what do you think is the best way to make yourself sound french when you are english- I notice that even when I am speaking french- it is obvious that I am English- what sort of things can I do to improve my accent?
2007-05-26 02:03:04 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I don't mind about the French knowing that I am English I would just like my French to sound more accurate- if you know what I mean?
2007-05-26 03:04:44 · update #1
There's a classic in France used by those who practice in theater. It's called "Le nouveau solfège de la diction" by P. Martens, but I checked on Amazon.fr and it has to be re-printed... It unfortunately also assumes you already have understood how to form the sounds of French, meaning it doesn't give phonological descriptions of them.
You can always have fun with :
* Je veux (z') et j'exige d'exquises (z') excuses. (z' = liaison)
* Dis-moi, petit pot de beurre, quand te dé-petit-pot-de-beurreriseras-tu ? Je me dé-petit-pot-de-beurreriserai quand tous les petits pots de beurre se seront dé-petit-pot-de-beurrerisés. (do not mind spelling here)
Usually, people start by strengthening their lips so that they become more mobile.
Also, computer aided methods with speech recognition should be of some help.
2007-05-26 04:01:15 · answer #1 · answered by Franck Z 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no no no...the French "p" does not sound different from the English "p"....it sounds different when you say the word "parler" because the "p" is followed by an "open a"...
If it were followed by the same "u" as in puff, the sound would be basically the same as in English.
Now, back to your question...if you are over 13-14, you can in all probability, forget about speaking French with a French accent. No matter how good you become a French person will be able to tell a mile away that you learned French as a second language as an adult. That goes for anyone who learns any language as an adult. You can probably become very good at it if say you lived in France for many years and spoke French constantly. Howevery, a French person will still be able to tell.
Just for the record, Quebec French and Belgian French sound very different from French spoken in France.
2007-05-26 03:01:18 · answer #2 · answered by Sabrina(Susananita) 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i'm french, i had a terrible accent in the past when speaking english, till i tried this trick: i would listen to any british or american radio, and i would repeat what the guy had just said (ok it only works with cultural shows, because for the news, they talk too fast). u don't need to understand, u don't need to translate, u just need to focus on the music of the language. and it only works if u dare to repeat with the exact intonation of the speaker, if he's angry, u have to speak with his angry tone, like an actor, if he's ironic, u have to be ironic as well. it really helped. of course, it works even better with songs u like and know by heart. but honestly, i really don't believe u're gonna improve ur accents with tricks like "u have to pronunce the p like blabla", it's too technical. i think the accent is something u learn with ur tongue, ur teeth, ur mouth, and all ur face IN ACTION.
2007-05-26 09:08:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Aussie accessory is in basic terms too comparable to my own accessory (additionally Aussie accents are diverse throughout Australia. eg. somebody from Adelaide sounds very diverse to somebody from Melbourne or Sydney). however i could say the French english speaking accessory is extra warmer, by way of fact it extremely is extra distant places (for me thinking i'm in basic terms around the trench from oz.). however the favored accents for my area may be the Italian, Scottish, Spanish and the luxury British eg. the British accents you notice off delight and Prejudice.
2016-10-06 02:07:06 · answer #4 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best way to perfect your pronunciation/accent in french is to practise speaking A LOT. if you are friends with any native french speakers you could ask them if they wouldn't mind helping you.
you could also get language cd's which have fluent speakers of french guiding you to pronounce words correctly.
2007-05-26 07:38:51 · answer #5 · answered by mitzubishi4338 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work on the "p" sound and the "u" sound.
French "P" is really halfway between an English "p" and an English "b". You can feel a puff of air if you hold your hand in front of your mouth when you say "puff" in English, but you shouldn't feel it when you say "parler".
The "u" as in "tu" is somehow pronounced with your lips rounded and your tongue forward, as in "tous" and in English "u", but your tongue has to be higher in your mouth. (I know I'm not explaining it very well and I rarely get it right myself.)
That and drink French wine, works for me. Or Belgian beer
2007-05-26 02:16:35 · answer #6 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I take French and i also have a half greek/english accent..
Well all you do to sound more french is to keep most of yur letters up yur nose really.
Like talk with your nose too do yu get what i mean,
2007-05-26 02:11:26 · answer #7 · answered by Nikki 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why would you want to sound french? that just makes it seem like you're trying to be something you're not. I think it's so neat when people speak other languages and don't have the accent. It means they were smart enough to learn another language even though they don't live in the country it comes from ^_^. I don't plan on ever having a Danish accent even though I'll be learning the language.
2007-05-26 02:06:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Hang out with some French peopleand try to co py their accent.Or move to France.
2007-05-26 02:06:31 · answer #9 · answered by Marilyn T 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋