American English voice overs: What you need to know

American English is the first language of more than 225 million people in the United States.

An additional 25 million people who live in the country speak it as their second language.

The reach of American English extends far beyond the US borders. It’s the preferred version of English for many learners across the world. In fact 70% of worldwide English speakers favor the American variant.

Surprising but true: the USA doesn’t have an official language at federal level. However, 32 states have declared it as the official language locally.

Language History

American English originated from British English. It was of course brought to the country by the first European settlers. In the 400 years since the initial landings, it’s developed into a language of its own.

American English and British English are very similar and are often used interchangeably. But there are differences in accent, pronunciation, spelling, and grammar. For example, “I’ll call you on your cell phone later” in American English could be “I’ll ring you on your mobile phone in a bit” in British English.

When recording an American English voice over, it’s critical to consider terminology and usage, as well as accent. If your text has been written in the UK, we would recommend having it proofread by a US linguist before sending it to the studio. If you need any help, please let us know.

Close Relations

English is closely related to German, Dutch and the Scandinavian languages. This means that adjectives generally come before nouns, as well as other shared features.

American English draws many of its words from other languages. They include Latin, French, and Spanish, as well as many Native American tongues.

Accents and Voice Over Tips

Written American English is standard throughout the USA. Pronunciation and vocabulary, on the other hand, vary depending upon the region. There’s much debate around how many different American accents there are, but the average is ten. They include Inland Northern, New York, Northern New England, North-Central, Southern, Midland, Western, and Western Pennsylvania.

Words per minute

Regional pronunciation combines with many other voice and personal characteristics. Consider your target audience and what would sound most appealing to them.

The average rate of speech for speakers of American English is 150 words per minute. However, this can vary depending on the context. For example, are you playing a character speaking in a laid-back drawl? Or are you reading a disclaimer in a 15-second radio spot?

It’s always worth taking into account the information density and target audience for your video. Talking to kids? Slow it down. Trying to convey complex data for a professional audience? Give them time to take it in.

POST YOUR VOICE OVER PROJECT TODAY!