any good movies / sites where I can listen to a boston accent?
or, maybe someone can tell me how to pronounce things phonetically,
2007-03-01 15:15:13 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Boston
YUK worst accent ever.
2007-03-01 15:28:58 · answer #1 · answered by JUDY T 3 · 0⤊ 6⤋
I disagree with who ever said if you didn't grow up in the city, you can't have the accent. I grew up in Southern New Hampshire, where you get a general New England accent, and Maine, with the Down-Easter accent. Moving to Boston, everyone could tell I was from New England anyway, and I picked up the accent pretty quick, although I don't sound wicked strong like the accents you hear in Southie. But I already had the NE base. I don't know that someone from say, California, could pick up the accent. I doubt it. You've really got to live here a few years and surround yourself with people with an accent to really get it.
Keep in mind "wicked" is used to describe everything good. A desk drawer is a "draw" and what everyone else calls milk shake is a frappe. If you ordered a milk shake you'll get flavoured milk.
Also be sure you can pronounce all the town names, or you won't fool anyone. Make SURE Worcester is "Woostah." Leominster, Billerica, and other such towns can be difficult if you aren't from area, too.
2007-03-03 20:49:53 · answer #2 · answered by stopspucks88 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most movies do really bad Boston accents.
The Kennedy's accents are not representative of Boston- they are uppercrust and you don't hear that on the street.
Every neighborhood has its own distinctive flair.
Matt and Ben do the closest but even they missed the neighborhood accents from Southie. There is no "r" in Bostonese.
Here's a clue- it's not soda- it's tonic. It's not a grinder or sub- it's a spuckie.
And you don't pahk the cah in Hahvid yahd- you'd have to be an ahs to think yiz could pahk theah. Or an ahta townah.
Kakhis? Yeah, theyah in my pocket. Yiz gonna staht the cah for me?
And if you manage to perfect this- be warned. Any Bostonian will ask what corner or what parish you from.
2007-03-02 22:36:39 · answer #3 · answered by CYP450 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most noticable thing aabout a Boston accent is that the "r"s turn into "ah"s. Unfortunately, many people try to imitate a Boston accent and I don't know too many that have succedded. I don't know if its a lack of effort or if it is wicked hard.
If you live, or are planning to move to the area, I suggest you visit Southie (South Boston). The accents are generally strongest there. If you live in the area long enough the accent grows on you.
Good luck.
2007-03-02 12:33:02 · answer #4 · answered by WackyChris 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well perfecting a boston accent may be hard if you don't live around here. There's tons of people out there with it. Just go to Boston and experience the life. Next thing you know you'll be pahhking youah cah neah the chahrles rivah.
haha
2007-03-04 02:22:26 · answer #5 · answered by Sir Guitarist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch "Good Will Hunting" but not "The Departed" and especially not "Mystic River". NOBODY could get the Boston accent right in those movies and they just ended up sounding like weird versions of the New York accent.
2007-03-02 12:13:43 · answer #6 · answered by Double 709 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even the best of Hollywood cannot get a Boston accent down correctly (other than the natives, ie. Matt Damon or Dennis Leary). Whatever you do, don't watch the "Departed" for any ideas. Although the movie was great, the accents sucked. As a native NYer who lives in Boston, my suggestion to you is try to develop a NY accent instead. It is much easier to stress vowels than it is to speak a Boston sentence involving multiple uses of the letter "R". Besides, you can easily pass off a mediocre Bronx accent for a Rhode Island or even a metrowest Boston accent. People think I grew up all my life in Natick. Try watching the show "Family Guy" and listen to Lois speak, if you know what I mean...
2007-03-01 23:26:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
It's hard, but I think "Miracle" was a movie that really portrayed the accent.
The guys that played Eruzione, Jack O'Callahan and Dave Silk are from Boston and you could really see how different they talk from the other guys.
It's a great movie. My favorite movie of all time (not to mention the excess no of goodlooking guys)
2007-03-02 12:42:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG, I spent so much time trying NOT to pick it up growing up!
"I pahked my cah in Hahvid yahd last Sadiday"
I have never heard anyone but a native pull it off in the movies.
Too many little nuances.
It was a thrill to be called Leeser growing up.........(Lisa)
What's worse? A Gloucester (a little north of Boston) accent. I can pick that out anywhere.
2007-03-02 09:40:36 · answer #9 · answered by tharnpfeffa 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
good will hunting.
and spend same days here. not in the city, you will barely hear the accent: Revere,East Boston, South Boston ,Everett.
2007-03-05 11:00:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worked with a nurse from Boston and everyone just loved to hear her talk. (we're in California)
I would tell her...I get it, to get your accent you put an "R" where it doesn't belong and you take the "R" out of words that have one.
ex. Leona was our bosses name and she would call her "Leoner".
ex. Star would be pronouced "Stah"
Let me know how that works out for you, I'm curious.
2007-03-01 23:25:30 · answer #11 · answered by Yvonne 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋