How can I perfect a "Hillbilly" sort of voice for my humorous interpretation?

Question

Hey, I'm doing a humorous interpretation called "Almost Heaven" for my school speech and debate team, in which I portray one of the characters as a hillbilly. I'm having problems pulling off the voice and I keep sounding more like a "cowboy". A lot of judges have pointed this out to me and I got about a month to work on it before my next competition. If anyone has any advice, please post away!

-Thank you

Answer 1

I am from Oklahoma. Nuff said.
I don't exactly participate in the whole hillbilly lingo thing, but my family lives out "in the country" (town pop. about 200) Believe it or not, Oklahomans have their own little language thing. If you want to sound like a hillbilly, though, I suggest to throw in a whole lot of "ya'll's". It's like, the most common word in our language. Here's some definitions that will make you're hillbilly transformation complete:
ya'll- you all, often in a greeting: "Hey ya'll!"
oe're there yonder- (over there yonder) in the distance, never specific distance, usually a gesture in direction
wallago- in the past, a while ago. "I saw 'em go by wallago!"
gosh dawgs- an exclamation. "Well I'll be gosh dawgs!" (not dogs, dawgs)
blame it- exclamation of frustration. "Blame it, I cain't get this here pen to write!"

I have tons more, but for best reference to even more crazy lingo I suggest that you visit the website of my idol, Jeff Foxworthy. Blue Collar, Redneck Dictionary, just type in those keywords and you're bound to find somethin or other on whatcher lookin fer. Sorry, my native tongue often creeps into my conversations...

Answer 2

Here's a few movies you could rent: Deliverance, Brokeback Mountain, Cold Mountain, The Alamo, and one or two seasons of The Beverly HIllbillies (or just the movie remake because, honestly, I couldn't sit through more than 90 minutes of that bunch). Practise, practise, practise! Speak "Hillbilly" morning, noon, and night until it becomes second nature.

Answer 3

Since I work around a lot of them I can offer a few pointers. usually talk about drinking and going shooting, Followed by some words that make no sense (Ya'll, Aint, Yon't too?) Also something similar to chew in your lower lip would add to the effect. Good luck

Answer 4

Do you ever watch Reba on TV? She has a southern accent although it is more so than a Texas accent. I believe she is from Texas.

People from Alabama have the most in an accent if you can find them to study.

First of all you speak more slowly. Then you make a word have more syllables than you usually would.

Yes. (Yay-us)
going to (gonna)

Certain phrases are common:

Would jew carry me t'town?
I lak ta ha uve pur dy ha re. (hair)

Best thang would be ta find some boddy who toks with an accent.

Answer 5

go to best buy, and buy all the available seasons of "the beverly hillbillies" on DVD. take it home, and watch it, and play "shadow" with the characters. repeat everything they say. that will help u get the right twang for your words imbedded in ur brain. also, look up the names of ppl in tennessee here on yahoo, and just randomly call them up, to see if u can strike a conversation with them. hearing their voices will help u.

Answer 6

You need to hear "hillbillys" talk. Do you know any or maybe listen to the Blue collar comedy guys do their skits and imitate their voices.

Answer 7

The most important thing you could do for realism is yank out all of you teeth but one.

Answer 8

Get some clips of AlGore and just learn to imitate his voice.

Answer 9

Try it while having sex with a relative drunk on moonshine. Barefoot.

Answer 10

you can"t HILLBILLY are smarter!