[Lava Lamp Freak]

As odd as it might sound, I am an American fascinated with learning RP English. I'm looking for advise from any non-Britons who have learned the accent, or have learned any new accent other than the region they are from. How difficult is it to teach yourself a new accent? I know it is possible since I hear American actors who have learned a British accent for a movie, and vice versa. One idea is to go to some local British meetup.com groups to practice.

[Dakarʒ]

RP = Royal something?

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Received Pronunciation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Rumor]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

RP = Royal something?

RP = Role Playing

I think it depends on the character, where they are from etc. I do a really good Dwarf.

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

RP = Role Playing

I think it depends on the character, where they are from etc. I do a really good Dwarf.

Congratulations. Dwarvish English is one of the most difficult accents to learn.

[Kerrigan]

Um, I hate to say this, but a native English speaker trying to affect RP reeks of being a social climber.

Plus, RP/BBC/Oxfordy English constantly evolves, and from the outpost of Tennessee you almost certainly won't be able to attain the same linguistic characteristics of, say, students at Harrow or Eton.

No offense, just giving you a reality check.

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Um, I hate to say this, but a native English speaker trying to affect RP reeks of being a social climber.

Plus, RP/BBC/Oxfordy English constantly evolves, and from the outpost of Tennessee you almost certainly won't be able to attain the same linguistic characteristics of, say, students at Harrow or Eton.

No offense, just giving you a reality check.

Thanks for the response old boy.

I am aware that English changes. Nevertheless, I am interested in learning for my own amusement.

[design219]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

... for my own amusement.

Ever try a video game?

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

Nevertheless, I am interested in learning for my own amusement.

Originally Posted by Rumor 

RP = Role Playing

Nail. Head.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

Congratulations. Dwarvish English is one of the most difficult accents to learn.

Nah, they just sound like a guy doing a Scottish accent.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

As odd as it might sound, I am an American fascinated with learning RP English. I'm looking for advise from any non-Britons who have learned the accent, or have learned any new accent other than the region they are from.

You realise that the British accent changes dramatically in the space of 30 miles?

I'm in Stoke (think Robbie Williams accent). 30 miles up the road in Manchester the accent is completely different (think Oasis). 30 miles down the road in Birmingham it's different again (think Ozzy).

What you want to do is relatively easy. Just watch a lot of Leslie Philips films and acquire the attitude.

OK. Practice now. Tighten that top lip (yes, literally - tighten it around the upper gum and teeth with your facial muscles) and say "oh hello". Do it.

[Nivag]

Watch any TV program with Stephen Fry in.

Stephen Fry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stephen Fry (I)

[Kerrigan]

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Plain speaking <--- after I googled "cut glass", ha.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I'm in Stoke (think Robbie Williams accent). 30 miles up the road in Manchester the accent is completely different (think Oasis). 30 miles down the road in Birmingham it's different again (think Ozzy).

So that's why no one can understand a word Ozzy says!

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

You realise that the British accent changes dramatically in the space of 30 miles?

I'm in Stoke (think Robbie Williams accent). 30 miles up the road in Manchester the accent is completely different (think Oasis). 30 miles down the road in Birmingham it's different again (think Ozzy).

What you want to do is relatively easy. Just watch a lot of Leslie Philips films and acquire the attitude.

OK. Practice now. Tighten that top lip (yes, literally - tighten it around the upper gum and teeth with your facial muscles) and say "oh hello". Do it.

Yea, I understand that. It's the same in the US. Actually, it's even worse in the area I live since it's a melting pot of so many different nationalities.

That is the reason I said RP. That is what I was told to use as a basis for learning (on another forum).

Thanks for the input.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

Yea, I understand that. It's the same in the US. Actually, it's even worse in the area I live since it's a melting pot of so many different nationalities.

Heh. My example was just the natives! Mix in the foreigners and nobody can understand anyone else - they have to go to NN to have a conversation!

OK... ...I've just been having a go at my Birmingham accent (along with the RP accent earlier). I'm totally stupid when it comes to why accents sound the way they do, but my experimentation leads me to believe that it's partly down to how you hold your jaw, cheeks and lips while you speak.

For example, the RP accent is tightening of the top lip (until you feel the tip of your nose move south). I seem to do a Birmingham accent better when my cheeks are puffed out (fnarr fnarr!) and I don't move my jaw much. I seem to do an American accent (my default being an Italian monster from Texas) when I suck my cheeks in.

Maybe experiment? But not in front of your cats - they'll look at you like you're crazy.

Also, definitely pick a "role model" for the target accent. Stephen Fry, as suggested, is a good target for your RP accent.

[Kerrigan]

Alright lads, this is the secret:

What you do, ya? Is say a few words, pause, ya? Then ahftah the pause, ya, say "yaahh", ya?

Also, when someone tells you something, reply with, "Noooo I cahn't belieeeve it!"

That is lesson #1 in fake posh.

[bstone]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

RP = Role Playing

I think it depends on the character, where they are from etc. I do a really good Dwarf.

I played D&D for a long while. I do a good evil elf. I played a Sun Elf Necromancer up to level 11. He became a lich and disappeared.

[willed]

It depends whether you want to learn either
a) Stereotypical RP (as in that BBC article linked to above), the sort used in war films, by the BBC in the 1950s and by the Queen (although some claim she has 'dumbed down' her accent in recent years!)
or
b) Modern RP - that picked up by anyone who goes to a private school anywhere in the UK even today. This would still seem quite ridiculous coming from an American though, no offence!

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Originally Posted by willed 

It depends whether you want to learn either
a) Stereotypical RP (as in that BBC article linked to above), the sort used in war films, by the BBC in the 1950s and by the Queen (although some claim she has 'dumbed down' her accent in recent years!)
or
b) Modern RP - that picked up by anyone who goes to a private school anywhere in the UK even today. This would still seem quite ridiculous coming from an American though, no offence!

Yea, it looks like it is going to be too difficult to do this without interaction with other people who know how.

Maybe I should just focus on loosing my accent and speaking correct English.

[JonoMarshall]

I live with a few actors from RADA, you could buy a teeth stick and learn to sound your words correctly with your tongue first, then to nail RP you'd have to chose a role model (as suggested above) and keep practising.

The cheaters method is to find three or four different phrases that use the different vowel sounds and take it from there, whenever something doesn't sound quite right you just think of your nailed phrases and keep re-sounding new elements untill you have a more complex basis to tweak. (However, this will very much be your basis and will no doubt contain inaccuracies!)

Also, once you think you've nailed a particular passage, try replicating it with a younger or older slant, this will give you variety and perspective (supposedly).

[Doofy]

Oh, and BTW... ...the only American ever to get a British accent correct to the point of native Brits not laughing is Gwyneth Paltrow. Everyone else fails.

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Oh, and BTW... ...the only American ever to get a British accent correct to the point of native Brits not laughing is Gwyneth Paltrow. Everyone else fails.

What did you think about Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones Diary? Hugh Grant said she was the best American with a British accent he had ever heard.

[JonoMarshall]

Well if Hugh Grant said it... pfff.

(I thought she was OTT.)

[Dakarʒ]

Over The Top?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

What did you think about Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones Diary?

I've only ever seen about two minutes of it (on account of having a penis and stuff), so can't really comment other than to say if she'd impressed me I'd probably have noticed in that short time. Took about 30 seconds to say "wow" at Paltrow's accent.

[philm]

Originally Posted by willed 

It depends whether you want to learn either
b) Modern RP - that picked up by anyone who goes to a private school anywhere in the UK even today.

Not really. Kids who go to private school in Newcastle speak like Geordies and kids going to private school in Manchester or Bolton sound like they are from Lancashire. I can guarantee this from personal experience. So, I disagree with your point (b).

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Oh, and BTW... ...the only American ever to get a British accent correct to the point of native Brits not laughing is Gwyneth Paltrow. Everyone else fails.

You didn't like Juliet Landau (Dru) on Buffy?

Oh, and I remember on the Lord of the Rings DVD special features, Brad Dourif says that when he reverted back to his normal way of talking, Christopher Lee asked him, "Why are you doing that awful American accent?"

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

You didn't like Juliet Landau (Dru) on Buffy?

I liked her. But her accent was pure comedy.

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Oh, and I remember on the Lord of the Rings DVD special features, Brad Dourif says that when he reverted back to his normal way of talking, Christopher Lee asked him, "Why are you doing that awful American accent?"

Hmmm... ...maybe, just maybe.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

You didn't like Juliet Landau (Dru) on Buffy?

Oh, and I remember on the Lord of the Rings DVD special features, Brad Dourif says that when he reverted back to his normal way of talking, Christopher Lee asked him, "Why are you doing that awful American accent?"

How could anyone not like Juliet Landau? I thought James Marsters did a pretty good job too. I once heard an interview with him when he was out of character, I thought exactly the same thing as Christopher Lee. It was rather jarring.

[highstakes]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

RP = Role Playing

I think it depends on the character, where they are from etc. I do a really good Dwarf.

[Rumor]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

Yea, it looks like it is going to be too difficult to do this without interaction with other people who know how.

Maybe I should just focus on loosing my accent and speaking correct English.

The papers have been filed to evict you from the US.

[Kerrigan]

My point still stands, that an American trying to learn RP is a bit odd. Plus, don't Americans have their own equivalent of RP?

YouTube - Noam Chomsky vs. William F. Buckley Debate : Part 1 of 2

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

My point still stands, that an American trying to learn RP is a bit odd. Plus, don't Americans have their own equivalent of RP?

YouTube - Noam Chomsky vs. William F. Buckley Debate : Part 1 of 2

Nah, not odd at all. I had good reasons. Mainly to impress chicks. Now you understand.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

My point still stands, that an American trying to learn RP is a bit odd. Plus, don't Americans have their own equivalent of RP?

As in an accent that sounds classy? I don't think most people would say so. The standard American accent seems to be pretty much neutral as far as connotations are concerned. RP sounds much classier — that presumably being the reason why so many Americans want to do that embarrassing Madonna-accent ****. There's an almost extinct Southern dialect that I think was close in giving a distinguished air, but that was never anything people tried to learn.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

Nah, not odd at all. I had good reasons. Mainly to impress chicks. Now you understand.

Is an English accent that much of an impression maker on colonial chicks?

I'm asking 'coz I don't know... ...on account of impressing all chicks everywhere anyway.

[Dakarʒ]

I think its one of many that works. But as long as its not cockney, it also comes off as more cultured and intelligent over here (See: American movies and stereotypes)

[design219]

adds +10 points on IQ.

pshaw.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Is an English accent that much of an impression maker on colonial chicks?

Totally. As far as I can tell, it's one of the most universally attractive things out there. Well, I mean, a proper English accent. Some strange accent from out in the boonies might not work.

Strangely, men don't seem to have the same reaction to English accents in women. Sorry, Britchicks.

[Dakarʒ]

Speak for yourself.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

Speak for yourself.

I very rarely speak for myself. I happen to think chicks with British accents are hot (although not the same kind of accent chicks find hot in guys). Most men don't really seem to care that much about the accent, though.

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

Speak for yourself.

Yea, I love the voice of women with both British and Australian accent. But there is also a beauty to woman with a Texan accent.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

Yea, I love the voice of women with both British and Australian accent. But there is also a beauty to woman with a Texan accent.

I was with you up until Texas. There are much better Southern-ish accents than Texan. Like almost all of them.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

I very rarely speak for myself.

You arrogant son of a...

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

I happen to think chicks with British accents are hot (although not the same kind of accent chicks find hot in guys). Most men don't really seem to care that much about the accent, though.

Agree on both counts.

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

But there is also a beauty to woman with a Texan accent.

A southern drawl could probably get me to commit murder.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak 

Yea, I love the voice of women with both British and Australian accent. But there is also a beauty to woman with a Texan accent.

Australian, definitely. Australian chicks are hot. The ones that aren't ugly, anyway...

British... it depends. I think an Irish accent can be attractive on a chick, and even a Scottish sometimes. I haven't really heard any Welsh accents that I found particularly attractive (or distinctive, really, at least in the North of Wales it seems they may as well all be from Manchester). As for English accents, it depends. Most of the English chicks I know are from London (the farthest, I think, is from Wimbledon), which is a pretty neutral accent. I haven't really spent much time in other parts of England, just Wales really.