I have two voice samples where I read the paragraph below in two slightly different styles.
Could some native-born American speakers give me feedback on which of the two styles sounds better and more American, and which one sounds more foreign? Which one (or both) of these would cause you to ask me "Where are you from"?
The text:
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"President Obama announced Tuesday that nations participating in a summit conference have agreed to secure all loose nuclear materials in four years as part of a broad effort to guard against the terrifying prospect of nuclear terrorism. "We have seized this opportunity, and because of the steps we've taken . . . the American people will be safer and the world will be more secure," Obama told a news conference at the end of the Nuclear Security Summit. All of the 47 participating nations agreed in the final communique on "the urgency and seriousness of the threat," Obama said. "Today we are declaring that nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats to international security," he said. "We also agreed that the most effective way to prevent terrorists and criminals from acquiring nuclear materials is through strong nuclear security: protecting nuclear materials and preventing nuclear smuggling."
Style 1:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/emt85x
Style 2:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/usosv1
American-born native speakers only, please (or those who have lived in the US for a very long time)
Could some native-born American speakers give me feedback on which of the two styles sounds better and more American, and which one sounds more foreign? Which one (or both) of these would cause you to ask me "Where are you from"?
The text:
----
"President Obama announced Tuesday that nations participating in a summit conference have agreed to secure all loose nuclear materials in four years as part of a broad effort to guard against the terrifying prospect of nuclear terrorism. "We have seized this opportunity, and because of the steps we've taken . . . the American people will be safer and the world will be more secure," Obama told a news conference at the end of the Nuclear Security Summit. All of the 47 participating nations agreed in the final communique on "the urgency and seriousness of the threat," Obama said. "Today we are declaring that nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats to international security," he said. "We also agreed that the most effective way to prevent terrorists and criminals from acquiring nuclear materials is through strong nuclear security: protecting nuclear materials and preventing nuclear smuggling."
Style 1:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/emt85x
Style 2:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/usosv1
American-born native speakers only, please (or those who have lived in the US for a very long time)