British Expats - Learning an English accent...

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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- Moving back or to the UK (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/)

- - Learning an English accent... (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/learning-english-accent-524629/)

JEM3110

Mar 26th 2008 10:54 am

Re: Learning an English accent...

To talk English, Americans should place two plums in their mouth.

Kaffy Mintcake

Mar 26th 2008 11:16 am

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowbunny (Post 6115761)

Have you heard the Irish pronounce "Norfolk" or "Suffolk"? They can't pull off the correct pronunciation without it sounding exactly like the f-word. Neither can I.... either you get it American style (Nor-folk) or Nuf-f'ck.

I must confess that when I was in rural Ireland I couldn't understand one word spoken by a shopkeeper I met. Not one word. She repeated herself three times and I finally smiled, nodded, and left. There's a limit to how many times you can say "I beg you pardon?" or "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that".

another bloody yank

Mar 26th 2008 11:18 am

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland Hulme (Post 6114942)

I'm writing an article about how American folk can pick up an English accent in 30 seconds...

Can I ask anybody to see if they spot any problems with it? It's all meant to be a bit tongue in cheek, but I figured I'd see what you wise people think.

I have enough trouble speaking American English. Don't think I'll be attempting the original version any time soon. My wife has a pretentious, completely over the top actress friend who insists on putting on an English accent upon occasion. If her goal is to remove any lingering doubts in my mind that she is, in fact, an idiot, she has succeeded. She sounds like Mary Poppins on acid.:rolleyes:

snowbunny

Mar 26th 2008 12:15 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarkak9 (Post 6116205)

isn't it just easier to tell someone to rent a crap Dick Van Dyke flick... in other words - what not to do?!?

Well.... I never use Cockney rhyming slang. That in my opinion would be waaaaay OTT.

nethead

Mar 26th 2008 1:22 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJ2007 (Post 6116364)

A friend's Dad is Irish, he's been living in England well over 50 years and I still can't for the life of me understand a word he says.

cybersecretary

Mar 26th 2008 1:34 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland Hulme (Post 6114942)

Gosh, no idea? Would it work? Dunno but it would be a hell of a laugh getting them to try it out.

cindyabs

Mar 26th 2008 2:20 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersecretary (Post 6116722)

Gosh, no idea? Would it work? Dunno but it would be a hell of a laugh getting them to try it out.

Well the end of the day at the office today, I was trying to pronounce carpet, both the way I pronounce it, the way Roland wrote it that Americans pronounce it and the way I thought a Brit woluld pronounce it.

I'm glad nobody else was there. It was getting a bit silly. :o

lisag8070

Mar 26th 2008 2:23 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

IMO there are only a few American Actresses that can do the English accent and sound good,

Gweneth Paltrow
Angelina Jolie
Natalie Portman

I have yet to hear one Actor that has done a good English accent...the worse one I've ever heard was Richard Gere in The Jackel...it was flucking terrible..

Kaffy Mintcake

Mar 26th 2008 3:03 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersecretary (Post 6116722)

Gosh, no idea? Would it work? Dunno but it would be a hell of a laugh getting them to try it out.

Too scared to.

mayhemuk

Mar 26th 2008 5:01 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

"Make sure you firmly pronounce every letter â€“ especially the â€˜tâ€™ â€“"

Won't pronouncing 'every letter' make one stu t t er? :huh:

Xebedee

Mar 26th 2008 10:00 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiro11 (Post 6115016)

I want the accent John Cleese uses while asking for a fish license.

Marcel Proust 'ad an 'addock!

Juswus

Mar 26th 2008 11:16 pm

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarkak9 (Post 6116205)

Air...Hair....Lair!!

:rofl: Kenny Everett!! :rofl:

Tarkak9

Mar 27th 2008 3:16 am

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juswus (Post 6118194)

:rofl: Kenny Everett!! :rofl:

Spotters Pinky Potherington! :thumbup:

Here's another daft one: Lieutenant: leff-tenant or loo-tenant? How did it derive in lieu of a tenant anyway?
:blink:

Juswus

Mar 27th 2008 3:24 am

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarkak9 (Post 6119299)

Here's another daft one: Lieutenant: leff-tenant or loo-tenant? How did it derive in lieu of a tenant anyway?
:blink:

yeah...I;ve never figured that one out

ugacrew

Mar 27th 2008 3:27 am

Re: Learning an English accent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juswus (Post 6119328)

yeah...I;ve never figured that one out

Here is a wiki explanation about the pronunciation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant#Pronunciation

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