Speaking in a foreign accent?
- Thread starter zega frega omega
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If required, I can do a horrible valley-girl American accent?
As a New Zealander, I confuse people from everywhere for apparently having an undefinable natural accent - probably because I try my hardest not to have a New Zild accent, because it makes my ears bleed. I can do an excellent New Zild accent if asked, but it makes my mouth feel funny =S If anyone's not sure what New Zild is, I refer them to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA&feature=related
I work with a guy from Michigan though, and I think his Yooper accent (which he thickens deliberately at will), is just about the cutest thing EVER.
Imitating accents can be fun to amuse friends who speak that language, *if* they find that sort of thing funny. If not, then it's dangerous territory you get into and you easily risk offending someone.
As a New Zealander, I confuse people from everywhere for apparently having an undefinable natural accent - probably because I try my hardest not to have a New Zild accent, because it makes my ears bleed. I can do an excellent New Zild accent if asked, but it makes my mouth feel funny =S If anyone's not sure what New Zild is, I refer them to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA&feature=related
I work with a guy from Michigan though, and I think his Yooper accent (which he thickens deliberately at will), is just about the cutest thing EVER.
Imitating accents can be fun to amuse friends who speak that language, *if* they find that sort of thing funny. If not, then it's dangerous territory you get into and you easily risk offending someone.
Bit off topic, but I'm actually practicing picking up the Irish accent before I go to Ireland in order to blend in better with the locals when I need to.
That way they won't be so tight lipped on where they keep the pots of gold...
That way they won't be so tight lipped on where they keep the pots of gold...
For some reason utterly lost on me, where I was growing up people used to put on a swedish accent when they were knowingly saying something stupid (usually ironically or sarcastically). Kinda of like an audible version of the internet's [/sarcasm].. um.. thing. Mark? Whatever.
No offence to the swedish; obviously the country is not populated entirely by idiots. I'm sure Sweden has its share of morons and geniuses just like the rest of us. And for the record I always thought it was a studpif thing to do, if you use sarcasm properly it should be obvious that you're using it. Especially in spoken word, you should be able to convey it by the ludicrousness (that's a word now) of your sentance and slight emphasis; it looses its meaning if you have to announce you're being sarcastic. If you have to tell people what you're saying, you may as well just say what you mean and not emphasise it by how rediculous the opposite is.
No offence to the swedish; obviously the country is not populated entirely by idiots. I'm sure Sweden has its share of morons and geniuses just like the rest of us. And for the record I always thought it was a studpif thing to do, if you use sarcasm properly it should be obvious that you're using it. Especially in spoken word, you should be able to convey it by the ludicrousness (that's a word now) of your sentance and slight emphasis; it looses its meaning if you have to announce you're being sarcastic. If you have to tell people what you're saying, you may as well just say what you mean and not emphasise it by how rediculous the opposite is.
Well of course, everyone HAS an accent. Sometimes, you just don't notice it. I come from Pittsburgh. Sometimes, other people notice. However, I can - at will, or even without trying - suddenly dive headlong into an Irish, Scots, English, Italian, Swedish, Russian, Australian, or German accent. Probably more than that, and sometimes for a laugh.
I'm pretty crap with accents, although my flatmate did try and train me a little in an Irish one for a theatre role. I didn't get the part anyway, but it wasn't as bad as I thought the accent would be. And I do love the Irish anyway, that accent is so sexy... 
Ah well, I normally use accents for comedic purposes anyway (like doing a fake Borat voice when joking with friends), so skill isn't really a big requirement...
Ah well, I normally use accents for comedic purposes anyway (like doing a fake Borat voice when joking with friends), so skill isn't really a big requirement...