[GretchenM]

I had an epiphany about British vs. American English in the early 1960's when the Beatles hit the air waves. On almost every word (excepting those that the Brits would add the ending, non-existent "r"), the Brits sounded exactly like Americans. Aha! said I. WE must be speaking the correct pronunciation of words in English. I understand what you mean about choirs working to enunciate uniformly. I don't think the Beatles and others of their genre were doing that; I think rather that they were just singing naturally.

[ichabod1]

The Beatles always sounded American to me too except for one word -- Gel for Girl.