learning dialects
learning dialects
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#0learning dialects
Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:08pmCan any of you recomend any books on the subject of learning various dialects? Any tips or tecniques that have been useful for you in learning a dialect for a play? I'm directing a one-act for my school's One-Act play competition and I would like to work with my cast on British accents. I can't afford a dialect coach, so if any of you have any tips, I will be forever in your debt!
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
LoudIrishGirl
Broadway Star Joined: 1/6/05
#1re: learning dialects
Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:24pm
Well, do you or any of your cast members know anybody with a British accent?
Because a friend of mine had to do a Russian accent for our last school play, so she asked a friend of her fathers (who had a Russian accent) to say all her lines into a tape recorder so that she could practice mimicing it.
Also, show them / have them watch a bunch of films with British accents in it and have them try and say the lines along with the actors on the screen. Then have them say some things just with the accent from the screen, and then say their lines etc.. That always seems to help me with accents!
Also, maybe advice them to practice it in ordinary conversation all the time with each other, because they can then get the practice and can give tips on how the other is doing etc.
Hope that helps!
"If you can talk, you can sing...if you can walk, you can dance."
- T.K. Greene
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#2re: learning dialects
Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:27pmDialect textbooks are pointless. he only way to learn dialects is to LISTEN, LISTEN LISTEN. We recently did a show at our theatre with two children who had to do British accents. We simply told them to rent the Harry Potter movies and try to talk like the kids in them. They learned perfect British accents quickly!
Racetrack
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/04
#3re: learning dialects
Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:31pm
I agree make them watch a bunch of british movies. Often the best thing to do is just that have them watch british movies and try and mimic them because eventually they will be able to do it and it's also fun.
I had to do a similar thing for a play several months ago except three of my cast members had to have southern accents. One had to have a NY accent. With her I had her watch Newsies and stuff, but that didn't work so we actually resorted to using Audrey's accent from LSOH and turned out to work out better for both the actress and the character so it's all good.
"The weight of this sad time we must obey, Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most; we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long"-Edgar in King Lear
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#4re: learning dialects
Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:35pmBe careful when you say to just watch "British" movies- Brtitish accents come in about 500 different varieties.
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#5re: learning dialects
Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:35pmYes, LISTEN! Listen to the little things, like vowel sounds and how they are used in different words. I pick up dialects and accents just by listening and paying close attention to not just HOW it sounds, but what MAKES it sound that way.
Racetrack
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/04
#6re: learning dialects
Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:40pmThat's true. I meant it'll probably be helpful.
"The weight of this sad time we must obey, Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most; we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long"-Edgar in King Lear
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