Water is pronounced WAH-ta. Schedule is pronounced SHED-ual. Mobile is pronounced MOH-bye-ul. Privacy is pronounced PRIV-uh-see. Garage is pronounced GARE-idge. Either is pronounced eye-thuh. Tomato is pronounced tuh-MAR-toe. Vitamin is pronounced VIT-uh-min.
Although it’s hard to see, another British tendency is to make much more use of the tip of their tongue than Americans do. [4] X Research source Strengthen your own tongue by practicing consonant-sounds repeatedly, making sure to use the tip of your tongue to full effect.
Start small. Play short clips at first. Find ones where the speaker is using simple, common phrases that you normally use, too, so you can spot the differences between their pronunciation and your own more clearly. Expand your rehearsals. Once you’ve mastered mimicking short phrases, begin tackling longer speeches. Gradually increase the number of lines you repeat at one time. If you’re watching an interview, practice lengthy answers individually. Then try answering multiple questions with lengthy answers, all in one go. Continue building each rehearsal until you’re performing the speaker’s entire interview. Also start expanding your sources. Find material where the person you’re imitating experiences strong, genuine emotions as they speak. Note how this effects their speech.
If replicating a particular sound gives you difficulty, select or come up with a phrase that makes heavy use of it, like a tongue-twister. Practice it repeatedly until you overcome this hurdle. [7] X Research source
Vowels Consonants Stressed syllables Intonation
London/Cockney Suffolk Dorset/Somerset/Cornwall Devon Yorkshire Lancashire Liverpool Northern Ireland Scottish Highland Scottish Lowland North Wales South Wales
Be discerning with your sources. Think of American media and how well (or poorly) different mediums reflect the way Americans actually talk. Notice how newscasters and public speakers like politicians often adopt speech patterns found nowhere else in society. Watch the countless number of American actors who butcher other American accents in American-made TV and movies. Pick your sources for British accents with that in mind. If you do rely on TV or movies, choose British productions instead of American ones that just happen to feature British actors. Be aware that American productions sometimes direct foreign actors to tone down their accents so American audiences have an easier time understanding them. Also stick to films with contemporary settings, as opposed to period pieces, since accents and lingo may change over time.
Historically, British society used to place a great deal of emphasis on the RP as a way to judge each other’s social standing. However, this bias isn’t as prevalent as it once was, and fewer people strive to speak the Queen’s English. [16] X Research source Although it’s still in use, today you’re more likely to hear it from public speakers, such as government officials, newscasters, and actors. As the center of Britain’s government, finances, and culture, London is where the RP is most likely to be heard. [17] X Research source
Vowels Consonants Stressed syllables Intonations
Speaking with a wide mouth to the point of grinning or almost grinning. [21] X Research source Replacing T’s with D’s; for example, pronouncing “batter” as “badder. ”[22] X Research source Creating sounds in the back of their mouths, in or near their throats. [23] X Research source Lumping sounds together; for example, “gotta” instead of “got to. ”[24] X Research source
For example, instead of saying, “The batter’s gotta run round da bases,” make a point of saying, “The batter has to run around the bases. ”
Pay attention to the other person. Gauge your performance by their reactions. [31] X Research source If they seem incredulous at any point or call you out point-blank, note where you lost them as an area you need to work on more.
Be wary of relying on some British bands for lingo, since many (especially in rock’s early days) emulated American blues and rock, to the point of adopting Americanisms in their lyrics; the Rolling Stones, for example, often used “dollars” instead of “pounds” in songs like “19th Nervous Breakdown. ”
