Please help the CIH Forums by disabling AdBlock Plus on this page.
Forum Home Forum Home :: Commercials You Hate! :: Television Related Rants
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Getting the accent wrong
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Getting the accent wrong

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
HollyRock View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Illustrious Video Moderator

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Mass.
Status: Offline
Points: 2873
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HollyRock Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Getting the accent wrong
    Posted: 27 Apr 2008 at 7:21pm
This has been touched upon in other threads - apologies for potential redundancy:
 
It gets under my skin when actors get a regional accent wrong. 
 
Most notably for me is the Boston accent.  I have yet to hear someone who is not "from around here" get it right; and when it's wrong - it's annoying.  No, we do not all sound like Kennedy's.
Let's try not to be boring, mkay?
Back to Top
Sponsored Links



Back to Top
FaithSF View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar
I donated!

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Myrtle Beach SC
Status: Offline
Points: 4704
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FaithSF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr 2008 at 7:33pm
Holly, I watched a few minutes of "The Departed" yesterday and wondered how realistic each of the characters sounded. I know Matt Damon probably got it right, since he's from Boston, but Jack Nicholson? Martin Sheen?
Back to Top
FaithSF View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar
I donated!

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Myrtle Beach SC
Status: Offline
Points: 4704
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FaithSF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr 2008 at 7:39pm
I was trying to edit my other post, but I'm having problems loading that page. (I was having issues loading pages here yesterday, too. Too busy?)

Anyway, I hated Helen Hunt's supposed New York accent in "As Good as it Gets." Sometimes it sounded like she was from Brooklyn, and other times she had no accent at all. It's like she used it when she remembered to.  That was pretty awful.

Back to Top
HollyRock View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Illustrious Video Moderator

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Mass.
Status: Offline
Points: 2873
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HollyRock Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr 2008 at 8:15pm
Jack Nicholson is not as bad as others.  Martin Sheen, not as good as Jack Nicholson.
 
I was surprised with Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting, he didn't get it right.
 
The worst I can think of is Laura Linney in Mystic River.  The accent was unfortunately horrendous, because otherwise she was great.
Let's try not to be boring, mkay?
Back to Top
Thor View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Rockaway, NJ
Status: Offline
Points: 63906
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 2:47am
Originally posted by FaithSF FaithSF wrote:

I was trying to edit my other post, but I'm having problems loading that page. (I was having issues loading pages here yesterday, too. Too busy?)



 
Seems that, sometimes, it takes forever to turn a page or have a reply get posted.
 
 
Back to Top
Jimbo View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Location: Florida
Status: Offline
Points: 56960
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jimbo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 4:56pm
The worst abuse of that is by female actresses trying to sound like trashy southerners, which is unfortunately a common theme in TV & movies.
 
I can't remember what it was I was watching recently, but this skinny little blonde Hollywood-type was supposed to be some kind of Georgia tramp with a thick southern accent & it was just pathetic.
 
There are several different southern dialects. A true Georgia accent is much different from a Mississippi accent or a Tennesee or an Alabama accent. Just like a Michigan accent is different from a Wisconsin or Illinois (Chicago) accent.
 
They ought to just go out & hire actors & actresses who actually come from the region they're trying to portray their character as being from.
 
Back to Top
Thor View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Rockaway, NJ
Status: Offline
Points: 63906
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 5:14pm
I just mentioned this in another thread:
 
Has anyone noticed more and more people making statements of fact that sound like questions?  I used to think it was a California thing (inflection, more than accent), but I seem to be hearing it a lot on TV nowadays, too.
 
Example:  "Hi.  This is Heather Smith?  And I'm with the ABC Company?  I'm calling to discuss your latest purchase with you?"
 
Don't you know who you are and who you work for and why you called?  This way of speaking sounds sooooo weak.
 
 
Back to Top
Jimbo View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Location: Florida
Status: Offline
Points: 56960
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jimbo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 5:16pm
That has been a characteristic of the Tennessee accent for ages & ages.
 
I remember hearing a stand up comic talking about that several years ago.
 
 
 
Back to Top
Thor View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Rockaway, NJ
Status: Offline
Points: 63906
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 5:19pm
I can imagine that style done in a Southern accent.
 
It seems to be more a female thing than a male thing, I've noticed.
 
 
Back to Top
Moochamoocha View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: New York City
Status: Offline
Points: 4637
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Moochamoocha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 5:22pm
I hate hearing actors botch the way they perceive New Yorkers talk. No, we all don't "tawk" da  way yous tink we do. I'm a lifelong "Noo Yawker" and people have told me that I sound like I'm from England. Hmmm...how would that sound? A Brooklyn British accent?
Back to Top
msmadz View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar
8+ years on CIH

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: New York
Status: Offline
Points: 9952
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote msmadz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 7:23pm
Originally posted by Moochamoocha Moochamoocha wrote:

I hate hearing actors botch the way they perceive New Yorkers talk. No, we all don't "tawk" da  way yous tink we do. I'm a lifelong "Noo Yawker" and people have told me that I sound like I'm from England. Hmmm...how would that sound? A Brooklyn British accent?
 
Mooch, I couldn't agree with you more. Although, when I went to Colorado last year people told me I have a "city accent."  But one thing I CANNOT stand is when people automatically assume we all tawk like "Toity Toid and toid"  (translation: 33rd and Third). Nobody, in my 45 years living here, have I heard anyone come out with that.
The artist formerly known as Madawee



Back to Top
FaithSF View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar
I donated!

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Myrtle Beach SC
Status: Offline
Points: 4704
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FaithSF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2008 at 7:32pm
It's like when I used to tell people I was from New Jersey.  "Oh, Joisey?"  I would say, "No, we don't speak like that."  They'd misinterpret my reaction and say, "Oh, NEW Joisey then."  It wasn't dropping the "New;" we do that ourselves.

We don't say "Joisey."  We don't pronounce things that way. 

Back to Top
Spicy_Meatball View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 1199
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Spicy_Meatball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 3:09am
Originally posted by HollyRock HollyRock wrote:

This has been touched upon in other threads - apologies for potential redundancy:
 
It gets under my skin when actors get a regional accent wrong. 
 
Most notably for me is the Boston accent.  I have yet to hear someone who is not "from around here" get it right; and when it's wrong - it's annoying.  No, we do not all sound like Kennedy's.
 
The Kennedy's have their OWN accent.  LOL   I think "regional accents" are simply that.  Regional. The movies have to zero in on the most well accepted versions.  I lived in Southie for 12 years.   "Good Will Hunting" anyone?   Wink   I noticed the South Boston accent differed from the Revere accent which differed from the Swampscott accent which differed from the Born On Beacon Hill Accent.  I grew up in upstate NY and my British relatives expected me to talk like I was born in Brooklyn or the Bronx.   The regional NY accents are as varied as you can imagine.  Up in Buffalo NY you take a ride in your CAHHHR (sounds almost like "CARE").     In the Bronx it's much like Boston...."CAH".   My point?   No such thing as a "Massachusetts" or "New York" or "Any Other State"  accent.    It's all very specific to area and how the language has morphed into what people want it to be.   I met a lady last week at a UPS drop off who pronounced a certain word and I said "OH!! What part of BOSTON are you from??!"  She smiled and said "Honey...I'm from CANARSIE!!" 
 
 
 That's in  Brooklyn, NY!    Smile
"Mama Mia! That's a spicy meatball!!" ~~Alka Seltzer Ad
Back to Top
aleen View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: New York
Status: Offline
Points: 1077
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aleen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 6:59pm
I have a really strange accent (which I didn't realize I had until I actually moved away from my hometown for the first time).  It's a fairly thick Canadian accent laced with a bit of the Minnesota pronunciations (I grew up only half an hour from Minnesota).  It also has a slight British lilt from many years of living in England (and growing up around British relatives).  Of course I've also been living in the NYC area for five years or so...so now I have a few New York-isms, which I get from Mr. Aleen (eg.  "howahyah?"  )  In other words, my accent is pretty appalling!  CryCry
 
However, two accent-related things drive me crazy:
 
1)  Whenever I go to Times Square (I hate Times Square, but go there every once in awhile to get this really delicious popcorn that they sell there...ugh!), you get these losers trying to lure tourists in to see standup comedians, and they really lay "Noo Yawk" accent on really thick.  And it's obnoxious to see these giggling tourists eat it all up!Angry
 
2)  Don't *ever* tell someone, "Hey, you sound like...." because it won't be anything that is flattering.  People usually will say to me, "Hey, you sound like you belong in the movie 'Fargo'!"  I reply, "Please don't compare me to the characters in Fargo.  I don't find that flattering at all."  Usually people will apologize and change the subject, but sometimes I will get people who then try to imitate my accent.  Most people mangle their attempts at a Canadian accent and make us sound like a bunch of slow-witted numbskulls.
 
When I still lived in London, this English guy kept on saying I sounded like Fargo, despite my polite attempts to get him to stop.  When we were at dinner (I had only met him earlier in the day), he was constantly repeating what I said in a lame attempt at a Canadian accent.  He was reeeeeeeally streeeetching ouuuuuut the wooooooords in an obnoxious manner.  I have a really long fuse, but I finally had had enough and said to him, "You know what?  f**k off!  I've asked you nicely to stop mocking me and you won't stop."  So you know what he did?  He once again repeated what I said in this stupid attempt at a Canadian accent:  "Youuuuuuuu knoooooooow whaaaaat?  Fuuuuuuuck offffff..."  So after a few minutes, I excused myself to the bathroom and left out the side door, leaving him with the cheque.  LOLLOLLOL  Paaaaaaaaay the biiiilllllllll youuuuuursellllllf baaaaaastard!
 
Not the most mature way to handle the situation, I realize, but I must admit I was cackling all the way home!
"Did somebody say 'muffins?'" Hazel from the Magic Bullet infomercial
Back to Top
Jimmy View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: NJ
Status: Offline
Points: 3702
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jimmy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 7:28pm
Originally posted by Moochamoocha Moochamoocha wrote:

I hate hearing actors botch the way they perceive New Yorkers talk. No, we all don't "tawk" da  way yous tink we do. I'm a lifelong "Noo Yawker" and people have told me that I sound like I'm from England. Hmmm...how would that sound? A Brooklyn British accent?


Ha-ha, very good Moochie!

When many of my comrades around the restaurant try and imitate me, I've heard everything from a thick Scot's brogue, to a flippant Irish accent.

Then there are many who use the fake cockney, as was used in the movie "My Fair Lady". Completely phoney, and completely wrong.

I have an English accent, yet some think I'm a lifetime New Yorker who's benefited from a fine education.

It also makes me laugh when I encounter so many NJ people who seem to think it's their right to sound as though they were in the cast of The Soprano's.

An accent is an accent. It's the thumbprint of one's background, not a force to be reckoned with, or a shield to hide behind.

Actors/actresses who get these accents wrong, simply didn't do enough research.

Take Hugh Laurie for example. When he performs his role as Dr. House, you'd swear he was a Yank. Yet he is as English as me, he's must've done some serious research to rid his limey accent completely.
One man gathers what another man spills
Back to Top
Hootman View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Ohio
Status: Offline
Points: 8151
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hootman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 8:05pm
And then there is Robin Williams...
Back to Top
Yutolia View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Владивосток
Status: Offline
Points: 2586
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Yutolia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 8:18pm
And then there is Kevin Costner. Dead
Back to Top
Moochamoocha View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: New York City
Status: Offline
Points: 4637
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Moochamoocha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 8:25pm
Originally posted by Spicy_Meatball Spicy_Meatball wrote:

   I met a lady last week at a UPS drop off who pronounced a certain word and I said "OH!! What part of BOSTON are you from??!"  She smiled and said "Honey...I'm from CANARSIE!!" 
 
That's in  Brooklyn, NY!    Smile


I cracked up when I read that! I know Canarsie because that's where I live! Born and raised. I never knew there was an accent associated with certain neighborhoods.
Back to Top
Thor View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Rockaway, NJ
Status: Offline
Points: 63906
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 8:59pm

I once got this German girl I knew (here on a work visa, and spoke English quite well) to try speaking English with a southern drawl.  I understand it's probably hard for a foreigner to recognize a regional American accent, let alone imitate it, but still, it was pretty funny. 

 
Back to Top
Skerlnik View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Tucson
Status: Offline
Points: 4045
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Skerlnik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 9:35pm
Originally posted by yutolia yutolia wrote:

And then there is Kevin Costner. Dead
 
Yes.  Best English Robin Hood Accent Ever.
 
(If Robin Hood was from Iowa......)
 
 
Back to Top
Skerlnik View Drop Down
Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Avatar

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Tucson
Status: Offline
Points: 4045
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Skerlnik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 9:38pm
Originally posted by Thor Thor wrote:

I once got this German girl I knew (here on a work visa, and spoke English quite well) to try speaking English with a southern drawl.  I understand it's probably hard for a foreigner to recognize a regional American accent, let alone imitate it, but still, it was pretty funny. 

 
A girl in my German class back in high school was from Texas, and it was pretty interesting hearing her speak German. 
 
I wanted to give her a hard time (...but not about the accent.  She was just searingly HOT!  Heart )
 
 
Back to Top
BrianO View Drop Down
Junior Executive
Junior Executive

Deleted Account

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 1179
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrianO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 9:59pm
Originally posted by Thor Thor wrote:

I just mentioned this in another thread:
 
Has anyone noticed more and more people making statements of fact that sound like questions?  I used to think it was a California thing (inflection, more than accent), but I seem to be hearing it a lot on TV nowadays, too.
 
Example:  "Hi.  This is Heather Smith?  And I'm with the ABC Company?  I'm calling to discuss your latest purchase with you?"
 
Don't you know who you are and who you work for and why you called?  This way of speaking sounds sooooo weak.
I live in California, and I hear this WAY too much!
I friend of mine in college had that whole 'rising inflection thing, and talked like this. When he did an oral report in class, the teacher reminded him to work on getting rid of that inflection, but he didn't really get what she meant until I 'imitated' it...'She means? You talk like this? When you're not even asking a question? So stop it?'LOL
BTW, this is also very common in Australia, apparently...maybe it thrives in countries with lots of 'beach bums'! And the 'inflection' has even spread to certain river cities in the UK, where it's known as 'Estuary English'...and it's blamed on the popularity of a long-running Aussie soap opera, where everyone in the cast talks like this?
 
I've never seen 'American Pie', but I've heard the 'This one time? At band camp?' sound bite so much, that I now hear that phrase in my head whenever someone mentions the 'valley speak' inflection!
 
 
Back to Top
BrianO View Drop Down
Junior Executive
Junior Executive

Deleted Account

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 1179
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrianO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 10:08pm
Originally posted by Jimmy Jimmy wrote:

Originally posted by Moochamoocha Moochamoocha wrote:

I hate hearing actors botch the way they perceive New Yorkers talk. No, we all don't "tawk" da  way yous tink we do. I'm a lifelong "Noo Yawker" and people have told me that I sound like I'm from England. Hmmm...how would that sound? A Brooklyn British accent?


Ha-ha, very good Moochie!

When many of my comrades around the restaurant try and imitate me, I've heard everything from a thick Scot's brogue, to a flippant Irish accent.

Then there are many who use the fake cockney, as was used in the movie "My Fair Lady". Completely phoney, and completely wrong.

I have an English accent, yet some think I'm a lifetime New Yorker who's benefited from a fine education.

It also makes me laugh when I encounter so many NJ people who seem to think it's their right to sound as though they were in the cast of The Soprano's.

An accent is an accent. It's the thumbprint of one's background, not a force to be reckoned with, or a shield to hide behind.

Actors/actresses who get these accents wrong, simply didn't do enough research.

Take Hugh Laurie for example. When he performs his role as Dr. House, you'd swear he was a Yank. Yet he is as English as me, he's must've done some serious research to rid his limey accent completely.
 
I think Laurie as House does the best American accent I've EVER heard from a Brit!
I've heard other examples where British actors tried to 'sound' American, but they sounded Canadian instead(and while sometimes they just use Canadian actors, other times, the Brits just don't do a convincing American accent!)
 
I remember reading  some old Agatha Christie book(forgot which one), where characters from the USA had some weird 'English' misconception of an an American accent(she had them saying 'Am-urr-ican', which is something a lot of British authors used to write, but I've never heard an Am-AIR-i-can actually say that!)
 
Just as Dick Van Dyke set 'British accents by American actors' back by years, so did many British productions, which gave Americans what sounded like a fake 'southern' accent, even when it wasn't supposed to be southern!
Nowadays, of course, both American and British TV and movies have opened up to more 'regional' accents...though the Brits tend to get theirs right more than Americans do!
Back to Top
musicman View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar
Formerly 0000

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Greater Boston
Status: Offline
Points: 7539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote musicman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 11:54pm
Originally posted by HollyRock HollyRock wrote:

This has been touched upon in other threads - apologies for potential redundancy:
 
It gets under my skin when actors get a regional accent wrong. 
 
Most notably for me is the Boston accent.  I have yet to hear someone who is not "from around here" get it right; and when it's wrong - it's annoying.  No, we do not all sound like Kennedy's.
 
Hey Holly, get the cah so we can go to Glosta.  LOL  I'm a Bostnian too.  Born and bred.
 
The only actor that almost got it right was the guy who played Winchester on M.A.S.H.
 
We say Bawston not Bahston as people try to imitate.
 
 
 
Back to Top
musicman View Drop Down
Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Avatar
Formerly 0000

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Greater Boston
Status: Offline
Points: 7539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote musicman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2008 at 11:57pm
Originally posted by musicman musicman wrote:

Originally posted by HollyRock HollyRock wrote:

This has been touched upon in other threads - apologies for potential redundancy:
 
It gets under my skin when actors get a regional accent wrong. 
 
Most notably for me is the Boston accent.  I have yet to hear someone who is not "from around here" get it right; and when it's wrong - it's annoying.  No, we do not all sound like Kennedy's.
 
Hey Holly, get the cah so we can go to Glosta.  LOL  I'm a Bostnian too.  Born and bred.
 
The only actor that almost got it right was the guy who played Winchester on M.A.S.H.
 
We say Bawston not Bahston as people try to imitate.
 
Oh yeah, and the guys on Cheers were pretty good too.  John Ratzenbeger sounded exactly like my uncle when he played Cliffy.  We told my uncle in fact.  (He wasn't pleased though. Unhappy LOL)
 
 
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.04
Copyright ©2001-2015 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.141 seconds.