Angel, I do believe you're wrong on you emphasis location point (certainly with the example given). I think anyone speaking in a British accent the way you suggested would sound very strange indeed. The only people who would speak like that would be criminal masterminds (who are always English) in hollywood movies.
Of course there is the 'valley' american where everything is a question and the intonation rises at the end of every sentence. Likewise this also happens with Canadians and Austrailians too.
Generally I do agree with your point on diction, certainly the american diction is simplified in many ways and spelling frequently appears to be reduced to phonetic spelling. Through / Thru, Colour / Color etc etc.
I do find speech fascinating though, having had 10 years of speech therapy for a severe stutter I really don't take being able to speak what I'm thinking for granted.
Of course there is the 'valley' american where everything is a question and the intonation rises at the end of every sentence. Likewise this also happens with Canadians and Austrailians too.
Generally I do agree with your point on diction, certainly the american diction is simplified in many ways and spelling frequently appears to be reduced to phonetic spelling. Through / Thru, Colour / Color etc etc.
I do find speech fascinating though, having had 10 years of speech therapy for a severe stutter I really don't take being able to speak what I'm thinking for granted.