I notice this when I watch old movies. I don't think it's an accent-thing, it seems like their diction and pronounciation of words is slightly different. I can't describe it here--could someone who watches classic films back me up on this?
2006-07-25 03:02:05 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
In the 30's and 40's there was still a distinct upper class american accent, which was a sort of half british thing that you still sometimes hear in older american 'aristocracy'. Also, language changes and filmmaking changes. They never used to speak so quickly and the pace of the film was much slower. It hasn't got as much to do with no swear words or that they all went to grammer school as that you are listening to this almost like a foreign language. There were just as many swear words, you just don't know what they were. I once called my grandfather a dork and when he was young that was a very potent foul word.
2006-07-25 03:51:24 · answer #1 · answered by moviegirl 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, it's entirely possible that there may have been more stringent requirements for teching grammar in school, which could account for the "speaking more clearly" idea. But it is also important to remember that different slang and vernacular were popular in those decades, which may have gone out of fashion in the following decades. Of course, this was probably influenced by popular plays, movies or radio shows of the time.
Even in the time of Shakespeare, most of the language used in his plays was the language of the common person, invoking slang terms that the audience could relate to. In modern times, these words may seem outdated or archaic but these were the words the peoples used. I think the same will be said of our time, when people look back and wonder why we used certain words.
2006-07-25 10:24:04 · answer #2 · answered by ralphwaldo45 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
some of the words was mostly slang that is noticable for example they used to say dame when they refered to a women - nowadays i dont think women would like that. Also the guy or guys then it meant only men gal for women now the feminist agenda uses guys for both men and women i am not for the 30's, 40's i was born in 1958 but even in my time it was guys - men - ladies/girls/chicks/women or maybe gals why make guys for both men and women escape me. Then there is more respecful talk to others in the movies nowadays aside from bad words there is a lot of disrespect shown to anyone and anything.
I miss those days
2014-10-22 17:20:03 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes...Many actors from the 30's and 40's were british imports...and had excellent diction from working in theaters before making movies...(In a theater your voice has to project and good diction helps)
Also even ordinary people used to speak better back then.
Nowadays everyone speaks "televisionese" instead of proper english...
Most distinctive accents have disappeared. (Maybe some of the bostonians still have a bit of an accent, and the southern and texan drawll still exists, but that's about all)
Wouldn't it be wonderful if they taught diction in schools along with grammar???
2006-07-25 10:20:04 · answer #4 · answered by abuela Nany 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think a big aspect of this is what area the movies were being filmed in. I think the cities focused on in movies back then are totally different than now. I also beleive that actors may have acted and used their voices differently than now, maybe it's a more natural flow when acting now, and less forced.
2006-07-25 10:07:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, back then I believe they attended grammer school, where they learned correct pronunciation and grammer. They placed a lot of value on the way one spoke. It really indicated the level of education attained. Nowadays though, with people like Larry the Cable Guy and Earl from My Name is Earl, speaking a dialect not entirely "British English" is acceptable and sometimes, even cool.
2006-07-25 10:09:27 · answer #6 · answered by Jennifer Q 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
alot of word change meanings over time both drasticly and slight changes and also some of the slang has very much changed
2006-07-25 10:07:04 · answer #7 · answered by txpimp286 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah. They didn't curse and slang as much. Times were different then and people did pay more attention to their speech. They weren't as mush mouthed as people are today.
2006-07-25 10:07:17 · answer #8 · answered by Jessie P 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I find that too.....I also find that everyone was a lot more dramatic and they spoke louder and personally I find older movies annoying because of this.
2006-07-25 10:16:17 · answer #9 · answered by crysy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always thought people spoke clearer in the past than today muthafucka.
2006-07-25 10:06:38 · answer #10 · answered by Greg 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋