Accents

[Tim]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, "Scully931" <scully931 at y...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, "Iggy McSnurd" 
> <coyoteschild at p...> wrote:
> > > Taryn:
> > > JKR cares. She's specifically requested an all-British cast. 
> (Chris
> > Columbus' daughter playing Susan Bones seems more like a father 
> doting on
> > his daughter, as Susan bones doesn't actually speak and is only 
> seen in
> > scenes.) Also, I've heard a lot of British HP fans on the subject 
> of
> > Americans being cast who say that they find it extremely easy to 
> tell when
> > an accent is being faked. Obviously most Americans probably can't 
> (I sure
> > wouldn't be able to) as they haven't grown up speaking it and 
> listening to
> > it. But this reminds me of Ralph Finnes attempt at an American 
> accent in
> > Maid in Manhattan which, although I adore the actor, was a bit 
> grating at
> > points in the movie.
> > >
> > > *shrugs* But I don't really know. I'm certainly not British 
> myself, it's
> > just a sentiment I've heard from a lot of British HP fans.
> > >
> > > ----------
> > > Taryn : http://taryn.shirataki.net
> > 
> > 
> > I think the only people who can really pull off a given accent 
are 
> those who
> > spent a good deal of time around one or more people who spoke in 
> that accent
> > from childhood.  If you try to train in an accent, it usually 
> comes off as
> > odd or "not-quite natural."
> > 
> > Personally, I grew up in California, but I can pull off a 
Scottish 
> accent
> > that people from Scotland that I know have said sounds like I'm a 
> native.
> > The reason for this is because the mother of one of my best 
> friends in high
> > school (that friend being my "little sis", Maureen.. and she 
> referred to me
> > as her "Big Bro") was born and raised in Glasgow.  While she had 
> lived in
> > the US for about 30 years, her first 30 or more were vein her 
> homeland, so
> > (as anyone from Scotland knows) she could never lose her thick 
> Glasgow
> > "Scottish Brogue."
> > 
> > I spent entire weekends at their house for years, so I picked up 
> on the
> > accent.  (Being someone with 5 years of drama training, 2 years 
of 
> speech,
> > and 2 years of choir, I tend to mimic accents of other people I 
> hang out
> > with... even if I don't know I'm doing it.)
> > 
> > So, while I can pull off a Scott accent like a native, and a 
> passable Irish
> > one (though it doesn't sound quite right...), my English accent 
> sucks eggs.
> > (And don't even ASK me to try a Welsh one...)
> > 
> > 
> > Some people can pull off the accents, and some can't.  I think it 
> all
> > depends on their background, and what accent it is.
> > 
> > 
> > Just my two centaurs worth.
> > 
> > Iggy McSnurd
> > the Prankster

I was stationed in England in the mid 80s, and joined a local Theatre 
group.  In the only show I did with them I played two parts, one an 
American Mayor of a small Eastern town, and one British.  After the 
opening performance, someone in the audience came up to me and told 
me that I needed to work on my American accent...   I took it as a 
compliment, and told him so.  He then realized that I was American.

Tim