Commune-ication and Accents | Amy Walker

What happens in our brains when we hear a "different accent"? What makes us feel like we belong? Take a fun, interactive dive into the art and science of communication, with actress/writer Amy Walker.
Let's see if we can dismantle our conditioning and really commune while we communicate. Made with love for all ways of speaking. Vibes to you, exactly as you are, with all my heart. Enjoy!
Written and performed by Amy Walker, Inspired by a request to perform at the new immersive museum, Planet Word, in Washington D.C. in Oct, 2022.
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www.21Accents.com
VIBES to You! ~Amy
Most Popular Video: goo.gl/b96wKW
The Original 21 Accents:
• 21 Accents

[@jeffreysherman8224]

It's interesting that we can't separate accents from attitudes and characters. You don't just put on an accent, you put on a whole persona.

[@bluzytrix]

That's the key to accents. You embody the accent along with the cultural elements.

[@silverkitty2503]

so true

[@taralyncarlsen211]

“There is not one way to speak correctly. But there are infinite ways to speak authentically.” As a child immigrant to the States, I spent years perfecting the midwestern accent just to fit in since I was teased and constantly corrected when I spoke with my Zimbabwean accent, and then when I finally perfected the midwestern accent and took it on for good I felt limited and terribly confined and have felt this way for years. This video was everything I needed to hear. Thank you with all my heart ❤️

[@tcrump212IsLmbrJck_t]

Girl, just take us through the WHOLE thang, sis! The meta and the macro! You made me cry.

[@amywalkerofficial]

Aww honey, thank you. For all of your shares. Truly. Made my day. Big love to you!

[@Just999Me]

Yay she's back. I've missed having new videos from her. I wish one of those bigger channels would pick her up as a recurring series guest. I could listen to her talk and advise on accents all day long

[@anitashade7611]

Amy, I’ve been following you on KZbin since KZbin was an icon of a tube TV and I don’t think I could love you more than I do now. So pleased you’re continuing to spread joy and love through your message. Such a comfort watch for me!!

[@amywalkerofficial]

Wow thank you so much, Anita!! 🥰❤️ And for the reminder to share some of the early 1800s London research! Big hugs and vibes to you. Thanks for watching and connecting for all these years!! 💞🥰💞

[@disbussysogude]

Our accent lady is back ❤

[@collectivelight]

Wonderful video Amy! I could see this being a TED Talk with millions of views. You make a good point about how we tend to judge people on how they talk, and how no one is born with an accent, but we adopt it to try to fit in. I also like the point about how we should express ourselves authentically rather than try to always speak "correctly".

[@amywalkerofficial]

Thank you so much! It means so much to have you articulate what resonates with you. And yay, I love TED Talks! We’ll see where it goes… 😏❤

[@markjones952]

Amy is back!!! This is good news. Amy knows her stuff.

[@amywalkerofficial]

Yay! Haha, thanks Mark. 😉

[@FionaEm]

Yes! I've missed her videos.

[@rubricen]

You are genius. WE are not! Haha. Best regards form Norway. We are 5 million people up here and have 2 million accents. Why do you make me happy when I watch your videoes? And I sit here with a permanent smile. I do not know. Thank you Amy for what you are and what you do.

[@mangolove]

wow, it has been years I mean about 10 years (difficult to know for sure but it feels like ages) since the KZbin logarithm shows me a video from you, I thought you were gone. Nice too see you again

[@dkambury]

Accents AND social commentary in a light-hearted, engaging manner? Brilliant! Welcome back!

[@songbird377]

This was brilliantly done 👏🏼 I love love having discussions like this! I’m from Hawaii and I have been imitating accents since I was 3 because my dad is Australian and my mom is from here but went to school in California and doesn’t sound like a lot of people from Hawaii. I would imitate my dad saying drawer as “Droor” 😆 and explain the difference between that and the American accent. Across the state there is sort of a standard subtle local accent that stems from a combination of the accents of all the people groups who immigrated over a century and a half ago such as local Japanese, pidgin etc. when I talk to my friends I automatically adapt to their own accent and I almost can’t sound like “myself” even when I try to- but it’s so true that whether we are consciously or subconsciously changing our voices it still is 100% us being authentic communicators because our intention is to commune! I personally love the rhythm and inflections of Scottish and English accents, so I made a choice that the British way of asking a question with the end of the sentence coming down at the end feels so much more natural to me than the American style of raising your pitch at the end of the question, I used to worry that people would think that it’s weird I don’t speak with a local Hawaii inflections and tonality but I really love experimenting with different ways of speaking in every day life and that is just a part of who I am! I don’t think people should have to speak the same way they grew up speaking forever, I love the fact that the voice is changeable!

[@Whatnews2]

I'd fallen in love with Amy Walker's voices years ago. What an inventive, supportive voice professional. I want to move with as much ease through the accents (personalities, really) that pop into my head.

[@catsarefancy9053]

This was a whole ass TED talk and I loved it. Btw her hair is always flawless and I’m jealous!

[@amywalkerofficial]

😂❤❤❤

[@emmaendean-mills5317]

Where did the last 14 years go! I love this, thank you.

[@fraac]

latest imdb credit is as 'beautiful wife / mother' so good job

[@tcrump212IsLmbrJck_t]

The frisson I experience listening to you speak completely validates what I’ve know all along about you. You are an Angel.

[@nicholastan3859]

Hi Amy, I really want to express how thankful I am for you. I’ve been watching your videos for WELL over a decade now and have loved your work deeply. I was a tween when I started watching your videos!! I found myself today thinking about your music box duet, needing to rewatch it, and came across this recent gem that I hadn’t yet seen. I just want to say how I ADORE your mind. Your openness and your perspective is so refreshing and the way you clearly love to share it with others warms my heart greatly. This 16 (!) minute long one-take video was by no exaggeration a work of brilliance. You eloquently and succinctly not only conveyed your argument articulately but demonstrated it and elicited our participation in one fell swoop. I credit you and you alone for my lifelong adoration of the meticulous, juicy idiosyncrasies of each regional dialect of our broad breadth of what we call “English”. My heart was glowing, that I today still find myself learning from you. This is all still without acknowledging your sheer technical prowess (I won’t say talent because it is clear as say how you have worked and perfected your craft over a lifetime). The intricacies of your accents speak volumes to the dedication you’ve poured into each, in order to authentically express yourself. And not just yourself but the various different aspects that can’t normally shine through in solely American. In essence what we get to enjoy is the spectrum of facets that constitute the prism of Amy Walker. It was all so beautifully displayed within this monologue (which felt like a dialogue!) I know you’re an actor and all but my goodness the control of diction, melody, tone, vernacular… blew me away as you usually do. I have SO many thoughts regarding the plentiful discussion you have inspired with this presentation but my comment is already long enough and all my thoughts are wholly in agreement with your sentiments to the T!! I grew up with a thick accent and emigrated to the states at a relatively awkward stage of adolescence, picked up near perfect American and have ever since been a subconscious perfectionist with my diction in other languages, ensuring that I instill the original culture within my speech as language is a living breathing thing rich with centuries of culture and modes of expression. The way the brain routes its processes, the particular tensions of facial muscles to form these sounds, the speed, inflections, melody, etc. All thoroughly impregnated with the culture that bore it. I notice others commenting on the correlation of each accent with a certain personalities. That’s a whole discussion by itself but I will simply say that’s the exact beauty of language. By speaking you essentially breathe life to these words which elicits these subconscious associations, some harmful, some valid. Thank you for inspiring our very own awareness to them, and sharing a wonderful way to understand each other as one species. Please do excuse this literal word vomit at 5am in the morning-I simply wanted to thank you for creating this video. It is as beautiful as your mind. Forever your fan, Nick

[@amywalkerofficial]

Nicholas Tan, you Kindred! Thank you truly from my bottomless heart for your profluent and meticulously articulated letter. It is such a rare and nourishing gift to be seen - really seen and felt and experienced as deeply as you just have for me, and for this message, and even for what it took to put the message across. I'm truly touched and filled to overflowing. I can feel the depth with which you commune with life, Nicholas. A depth you have cultivated intentionally, and which reverberates through all whom you encounter. Thank you for being you. Vibes and blessings~

[@scottallencolorado]

Glad I saw this video again. So much good in this. Thanks Amy.

[@KalaAltheaBalik]

Be the master of your output, it's magic.

[@ethanmrob]

Thank you Amy! This resonates with me, having grown up both in the American South and in Canada. This explains why when I’m in Canada my “accent” takes on the sounds of that region, and same for when I’m in the South. I’ve struggled with identity issues because I feel like a faker for changing how I sound, but this helps me realize it’s all a part of me, and I just adjust based on where I am and who I’m with, the same way I’d use Spanish in Mexico or Mandarin in China. Thank you!!!

[@immortalmikeyy]

Just last night at work a coworker and I were having a good ol time speaking to each other in different accents. I said, "Oh, you've got to see Amy Walker do 21 accents!" and showed her that video... Glad you are back!

[@amywalkerofficial]

Aww thanks so much for sharing! ❤🤗

[@MuayThaiJourney]

15 minute voice warm up following your entire video--- nice experience..and flow of expansion - thanks Amy,.

[@nipunnair9244]

Oooh this is so interesting!!! Such food for thought! And I literally was thinking all those things as you caught them!!! So incredible!!! Love how your brain works!!! ❤❤❤ Thank you for bringing out the best in people and helping all of us take a look at our own conditioning and unravel it.!!!

[@amywalkerofficial]

Awww amazing! hahaaa 🥰 That means the world to me, thank you so much. ❤️❤️❤️

[@samuelleask1132]

This was incredible

[@petehamilton5475]

Mesmerising

[@milla0722]

Glad you’re back! I’ve been following you on KZbin since 2009. Hope you are doing well. Love you! 💖

[@theaussietripper]

Fascinating as always! Well it's how I first discovered you, Amy. That Aussie accent of yours always knocks me for six and yeah used to buy my dad a carton of Crownies for father's day, sadly that stopped some years ago. Love your work so much! 😁

[@amywalkerofficial]

Awww Crownies! Cheers, Aussie Aussie Aussie! 😉

[@Skyizthelimit]

I did participate and it was fun! Good talk this in how we mustn't judge the way people talk. I do not have an accent actually. But I can "take" a lot of accents and play with it. So good to see and hear you again, I'm a subscriber from a long long time ago (2007!) and it's always a pleasure. All the best to you.

[@actsofserviceplumbing90]

I’m in love with your different accents. You are awesome.

[@entropyme9]

this video brings a whole new meaning to the words "video essay"

[@SimpleLivings]

She. Is. Beautiful.

[@shannasharp9124]

You are so great at this. And hilarious and GORGEOUS! Love your smile

[@marwangama4776]

I can't tell you how happy I'm that you're back :''D you're the person who has literally helped me in my english journey Especially with the american accent i still practice till this day from your videos you're a real mentor

[@mjears]

THANK YOU ❤ for saying this as only you could! Your spirit touches me (and always has, near 13 years now). I watch some KZbin every day, and still this amazes me, how connected I can feel. Also I visited Scotland earlier this year, and I’m loving every syllable of the northern accents in this one! I wonder how much others are able to instantly follow you around the map as you switch. I think I could identify maybe 85% of them accurately. It must be so different for someone to hear all this not knowing where these accents are from. I find the more I learn about accents, languages, cultures, the more I am able to do what you are saying here: Listen to the person, not just the differences. Much love, Amy. Thank you.

[@amywalkerofficial]

Aww beautiful, thank you so much dear! I’m truly moved by how much you resonate with the message and feel the love I pour into videos when I make them. I feel absolutely connected to each person who will see it, individually. It’s hard to describe, but very real. Thank you for watching for 13 years, kindred! ❤

[@okillebrew]

Goodness I’ve missed you!

[@aminnima6145]

Beautiful and intelligent young lady... Much love from Morocco ❤️

[@katiaazizi]

Love it! Missed you loads!

[@amywalkerofficial]

Aww Yay! Thank you!

[@ClarenceKe]

Amy is the queen of English accents!! Thank you for your sharing!

[@tajomoore]

And they say you should never read the comments. Well, I can tell I'm in good company as an admirer of this work. Brava!

[@teresamay3063]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm so grateful for you putting this beautiful energy out into the ether🙏🏼🌻🙏🏼

[@magnetictheory]

Welcome back! Where the accented fook have you been? Such a lovely surprise to see new content from you in my feed, and with such an in-depth video. What a treat! Missed this so much!

[@amywalkerofficial]

🥰😂 Awww haha cheers! Thanks so much, what a joy to have it resonate so deeply with you. Big hugs!

[@Evelenia]

Your old videos helped me with improving my American englieh pronunciation. Thank you for your content.

[@kalienergy]

You've aged beautifully and your presence is still strong

[@gg-dw1yq]

Always a pleasure to view her !

[@kristinekwall2643]

Love it! You are amazing and what a great message. Thank you!

[@carolynclitheroe3588]

This should be a TED talk

[@edwinlomonaco6754]

Well there's a paradox here. Yes accents tend infur stereotypes. But those stereotypes are usually perpetuated by the very ones who argue against their judgment. Nothing wrong with conditioning. It's, for the most part, how deem our world safe. In a utopian world you'd want to be free from judgment and or stereotypes. But the very fact that she can make this video is attributed to those stereotypes and the accents that preceed them. So in the end it all exists for a reason. Great video. Honestly impressed by just her courage to make it.

[@ParadiseVids]

Accents have a huge impact. I trust accents. I love accents, all these accents, and I want all of them for different times and different things. 👍🏻

[@JonnyZye]

Brilliant!

[@Lesssvav]

The greatest of all time!

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

This was fantastic Amy!

[@amywalkerofficial]

Thanks so much, Julian! Love to you!

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

@@amywalkerofficial you too, dear one. Hey I’ll be doing a yoga and dance thing tomorrow (Saturday night) in WeHo if you wanna come play!

[@EmilyKN]

This was so interesting, Amy! Thank you. ❤ I’ve missed your videos 🥰

[@megahern8467]

Beautiful!! Thank you ❤

[@riprotaries3145]

Wish I had You as teacher back in the day .the best teacher

[@Albatrosspro1]

I bet you did it all in one take!

[@amywalkerofficial]

Always. That’s my jam! ❤😊❤

[@Recusant39]

Merry Christmas, Ms. Amy!

[@tcrump212IsLmbrJck_t]

But for real… I TRULY love you.

[@scottallencolorado]

I'm gonna share with some of my grandkids this video and more. You are lovely. I spent many years as a performer. singer/songwriter guy. I often would go into various impressions and accents. British, Scottish, what one of my kids call ( Southern Trailer Trash, Katherine Hepburn and Walter Brennan. Believe me all the voices I do are terrible but people seem to laugh maybe because I try so hard. Lol. I've got a couple grandkids who are now doing it too. It is fun and I love your ever so expansive mind and heart. Big hugs your way. 🙋Scott

[@nspector]

Hi, Amy, hi hi hi hi hi! Hi! So great to see you and hear you and watch you and listen to you again, you lovely soul. AND repeat you. Yes, I did it!

[@amywalkerofficial]

Yay! Thanks for participating! ❤❤

[@khedrabbas4241]

What a morning! 😍😍😍 You have beautified my day❤️❤️. Thanks a bunch❤️. Your topic is such a food for thought. Love you to the moon and back❤️❤️.

[@apocalypse487]

Dude bro, this was a fun and interesting video. Can't believe the first video I remember you from was 14 years ago. Thanks for sharing!

[@ababy6074]

I haven't seen you for ages and I'm so glad to watch this video! Love from Ange in Australia.

[@StuartPacker]

OMFG! I thought this would be brilliant... but, not THIS brilliant!! Wow, Amy 🙌

[@danielmichalski2436]

It's been a few years since I last heard you. I missed you :)

[@FionaEm]

That was terrific 😊 OMG I, like, luuurrrve yerrrr Californian accent with all that vocal fryyyyy 😂 BTW your Aussie accent is a bit more broad/nasal than the way most of us speak - but thanks for not making us sound like Cockney Brits the way Americans usually do 😅

[@dylanjwebmusic]

I'm really glad you're still doing this. Also you do not age!

[@touchgrasspeep]

Welcome back, I missed u Amy!❤

[@mrrex3689]

Magnificent work Amy!❤❤❤

[@jamesandrewtot]

I love you Amy! I can't wait for your next upload.

[@Artsyshroom]

I think I’m in love❤

[@robsol123]

Love Amy and what she does 👍 X

[@MohamedTaha1210]

Thank you for this interesting video, You are adorable, gifted, and have a lovely soul. "BTW i had to open the dictionary - the thesaurus part to know exactly the difference between TALENTED and GIFTED, as i'm beginner English learner ".

[@scottallencolorado]

Love this alot Amy. Thanks once again. 🌛

[@anoos0783]

You're absolutely gorgeous and genuine✨👑

[@Liam-10]

You're the best ❤️ You're amazing when it comes to accents , i wish i could do an interview with you one day 🙂

[@catherineking6325]

😊 Great video, communicate with manners.

[@HouseJawn]

I could listen to the UK RP accent all day 🌞

[@heathermayhugh5918]

I love this message my friend ❤

[@Grybop]

I repeated Freedom! even if you didn't ask me to repeat it 🤣

[@ncjuppiter9595]

I love her ditzy uptalking millennial character

[@6B26asyGKDo]

Great work 👍

[@tcrump212IsLmbrJck_t]

You better PREACH. I felt like I was at a Pentecostal church!!

[@josephmclaughlin9865]

Wow! Oh Wow. But quantum entanglement is kind of a stretch. A fun one though. Brava, Amy!

[@josephmclaughlin9865]

wish I'd thought about it for another few thousand milliseconds. I see it now.

[@amywalkerofficial]

Hahaaa YAY!! Thanks Joseph.

[@HouseJawn]

So talented. Lucky husband 💕 💍

[@ixlzz]

So, all us Okies ain't really dumb then?......

[@bge1234]

Oh hello, Eunice!

[@Justin-nz1uc]

I legitimately would love a chance to meet you. Maybe over a meal or drinks. I most likely dont likely live by you but i will travel

[@yourreward]

Delightful video. I noticed in this video you seemed to do accents of native English speakers from different regions. I'm curious to hear your thoughts as an accent expert about using accents or dialects that show up amongst English as a Second Language folks. You've used Russian and Italian accents for speaking English in previous videos, for example. I know there have been a lot of times people in the guise of "comedy" have used accents / dialects (Chinese-American, AAVE, etc.) to mock people they think of as "foreign," which can be incredibly hurtful and even contribute to xenophobic violence. I'm curious as to your thoughts on what is authentic voice and an 'inviting-into-communion' if you will vs. an 'othering' or appropriating way of using an accent?

[@amywalkerofficial]

Thanks JD, that’s a very important topic. Firstly I chose mostly English-speaking accents for this particular video because it’s dense enough material already that I really needed people to be able to understand every word without straining too hard. Secondly, As a white person, I just don’t do accents based on Black, Indigenous or People of Color, because the impact of Imperialism and institutionalized racism, of stereotypes and othering and white people making horrific mockery of our kindreds of Color just brings a legacy of harm, even when one’s intentions are loving. I’ve had times many years ago when people from those demographics said I was being exclusionary by not including their accents, so I did try a few videos back then intended to honor the people I was portraying, but I’ve since removed them because I would never want someone to feel othered, even though my intentions are always compassionate and attempting to honor all ways of speaking. ❤

[@tcrump212IsLmbrJck_t]

MY GIRL! - Whitney Houston

[@grzegorzkoziej2438]

☺️

[@grzegorzkoziej2438]

The bests gifts are your videos. 😊 Watch them all the time 😉

[@barmalini]

the absence of a charming french accent was a bit disappointing, because I could barely distinguish between the rest

[@zags619sandiego4]

Mexican accent?

[@jasonpope5369]

There is so much anger, contempt, and sadness in this absolutely talentless woman....

[@aristidesogato5402]

I take the New Yorker accent for an uneducated hustler and the Californian one for just shallow women. Crazy, huh?

[@Raging.Geekazoid]

The NY accent is just a wee bit overdone. The "er" diphthong isn't literally "oy", i.e. "oh"->"ee", it's almost closer to "uh"->"ee", the sound in "light", "bike", "rice", "wife" and "type". 🙂

[@LoyalAsst]

Oh, no... not "cis" gendered. I hate that expression. 😒

[@waynebennett745]

As a true Southerner, your attempt to sound like us needs a lot more practice. 😖