Pronunciation & Listening

The cot–caught merger is one of the most significant sound changes in North American English, where the vowels in words like cot and caught are pronounced the same by many speakers. This article explores its history, causes, and geographic distribution, explaining why the merger happened, where it’s widespread, and why some regions resist it. It also discusses its impact on teaching, dictionaries, and technology, helping learners understand both merged and non-merged systems for better comprehension and communication.

American English is full of regional accents, each shaped by history, culture, and migration. From the smooth tones of General American to the distinctive vowels of Boston, the musical Southern drawl, and the evolving sounds of Modern American English, every accent tells a story. This guide explores the most common U.S. accents, explains their pronunciation features with IPA examples, and even covers which accents dictionaries use so you can understand and be understood wherever you go.

Do you often mishear English words and get confused in conversations? You're not alone. Mishearing happens due to fast speech, accents, connected sounds, and brain shortcuts. This guide explains why it happens and gives practical tips to improve your listening skills, recognize natural speech patterns, and train your ear like a native.

American and British English may share the same roots, but their pronunciations differ in many ways. From vowel sounds and rhotic “r” pronunciation to stress patterns, intonation, and even how everyday words are said, this guide explains the key differences clearly with examples. Perfect for learners who want to sound more natural and understand both accents better.

Mastering English pronunciation starts with understanding the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). This complete guide breaks down every English sound with examples, explains tricky vowels and consonants, and shows you how to use IPA to improve your speaking and listening skills.

Dialects and accents shape how people sound and express identity. This article explains what makes them different, how they develop, and why every variety of speech deserves equal respect. Explore the beauty of linguistic diversity and what our voices reveal about who we are.