How can I perfect an American accent? : Othor Games

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:42 am

In order to get a grade within my English course, I need to pass a speaking exam which involves giving a monologue in the role of a character from the novel: "Of Mice and Men". For those of you who have read it and know the characters, I chose to do mine as Candy. Because of the setting of the novel, however, I really do need to get a decent American accent going instead of my natural English one. Anyone here able to offer any advice on sounding like an old American in 1930 America?

EDIT: I want to learn an accent similar to one in California area. I know how they spoke in 1930 America, but can't get the general American accent right.

» Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:53 pm

Jam as much bacon into your mouth as possible. Now try to talk like a Wal-Mart apron got stuck in there as well. Hey, your almost there!

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:17 pm

There isn't a single American accent, although the Midwest "boring baritone" used in news casts is the closest we have to a neutral accent. Considering that, you may want to listen to some American news casts.

» Fri Oct 05, 2012 11:03 pm

Listen to it a lot. Repeat what they say, imitating their accents. Listen to their pronounciation and how the sounds they make are different.

It wont take long to pick it up.

I actually find any American accent difficult to immitate without sounding a little OTT.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:44 am

Work on your R's, use lots of slang, be loud.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:04 am

Call people "bub". Everyone will be convinced. A bit.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:52 am

Call people "bub". Everyone will be convinced. A bit.

Wasn't that Canadian?

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:14 am

Wasn't that Canadian?

Dunno. Not too far off, though. :hehe:

I must admit I'm crap at accents. I can't even do my own properly.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:38 am

There's no such thing as a single 'American' accent.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:46 am

Just say

Suuuuuuuure. Like that, ephasise the 'u' a lot. Just say sure to everything. Honestly I've no idea, but surely your english course can help you with this if they've assigned you the task?

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:51 am

American accents are very regional. Choose what style accent you would like and listen to local broadcasts from that region and speak along with them.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:58 am

Just speak clear proper english----that's it, unless you want to go southern then I'd say watch some My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Applejack clips or watch DoA 5 clips with Tina and you'll have the southern accent.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:40 am

Go watch the movie version of the novel. I think there is one with Gary Sinise (Lt Dan). Just parrot what you hear. I'm not sure if the specific monologue you chose is in the movie or not, but you can still use it as a way to listen to the accent.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:41 am

Go with a Chicago mob boss accent!

» Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:56 pm

Go with the Western accent. It's our best one, and the ladies dig it. :hubbahubba:

» Fri Oct 05, 2012 11:36 pm

Body language can really help with impressions and other voices. You need to feel like you're American.

Gain a few hundred pounds and see if that helps.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:56 am

Go with the Western accent. It's our best one, and the ladies dig it. :hubbahubba:

We talking Cowboy Western or Hollywood Western?

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:13 am

We talking Cowboy Western or Hollywood Western?

John Marston Western.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:15 am

I want to learn an accent similar to one in California area. I know how they spoke in 1930 America, but can't get the general American accent right.

Just speak clear proper english----that's it, unless you want to go southern then I'd say watch some My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Applejack clips or watch DoA 5 clips with Tina and you'll have the southern accent.

Speaking natural English isn't going to get me a good grade, unfortunately. It hasn't got to be perfect, but I certainly need a clearly distinguishable American accent. If I speak in the regular English accent I have, then I won't do very well.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:11 am

Body language can really help with impressions and other voices. You need to feel like you're American.

Gain a few hundred pounds and see if that helps.

Well, seeing as the presentation is sometime next week, I doubt I could gain that much weight in such a little amount of time even if that was a serious suggestion.

Go watch the movie version of the novel. I think there is one with Gary Sinise (Lt Dan). Just parrot what you hear. I'm not sure if the specific monologue you chose is in the movie or not, but you can still use it as a way to listen to the accent.

It isn't a monologue from the novel, because there aren't any as far as I can remember. Regardless, we had to write our own monologue based on the characters of the novel, so the lines I use aren't actually in the film - hence I can't just imitate the movie versions of the book.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:51 am

It isn't a monologue from the novel, because there aren't any as far as I can remember. Regardless, we had to write our own monologue based on the characters of the novel, so the lines I use aren't actually in the film - hence I can't just imitate the movie versions of the book.

Well if you're going to have to imitate something, why not a movie based on the same novel? The California accent seems to be the one I hear the most in national news anchors, movies, and television. Then again, I could just be really bad at noticing the subtle differences.

I'm sure you can also find stuff on youtube that might help.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:25 am

_{Watch Jersey Shore.}

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:02 pm

_{Watch Jersey Shore.}

That is the worst advice for anything that you can give to anyone ever.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:53 pm

That is the worst advice for anything that you can give to anyone ever.

Grey's Anatomy.

» Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:42 pm

Since imitation is the best learning method, just search in the internet/youtube for some footage.