how to talk in an english accent?

Question

i am doing a school play and the only way to get the part is to speak in an english accent. anybody know how?

Answer 1

what type of accent? A cockney? Northern Accent (like York or Manchester)? A liverpoolian accent?

The best way to learn to talk in an accent is to listen. Watch British programming (BBC america...I grew up on Dr. Who and Monty Python's Flying Circus), and listen. And then....listen some more. Listen for when the "h's" and the "t's" are dropped. Listen to how they say words like "schedule" or "methane." Eventually, you will start to pick it up on your own, learning the patters.

If you are talking about the mechanics, try speaking from the middle/back of the mouth, and tightening your lips and cheeps a bit.

The Rain in Spain falls Mainly in the Plains. Watch "My Fair Lady."

Answer 2

Some good answers.

You can go to http://www.bbc.co.uk and on the left there is a menu, click on news and you can watch news clips to listen to the reporters.

You can also (if it works outside the UK, I'm assuming it does) go to TV at the top of the page. Click on BBC2 and you can often watch clips, if not full episodes, of programmes broadcast here.

When you say English accent I am assuming you mean the "posh" one, a la Bridget Jones! As mentioned by someone else Gwyneth Paltrow is very good at it too. Notting Hill is another film you can watch.

You need to make sure you pronounce your vowels well and your "r" will need to be rolled somewhat. Without actually standing next to you and showing you it would be impossible to describe how to do that, apart from saying put your tongue up behind your top teeth and make a sound similar to a lawn mower or a moped!

What ever you do, do NOT copy Dick Van Dykes accent from Mary Poppins, it is renowned in Britain for being one of the worst attempts at a cockney (London working class) accent ever in the history of man ;)

CG.

Answer 3

I notice on American shows that when the English accent is trying to be spoken it comes across so fake - not just in one programme but lots - do not mean to be a sour puss about this by the way but that's my opinion. I would therefore say, once you listen to the BBC you will be helped, however do not over emphasise on any word so that it takes an age to speak a sentence

Answer 4

Try watching films with English-accented actors and practising the lines they're saying yourself. Gwyneth Paltrow does a very good accent, despite being American - try copying her way of speaking from films like Shakespeare in Love, Sliding Doors or Emma.

Answer 5

Try listening to movies. Remember that if a word has an "r" in it, it is not, usually, pronounced. The British accent (that's what you mean, right?) reflects courtesy, formality, dignity and self respect. Try to show these qualities, when you speak. And remember, don't talk with nasal sounds. Give stress to some words or syllables, but, above all, just watch some films.

Answer 6

Hasn't a Scot won BB in the previous ? As to your question i do no longer think of absolutely everyone minds the Scottish accessory yet as my Scottish pal tells me some areas of Scotland do have a greater accessory to comprehend and that replaced into coming from a Scot. This blessed plot, i think of you're an entire tosspot for asserting that because of the fact the British government is Scottish controlled. Even in the previous Gordon Brown have been given into skill it replaced into the Scottish born Blair working issues together with his Scottish cabinet

Answer 7

Watch the BBC
Or You can always mail me for lessons!
Simple really
Try to avoid a Dik Van Dyke Mary Poppins accent at all costs!

Answer 8

Mere listening to BBC doesn't make the pronunciation differences clear enough to follow. Assuming you speak American English, you may find it useful checking these kind of sites for more details:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_pronunciation_differences

http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~llsroach/phon2/sd10.pdf

or just type "British American pronunciation" into your browser search line and chose the sites of your liking.

Answer 9

u can't really make yourself have an english accent but u can try, just practice like your a different person i do that when i have to have a SPANISH accent which is not my heritage

Answer 10

Learn cockney rhyming slang.
e.g. dog and bone = phone
apples and pairs = stairs
rub a dub dub = pub
Donald duck = %$£"

Or you could act like you americans perceive us english and hold a cup of tea speaking in your poshest accent you can do.