the speech accent archive has audio files of english speakers, native and learned, from around the globe reading a single paragraph* aloud. the site's methodology allows you to hear the same words being read in every accent you can imagine, and probably a few you couldn't have, along . some examples:

• the only example of a birmingham, al resident i could find. she sounds more north-east jefferson county to me, but i am no expert.


• there is no such thing as a brooklyn accent


• the mid-western accent is thought to be the purest example of unaccentuated american english in the country.


• 'hello wisconsin!'


• 'aye, lad.'


• no comment


• bhaaaa-stun


• duuuude....


• proper...very proper, love

*the paragraph is: Please call Stella. Ask her to bring these things with her from the store: Six spoons of fresh snow peas, five thick slabs of blue cheese, and maybe a snack for her brother Bob. We also need a small plastic snake and a big toy frog for the kids. She can scoop these things into three red bags, and we will go meet her Wednesday at the train station.