Accent Sample Elicitation Passages

Pdf copies of Dali’s Last Hurrah and All About Foxes can be downloaded here. A ‘teacher’s guide’ to the passages may be downloaded here.

Dali’s Last Hurrah

What frosty land is this?
How was its fate decided?
Coal-black mountains loom;
Glassy pools reflect their huge, queer forms.
A bird-like woman searches slowly through the trees;
Flocks of trembling sparrows cluster about blood-red barns.
I feel the flashing claws of chalk-white terror rip at my breath.
My courage fails.
A furious, hoarse voice whispers from the inky shadows,
“He knew his duty. We cannot be afraid.”

Fighting a fog of sudden nightmare visions—
Savage lambs,
Fork-tongued horses,
Sleek otters, subtle as jazz—
I struggle to recall the verse drama of old—
My heart turns to ice.

Dali’s Last Hurrah is Copyright © 2016 Erik Singer and Knight-Thompson Speechwork, All Rights Reserved, and may be used freely for any purpose without additional authorization, provided the present sentence accompanies the passage in print, if reproduced in print, and in audio format, in the case of a sound recording.

All About Foxes

  1. The quick brown fox took four small sips of strong coffee.
  2. Oh boy, Kathy! Father is mad as hell! Why did you lie? You’re not even sorry.
  3. Carry these cheeses to the train before it’s too late!
  4. That fluffy little kitten slashed the cotton sofa apart! And now her poor paw is hurt! Dear me!
  5. Do you fear death, fair one?
  6. Cut the flow! Now! The bathroom is underwater! Get the bags!
  7. Where would you go, do you think, if the earth turns cold? Will you walk north?
  8. Hurry it up!  Does anybody take pride in their work anymore? People are sheep!
  9. Two students planted big fir trees all around the zoo.
  10.  Where is the tailor? Did he hem the orange pants?
  11. I’ve discovered the perfect poison. It attacks the organs.
  12. It sure is nice to fish. because it makes me feel calm, you know? Just look at those trout!
  13. Spread the news: we’re planning a party!
  14. The jury is not going to follow the rule.
  15. Do you think ten o’clock is early for lunch?

All About Foxes is Copyright © 2016 Erik Singer and Knight-Thompson Speechwork, All Rights Reserved, and may be used freely for any purpose without additional authorization, provided the present sentence accompanies the passage in print, if reproduced in print, and in audio format, in the case of a sound recording.

If you would like to contribute an accent sample to the Knight-Thompson Speechwork library, please sign (or have the accent donor sign) the Accent Donor Waiver and Liability Release and email it back to knightthompsonspeechwork.com along with your recording. For more about How to Collect an Accent Sample, including advice on recording equipment and interview technique, please click on the link.