breath to give it a buzzing effect.

There are several ways to Train an American Accent, such as: 1) Practice the words and sounds you find difficult. Make a list of difficult words and spend some extra time studying them. Take your time—speak each word slowly, feeling every part of it.

Break difficult words into smaller units that are easier to pronounce, then put them back together once you get the hang of the pronunciation. 2) Have a conversation with a native speaker. Talk to Americans at every opportunity. Because they have spoken the language their entire life, they can provide the best example to follow. Try to absorb the written language and make mental notes of what stands out to you and what you still need to practice.3)Watch American movies and TV shows. If we can't talk to a native speaker in person, the next best option is to turn on the TV. While watching, repeat simple words and phrases orally and imitate them as closely as possible. Movies and TV shows can be good guides because the dialogue is spoken in a way that viewers can relate to. 4) Listen to American music. Play recordings of famous American musicians and analyze how they emphasized different words. We will notice that most of the words stay the same, although they sometimes change them to match the beat of the song. Because they tend to stick in the memory, songs can be a useful tool for mastering the details of a foreign language

There are several ways to speak with a British accent. According to Veza (2016), the characteristics of the English British Accent, there are some of the following tips. 1).

Letter R. Not all British accents have the same pronunciation. Despite that, most speakers have a British accent disguised as the pronunciation of the "r" after the vowel. Look at the example of the word hurry. In this case, the letter "r" is not pronounced clearly, but

(11)

sounds like huh-ree. Another example is the word girl. In English dialect. In America, the

"r" in girl might be heard clearly and as if there are two syllables, namely ge'erl. However, in a British accent, the "r" is pronounced faintly so the word girl is pronounced with only 1 syllable, namely gal. Some words are easier to pronounce with a British accent, one of which is mirror. We said mirrors in a British accent it is pronounced like mir-ra. This is different with an American accent pronounced more difficult, namely mirrer. 2). The letter "U". The "u" in a British accent is not pronounced "00" or "u" as in the American dialect. The pronunciation is, even more, tend to sound "ew". So, the word stupid is not said stooped, but rather stewpid or schewpid. As for the word duty pronounced jewty, not duty. 3). Letter A. The "a" in the words bath, path, glass, and grass do pronounce with clear vowels. So, the pronunciation is not disguised as an "e", for example, beth, peth, gless, or gress. 4) heavy consonants. Pronounce the T in "duty" as T: not like the American D, doody, therefore duty is pronounced dewty or the softer jooty. Say the -ing ending with a strong G. This will sound like -ing rather than -een. But sometimes it is shortened to in as in lookin. 5) Occasionally drop the T. In certain accents, including the cockney accent, the T is not pronounced in the word, while Americans use the D instead.

Nonetheless, there is usually a short halt or "hiccup" instead. Therefore "battle" can be pronounced ba-ill but it is rather rare to find someone who utters "Ba-ill", catching air at the back of the tongue at the end of the first syllable before letting it out on the second syllable. This is known as a glottal stop. Americans use glottal breaks for words like

"mittens" and "mountain." It's just that the British use it more often.

Knowing the English accent makes it easier for us to better understand English (Zaidah, 2022). The spoken language cannot be separated from the accent (Pratista, 2008). Accent influences the success of a film story because it is capable convince the audience that the story is real and occurs in a region; or can show where a character comes from. English for example, has different accents in America, England, Australia, and other countries. Accents also often affect the cast of players. Generally, an actor or actress comes from the same region as a role in the film's story. As with any accent, listening to and imitating native speakers is the best and fastest way to learn.

There are benefits to teaching and learning with video and audio in American and British English (Musdalifah, 2022). Additionally, English language learners prefer American English over British English. American English (AE) is slower and simpler than British English. However, this is not the end of the students' reasons; they can gain more experience with the other dialects that have been used in other countries around the globe, especially in English. English learning applications are becoming increasingly popular with many people wanting to learn English. However, as technology develops, learning English is now easier because it can be done through websites and cell phones.

Suppose teaching English as a language to foreigners require consideration of variant thinking, of course, choice 'must fall' on a better variant (Subiyati, 1991).

However, the problem is that between the two variants discussed so far, neither one is better. There are language variants, English, mainly BE and AE yet to be that sort of concern among people who learn, and teach English as a foreign language in Indonesia.

The world of language teaching English in this country has not felt the need to make a big deal about which variant is Language English which variant, does not matter. The struggle to cultivate the English language itself has put aside thoughts about the choice of variants. Teachers, candidate teachers, and even lecturers, sometimes don't have time to think about it that variant.

(12)

SKETCH JOURNAL

The importance of British English and American English must be supported by the availability of sources of information in the form of learning books and vocabulary dictionaries that are easy to find (Ikramullah et.al., 2018). Introducing dialects can be used in making textbooks for students (Wibowo et.al. 2021). In connection with the existence of two American and British English, then what needs to be considered is the consistency of the author in presenting it. For learners, the dialect that colors the teaching material itself is not a big problem means. This is related to the fact that they live in Indonesia as a speech community that places English as a Foreign Language, isn't it a second language? Thus, students can learn English with a dialect anywhere, in this case, the British dialect or the American dialect. What needs attention from textbook makers is the need to provide material that provides understanding about the characteristics of a unit of language that is British or American, so that when the student uses the unit of language he knows if he is use one of the main dialects of English.

Besides that, introducing the English dialect gives value plus from a textbook.

This has to do with the fact that every language will have variations or varieties. Thus, inserting utterances in various varieties different in a conversation as teaching material is a great way to dialect recognition. Of course, the presentation of speech in a different dialect must be served effectively. A complete dialogue is presented in a dialect good for modeling how speakers of English speakers with the dialects it interacts. Students will feel the difference when a dialogue is carried out presented in full in British English dialect compared to other dialogues presented in American English. The first conversation elicits a more formal interaction than a deep conversation American dialect which tends to be casual and more fluid.

When a dialogue presents a mixed-part British and some are in American dialect, so the author of the book needs to provide configuration context or explain the context behind the conversation between mixed dialects between British English and American English. For example, a narration that explains the background of the participants in the conversation can help students understand why the utterances used by one of the participants from the conversation style are different from the speaking style of the participants other. Of course, there will be many ways to structure or present a conversation with utterances that represent two dialects as a vehicle for introducing the variety of English.

There are several ways to improve accent skills: Looking for videos on YouTube and other online media can add and train our accent skills. Download apps that can help practice accent and pronunciation. After understanding speaking, then the problem is in pronunciation. Given that, every city in the world that speaks English has a different accent. Indonesia also has an English accent. At the same time, pronunciation is still a scourge for someone who just wants to learn or who has been studying English for a long time. In response to this, accent and pronunciation are not the main things in speaking, but the message to be conveyed. This is because the true message is the most essential in a conversation. As long as the other person catches the message and understands what is being said, that's more than enough. We need to be proud of our English accents.

There are several benefits if people learn English accents, including facilitating interaction and mingling with native speakers, giving the impression that our English is better, provide a positive environment that can increase confidence and communication skills in English. Accents are also important to learn so that natively understand the English we speak (Wahyuni, 2021). Accents aren't everything. Lots of beginner English

(13)

learners feel that when they learn English, they have to sound like a native speaker, and are concerned about regional accents. Indicators of mastery of the English language are not only seen from accents, for example, but pronunciation is also more suitable as a

"mastery indicator" for beginners. We can note that pronunciation is the pronunciation of words, how precisely we can pronounce a word. Meanwhile, although the accent is also related to pronunciation, it has more to do with rhythm and intonation (rising and falling of sounds), and often accents can describe our origins. So, people can try to have a native speaker's accent, but the pronunciation is still wrong, and conversely, people who have a regional accent can also have a relatively good pronunciation so that many people can understand it.

Accents can be both advantageous and detrimental. Having a native speaker accent can make us admired by many people, especially if the grammar and vocabulary used are also very good. However, on the other hand, an accent can also be detrimental, especially when we try to speak like a native speaker, aka imitating the accent, but it turns out that there are still many basic English mistakes. Surely people who know will make the subject of ridicule because of this ridiculous mistake. So, does accent matter for students? The researcher does not think it's for those who are just learning English. Maybe students should focus on other things such as vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar because with that, even with a non-native accent, they can still be understood by their interlocutors. Accents can sometimes intimidate beginning learners because of the pressure to be like a "native speaker". Of course, if our students use American or British accents that's fine, but maybe it's better to learn the accents after we have sufficient mastery of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation because accents might change over time. However, the most important goal of learning English is that our speech can be understood by the other person.

It is important to have a target in learning a language. That way, students have targeted achievements in mastering a competency, especially in speaking English. But in fact, that alone is not enough to master speaking skills. Consistency and high-flying hours are needed during the learning process to continuously evaluate and enrich what has been learned and what will be learned. Some stages cannot be missed in learning a language, including speaking English. The first stage is to determine the learning objectives themselves. This is done so that each time and energy is directed precisely. Then the consistency of a student is tested. The process is repetitive. “Drilling, repeating over and over. But don't get stuck in one particular vocabulary or sentence. Continuing to use different variations of phrases and sentences in speaking is a tactic to avoid boredom during the process. Finally, enjoy the learning process. What is no less essential in the learning process, but which is often forgotten, is knowing each other's learning styles.

This will determine the suitable media to accompany learning.

According to Hermini (2019), the majority of students have been exposed to the distinctions between American and English vocabulary, as the majority of English classes combine both varieties. The data indicate that students prefer to be instructed in American English. The primary reason is that they believe American English is simple to pronounce and widely used. Indeed, the majority of students speak American English. Pudyastuti and Atma (2014) states that the majority of participants in this study have positive attitudes toward English. They are receptive to the diversity of English because they recognize the significance of Englishes knowledge possessed by both English teachers and students. In other words, both English teachers and students are expected to be able

(14)

SKETCH JOURNAL

to communicate effectively in a global setting if they are proficient in multiple varieties of English. What we must ground ourselves in is English teaching practice. In this study, teachers prefer to integrate English with other language abilities and components.

Therefore, teachers only need to teach an overview of Englishes; how English is spoken around the world. At present, it is suggested that English instructors should be conversant with the variety of English.

This is important for teachers to recognize the existence of the BE and AE variants with the intention that teachers are not fooled by abnormalities that might be encountered (Subiyati, 1991). With the development of the media's increasingly advanced electronics and also advertising increasingly varied, teachers, prospective teacher students, students, and today's parents in general, might see an expanding variant of American English.

Student questions about vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, and grammar. A rather strange English, which he saw and heard through various media, it will be regrettable if forced to not get the teacher's answer. So; before student teacher candidates English practice in school, they need to have the provision of introduction to BE and AE, no matter how simple, for the sake of readiness to face the problem in reality in class with students.

The problem of English variants is not the most important thing to note. There are no provisions governing the use of certain variants. Prospective teachers, teachers, lecturers, and even anyone can speak English freely accordingly to their respective variants. However they, especially teachers and prospective teachers need to know and understand the characteristics of the differences in the two variants of BE and AE, for the sake of strengthening the provision of their duties. It is necessary to avoid the inability of the teacher to explain something just because in himself he lacks a treasury of small things related to the differences between BE and AE.

D. CONCLUSION

English is used as a means of communication both formally and informally. In Indonesia, the two most common varieties of English are the American and British varieties. To learn English accents both American English and British English, we can use several online tools, such as Google Translate and Text-to-Speech apps (NaturalReader and toPhonetics).American English dialects usually pronounce the letter 'r' by rolling the tongue back and pressing the roof of the mouth together whereas the British English dialect does not pronounce the 'r' in words, especially when it occurs at the end of a word.

A common feature of the American accent is the use of a deep and obscure "r"

sound. In addition, the American Accent is also known for its distinctive word for word which sounds connected when spoken. Another distinctive feature of this Accent is the use of the letter a which flattens to be like an "e". Several words in the American accent sound the same, even though the letters are different. Meanwhile, American English is more often spelled in a way that is almost the same as how it is pronounced and removes unnecessary letters. British accent dialects are one of the languages that accent England's most famous and are sometimes difficult to understand. Meanwhile, the British Accent has characteristics that make it very different from other accents. Its first characteristic is the sound of the letter "r" which is omitted and replaced by stress on the letter that follows it. However, the British Accent sounds clearer per word than the American Accent.

(15)

Unlike the American Accent, where word-for-word sounds continuous, word-for-word in the British Accent can be heard clearly.

There are several benefits if people learn English accents, including facilitating interaction and mingling with native speakers, giving the impression that our English is better, provide a positive environment that can increase confidence and communication skills in English. Knowing the English accent makes it easier for us to better understand English, so the spoken language cannot be separated from the accent. As with any accent, listening to and imitating native speakers is the best and fastest way to learn. Accents can sometimes intimidate beginning learners because of the pressure to be like a "native speaker". Of course, if our students use American or British accents that's fine, but maybe it's better to learn the accents after we have sufficient mastery of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation because accents might change over time.

E. REFERENCES

Adityarini, H., Wijayanto, A., and Masykuroh, Q. (2009). Sikap Mahasiswa Program Studi Bahasa Inggris Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta Terhadap Variasi Bahasa Inggris. (Undergraduate Paper, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta).

Atmaja, I. (2021). English daily conversation (edisi revisi). Bhuana Ilmu Populer.

Dinamika, S. G. and Saputra, N. (2022). Monograf analisis kesalahan berbahasa inggris sumber dan bentuk. Yayasan Penerbit Muhammad Zaini.

Evanirosa, Bagenda, C., Hasnawati, Annova, F., Azizah, K., Nursaeni, Maisarah, Asdiana, Ali, R., Shobri, M., and Adnan, M. (2022). Metode penelitian kepustakaan (library research). Media Sains Indonesia.

Fitria, T.N. (2022a). English vlog project: students’ perceptions and their problems.

Acuity: Journal of English Language Pedagogy, Literature and Culture 7(1):77–

87. doi: 10.35974/acuity.v7i1.2535.

Fitria, T.N. (2022b). Utilizing Text-to-Speech Technology: Natural reader in teaching pronunciation. JETLEE : Journal of English Language Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature 2(2). doi: 10.47766/jetlee.v2i2.312.

Fitria, T.N., Uswatunnisa, U., and Pattiasina, P.J. (2022). Non-EFL students’ experience of speaking english: A project based learning in making video. Al-Mudarris:

Journal Of Education 5(1):13–29. doi: 10.32478/al-mudarris.v5i1.950.

Floris, F. D. (2010). Eksistensi varietas bahasa inggris dan bahasa inggris standar.”

Bahasa Dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, Dan Pengajarannya 38(1).

Hermini. (2019). Students’ perception toward american and british english in cokroaminoto university. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature 7(1). doi: 10.24256/ideas.v7i1.724.

Ikramullah, M., Eranwati, E., and Erlansari, A. (2018). Kamus kosakata british english – american english dengan sistem pencarian fungsi hash murmurhash3 berbasis android. Rekursif: Jurnal Informatika 6(1). doi: 10.33369/rekursif.v6i1.4278.

Junaidi, H. (2019). Strategi kebut skripsi dalam 21 hari: cara gila menyusun skripsi bebas galau. Araska Publisher.

Kwary, D.A, and Chasanah, I.N. (2004). Sikap mahasiswa program s1 sastra inggris fakultas sastra universitas airlangga terhadap aksen bahasa inggris amerika dan britania suatu kajian sosiolinguistik. Lembaga Penelitian Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Airlangga, Monograph (Research Paper).

(16)

SKETCH JOURNAL

Manalu, H.F. (2020). Buku referensi kajian wilayah britania raya dan pulau irlandia - british studies. Penerbit CV. SARNU UNTUNG.

Mubarak, A. Z. (2019). Problematika pendidikan kita: Masalah-masalah pendidikan faktual dari guru, desain sekolah dan dampaknya. Ganding Pustaka.

Nurinda, R. K. (2012). Percaya diri ngomong inggris dalam sehari. Ruang Kata.

Pudyastuti, Z. E., and Atma, N. (2014). Englishes: Indonesian efl teachers’ perception.

PAROLE: Journal of Linguistics and Education 4(1 April):76–82. doi:

10.14710/parole.v4i1.

Sari, S.S., and Ginting, G. (2021). Implementasi algoritma boyer moore pada kamus perbedaan kata dalam bahasa inggris british dan bahasa inggris america. Journal of Informatics Management and Information Technology 1(2):74–78. doi:

10.47065/jimat.v1i2.102.

Setiawan, T. (2020). English family (learning english in indonesian culture). Deepublish.

Subiyati, M. (1991). Pentingnya mengenal varian bahasa inggris bagi calon guru.

Cakrawala Pendidikan 86770. doi: 10.21831/cp.v2i2.8762.

Tracy, K, and Robles, J.S. (2013). Everyday talk: Building and reflecting identities.

Guilford Press.

Veza, I. (2016). Jurus cepat & mudah kuasai 10 bahasa asing internasional. SAUFA.

Wahyuni, S. (2021). Ceritanya ber-inggris. Guepedia.

Watzke, J. L., Miller, P.C. and Mantero, M. (2022). Language and power. IAP.

Wibowo, A.H., Santosa, R., Wiratno, T., and Djatmika, D. (2021). Bagaimana mengenalkan dialek kepada pembelajar bahasa inggris. PRASASTI: Journal of Linguistics 6(2):137–46. doi: 10.20961/prasasti.v6i2.53266.