Learning an English accent...
Mar 27th 2008, 3:30 am
#46
Gotta have more cowbell
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Hoosier State
Posts: 1,187
Mar 27th 2008, 3:39 am
#48
Boomshacalaca!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Re: Learning an English accent...
We're all messed from the word go - childhood..... when we all sing 'the alphabet song' or 'the ABCs'... you know, to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." the alphabet to that tune, no brainer. I wonder how many children grow up thinking "elemenohpee" is one letter (LMNOP). As though 'people' is spelt lmnopeople or elemenohpee-ee-oo-pee-ell-ee.
Yet, the last lines are "T, U, V/ W, X and Y and Z/ Now I've said my ABCs/ Next time won't you sing with me?"
But, we pronounce the letter Z as "zed," So why do we sing this silly song? "Zed" doesn't rhyme with "V." nor do we say "ved" Should we re-write the whole thing to start as "A-bee-said-dead-ee-eff... and won't you sing with Fred?" just to make the whole thing work? Maybe we can all blame any crap spelling on the 'alphabet song'.... I will from now on.
Yet, the last lines are "T, U, V/ W, X and Y and Z/ Now I've said my ABCs/ Next time won't you sing with me?"
But, we pronounce the letter Z as "zed," So why do we sing this silly song? "Zed" doesn't rhyme with "V." nor do we say "ved" Should we re-write the whole thing to start as "A-bee-said-dead-ee-eff... and won't you sing with Fred?" just to make the whole thing work? Maybe we can all blame any crap spelling on the 'alphabet song'.... I will from now on.
Mar 27th 2008, 3:52 am
#49
lush
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Maine - the "Deep South" of the Northeast
Posts: 5,004
Mar 27th 2008, 4:19 am
#50
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 12
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..
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..
A bit OT, but I'm always impressed by David Tennant's English accent in Doctor Who (he's Scottish). James McEvoy's is good too.
Mar 27th 2008, 8:03 am
#51
Last orders please...
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Way down deep in the middle of the Jungle..
Posts: 6,154
Mar 27th 2008, 8:04 am
#52
Last orders please...
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Way down deep in the middle of the Jungle..
Posts: 6,154
Re: Learning an English accent...
I've not seen that film yet...but in V for Vendetta it was pretty damn good..
Mar 27th 2008, 12:53 pm
#53
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Learning an English accent...
One quibble:
A good learning tool is to mimic the accents you see on TV and in the movies.
Of course we don't see accents on TV/movies. Substitute 'hear'.
Mar 27th 2008, 11:00 pm
#54
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Re: Learning an English accent...
We're all messed from the word go - childhood..... when we all sing 'the alphabet song' or 'the ABCs'... you know, to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." the alphabet to that tune, no brainer. I wonder how many children grow up thinking "elemenohpee" is one letter (LMNOP). As though 'people' is spelt lmnopeople or elemenohpee-ee-oo-pee-ell-ee.
Mar 28th 2008, 5:19 am
#55
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 2,620
Re: Learning an English accent...
I think it is fantastic there is a place here called "Chatham". Now in the UK, Chatham (in Kent) is pronounced "Chat-Am." (Or Cha'-Um, if you want to be correct about it). Here, they pronounce it Chath-Am which is well funny for me because I'll pronounce it Chav-Am, as in home of the chavs, just like it was in good old Blighty, lol!!!! 
Some things there just aren't any substitutes for...
Some things there just aren't any substitutes for...
Mar 28th 2008, 5:22 am
#56
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 2,620
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..
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..
Mar 28th 2008, 5:26 am
#58
Last orders please...
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Way down deep in the middle of the Jungle..
Posts: 6,154
Mar 28th 2008, 9:10 am
#59
An Unknown Yank Fraction
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: BasVegas
Posts: 182
Re: Learning an English accent...
English accent..... No such thing! U eever tawk proper or ya don't. I'm constantly correcting my children (note the use of CHILDREN not KIDS
). They seem to trying desperate to learn to pronounce everything in a chav manner! I also know people in the U.K who cannot speak correctly and they live here
No such thing! U eever tawk proper or ya don't. I'm constantly correcting my children (note the use of CHILDREN not KIDS). They seem to trying desperate to learn to pronounce everything in a chav manner! I also know people in the U.K who cannot speak correctly and they live here
Mar 28th 2008, 9:17 am
#60
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 2,620
Re: Learning an English accent...
English accent..... No such thing! U eever tawk proper or ya don't. I'm constantly correcting my children (note the use of CHILDREN not KIDS). They seem to trying desperate to learn to pronounce everything in a chav manner! I also know people in the U.K who cannot speak correctly and they live here
No such thing! U eever tawk proper or ya don't. I'm constantly correcting my children (note the use of CHILDREN not KIDS). They seem to trying desperate to learn to pronounce everything in a chav manner! I also know people in the U.K who cannot speak correctly and they live here
