Accent vs. Twang — What's the Difference?

The relative prominence of a particular syllable of a word by greater intensity or by variation or modulation of pitch or tone.

Twang is an onomatopoeia originally used to describe the sound of a vibrating bow string after the arrow is released. By extension it applies to the similar vibration produced when the string of a musical instrument is plucked, and similar sounds.

Vocal prominence or emphasis given to a particular syllable, word, or phrase.

To emit a sharp, vibrating sound, as the string of a musical instrument does when it is plucked.

One determined by the regional or social background of the speaker.

To resound with a sharp, vibrating sound.

One determined by the phonetic characteristics of the speaker's native language carried over to that speaker's use of another language.

To speak in a strongly nasal tone of voice.

A mark or symbol used in the printing and writing of certain languages to indicate the vocal quality to be given to a particular letter

To cause to make a sharp, vibrating sound

A mark or symbol used in printing and writing to indicate the stressed syllables of a spoken word.

To utter with a strongly nasal tone of voice.

Rhythmically significant stress in a line of verse.

A sharp, vibrating sound, as that of a plucked string.

Emphasis or prominence given to a note or chord, as by an increase in volume or extended duration.

A strongly nasal tone of voice, especially as a peculiarity of certain regional dialects.

A mark representing this.

The sharp, quick sound of a vibrating tight string, for example, of a bow or a musical instrument.

A mark used as a superscript to distinguish among variables represented by the same symbol.

(music) A particular sharp vibrating sound characteristic of electric guitars.

A mark used as a superscript to indicate the first derivative of a variable.

A trace of a regional or foreign accent in someone's voice.

A mark or one of several marks used as a superscript to indicate a unit, such as feet (′) and inches (") in linear measurement.

(phonetics) The sound quality that appears in the human voice when the epilaryngeal tube is narrowed.

A distinctive feature or quality, such as a feature that accentuates, contrasts with, or complements a decorative style.

A sharp, disagreeable taste or flavor.

Something that accentuates or contrasts something else, as a touch of color that makes the features of an image stand out.

An annoying or stupid person, recalcitrant.

Particular importance or interest; emphasis

(ambitransitive) To produce or cause to produce a sharp vibrating sound, like a tense string pulled and suddenly let go.

To stress or emphasize the pronunciation of

(intransitive) To have a nasal sound.

To mark with a printed accent.

(intransitive) To have a trace of a regional or foreign accent.

To focus attention on; accentuate

(music) To play a stringed musical instrument by plucking and snapping.

(linguistics) A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.

A tang. See Tang a state.

(figuratively) Emphasis or importance in general.

A harsh, quick sound, like that made by a stretched string when pulled and suddenly let go; as, the twang of a bowstring.

(orthography) A mark or character used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken accent, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked.

An affected modulation of the voice; a kind of nasal sound.

Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone.

To sound with a quick, harsh noise; to make the sound of a tense string pulled and suddenly let go; as, the bowstring twanged.

The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.

To make to sound, as by pulling a tense string and letting it go suddenly.

A manner of pronunciation suggesting that the speaker is from a different region; a foreign accent.

A sharp vibrating sound (as of a plucked string)

(sign languages) A distinctive manner of producing a sign language, such as someone who does not normally use a certain sign language might have when using it.

Exaggerated nasality in speech (as in some regional dialects)

A word; a significant tone or sound.

Cause to sound with a twang;

Expressions in general; speech.

Sound with a twang;

Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.

Twitch or throb with pain

(music) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.

Pluck (strings of an instrument);

(music) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.

Pronounce with a nasal twang

(music) A mark used to represent this special emphasis.The third and fourth symbols are accents (marks used to represent special emphasis in music).

(music) The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.

(mathematics) A prime symbol.

Emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition; an emphasized detail, in particular a detail in sharp contrast to its surroundings.

A very small gemstone set into a piece of jewellery.

(archaic) Utterance.

(transitive) To express the accent of vocally; to utter with accent.

(transitive) To mark emphatically; to emphasize; to accentuate; to make prominent.

(transitive) To mark with written accents.

A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others.

A mark or character used in writing, and serving to regulate the pronunciation; esp.: (a) a mark to indicate the nature and place of the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the vowel marked; as, the French accents.

Modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or pronouncing; peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice; tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent.

A word; a significant tone

Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.

A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.

A mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same letter, but differing in value, as y´, y.

To express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to utter or to mark with accent.

To mark emphatically; to emphasize.

Distinctive manner of oral expression;

Special importance or significance;

The usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people;

The relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch);

A diacritical mark used to indicate stress or placed above a vowel to indicate a special pronunciation

To stress, single out as important;

Put stress on; utter with an accent;