French Accent?

Question

I am in an upcoming play, and in order for a certain role I need to develop a male french accent (but still speaking English). Is there any FREE online programs/tapes or books you reccomend. Or give me advice in your answer.

Answer 1

As a linguist, you learn that accents are basically just the application of your mother-language's rules over your new language. So, if you want to speak with a French accent, apply French language rules.

Some easy steps you can take are to roll your "R"s from the back of your throat. It should sound a little like you're trying to hock up a wad of phlegm.

Also, try switching the position of your adjectives. Rather than saying "It's a beautiful day," try saying "It is a day byootifool. Over enunciate, draw out your vowels, never use contractions such as "can't." Instead, say can not.

Short "e" sounds in French never sound like the "e" in "bed." It sound's more like the "u" in "put."

There is no short "i" sound. Long "i"s should sound much sharper-- like the "ee" in sheep.

The easiest thing to do is to listen to the French language. Find a recording, maybe from a language course. A French accent is the application of French sounds to the English language. Learn the French sounds, and the rest is easy.

Answer 2

Dramatists play service or Samuel French offer cassettes on accents. Check them out online or see if your local library has these tapes in stock

Answer 3

http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_language.php

Its a website where you can hear people of different nationalities say a paragraph in their native accent. So you can hear the girl or guy in a French accent, or other accents. it works great!

Answer 4

Maybe try actually learning french. I also knew this one actress who sat outside an ESL class for french speakers and repeated everything they said.