OK I was born in West Virgina, Raised in Kentucky until I was 11, Spent every summer in West Virginia, Then Moved to Patrick County Virginia, So I have a very strong southern accent, and the problem is I'm going to College next year in Maine and don't want to sound like a hick, What's The best way to get rid of my Accent?
2006-12-30 12:34:38 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
You don't - I went to college in New England and think southern accents are amazing. Just be yourself - if you're not a hick don't worry about sounding like one.
2006-12-30 12:42:28 · answer #1 · answered by GMoney 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As long as you enunciate and hold a clear tone, don't worry about your accent. Most will find it charming anyway. I know some public speakers who really emphasize their accent because people enjoy it so much. I am from NC and have a very pronounced Southern way of speaking. I went to a class on public speaking in Chicago about 10 years ago and learned how to soften the edges of words so that I didn't drawl too much. That helped a lot, but, after spending time with my family, I come back home and, LOL, I'm a die-hard southerner again! I also took some acting classes and that is a very good way to learn to adjust your regional dialect to a more even tone. Try it. If you have a community theatre, join it! That will go a long way to not only help you to appreciate your voice more, but will also help you to learn how to use your voice in subtle ways to do other kinds of accents easily! Good luck and have fun! Bret
2016-05-22 22:20:48 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would actually love to hear you after you've been in Maine around that accent for a while. It would be a very interesting mix. You could watch alot of movie or go to a diction coach, but why would you? The flavor of your accent (s) make you-you. So if someone thinks you sound like a hick then you don't need to know them anyway. Sounding like a hick has more to do with what leaves your mouth not how it leaves your mouth.
2006-12-30 12:39:23 · answer #3 · answered by donewiththismess 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well I had a real bad stuttering problem for awhile and I wanted to get rid of it. So I went in a room by myself and read aloud from different poems like Emerson, Frost, and Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Anyway some people like different accents they are quaint. That is just what worked for me seeing the word and pronouncing it the way it should be.
Emerson Wrote this great essay titled "On Nature". Once I could get through that without stuttering I was cured. :)
best of luck to you,
Jim
2006-12-30 12:59:16 · answer #4 · answered by Grev 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Keep it. please for your own sake.you should never denie your roots. your language.just be yourself. every time I have gone to the North people didn't pay much attention to my Southern accent. but as for my wife. or my mother. people would practically gather round them to listen to them talk.Northerners seem to appreciate the accent.of Southern women especially unless there uneducated hicks which you don't need to empress anyway.I am sure your a fine Southern Lady. I have found a good number of Yankees to be fine and decent people.Good Luck . and May God Bless You
2006-12-30 12:50:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Darlin don't you change that accent one bit I'm from California and I love that Southern Belle accent I find it very sexy. True some people think a southern accent makes you sound dumb but in reality that knid of stereotyping proves their lack of intelligence.
2006-12-30 12:42:38 · answer #6 · answered by BluLizard 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well...unless you're willing to pay big bucks to go to a speech therapist, the best thing suggested is to not worry about what you sound like & be more concerned with your grades.
Show them that just because you sound like a "hick" doesn't mean you have the mentality of one...by-the-way (as you may be well aware of) "hicks" are not all dumb.
Depending on what field of study you're pursueing for your career really shouldn't matter how you sound, unless you're going into broadcasting, so don't worry...now go ohn & git dem Ays on yer ree-pote card thing-uv-a-ma-jig!
2006-12-30 12:43:57 · answer #7 · answered by R C 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I had to do that for radio, actually--everybody working in radio or TV does (or should anyway.) There are Accent Elimination Programs you can get at Barnes and Noble, and I believe there's also Books A Million in that area (there were in TN.) Both should have something, but if not, they would be more than glad to order it for you. Just search for the ISBN online and take that with you.
Accents can cause problems, especially when such a stigma is associated with them. I'm glad I lost mine, because if I have to explain to one more unaka that Cherokee is NOT "redneck..."
2006-12-30 12:55:10 · answer #8 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not that I think there is anything wrong with a Southern Accent. I don't. Suggestion-listen to national news anchors and how they prounounce words. Then emulate them.
2006-12-30 12:58:51 · answer #9 · answered by tallmochagirl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oh, don't worry. Southern Accents are fine!
2006-12-30 12:42:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋