Image credit: splatter.com, HBO An impressive range of British regional accents can be heard in the television series Game of Thrones. Many characters are portrayed with an accent that matches their upbringing and heritage. For those in the know, this adds an element of authenticity to the character and allows the viewer to make associations about them based on the way they speak. But just how accurately are accents being used? Gawker writer’s Max Read’s take? It’s a mixed bag. Read the details here.
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Linguist Justyna Kozyra-Bober recently investigated the likelihood that the main characters in the FX hit “The Americans,” Russian-born spies living a 1980’s suburban American life, would speak with no trace of a Russian accent. (Read her article in Language Magazine.) While her conclusion was that the show’s realism is flawed by the fact that as adult emigrants, the Russians would not be capable of native proficiency in their pronunciation, we should not be discouraged by this information. Instead, it is a good reminder that the goal of accent training is not to lose one’s accent entirely, but rather to improve pronunciation for clear communication. Interestingly, the male lead, Matthew Rhys, is a Welsh actor, who was educated in Welsh-medium schools and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. His ability to speak with a near-perfect American accent is a testament to what one would have to presume was a great dedication on his part to his American accent training. TV and movies teach us a lot when learning a new language. But did you know, not only can listening to native speakers on TV and in films help your American Accent, but using subtitles in English can also boost your pronunciation? A recent study shows that by following along with written text in the language that is being spoken, your brain absorbs more of the patterning required for correct pronunciation. Finally, a fun and easy way to improve your accent while you relax and enjoy the show!
Many non-native English speakers ask the question, what is the "typical" American accent? Some regional dialects sound more standard than others, but the speakers who are most easily understood are those who sound like they are from nowhere in particular. People from different parts of the US would say that television news anchors sound like them, because they speak in a style which is easily understood by all. You might be surprised to know that TV broadcasters speak more slowly than the average American, and use pronunciation techniques taught in accent training, such as pronouncing all consonants in a word. Read more about the typical American sound you hear in broadcasting here. |
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