Each country has its own unique way of speaking. Some are more distinctive than others and in the same breath, some accents are more difficult to imitate than others. British accent training can be achieved by the proper study of the speech and all that it encompasses.
The mannerisms and tonal differences in British speech are very different to the American or South African way of speaking for example. However, it is also important to decide which of the accents you would like to learn, as there are many differences in the UK. Scotland, Wales and London all have their own very distinctive accents.
One sure way to achieve a successful British accent is to study and listen to the locals speaking. Pay particular attention to the character of the speech and the vocabulary. A good way is to watch television. You can either watch the news reports or even movies with a British story line.
However, it is not enough to just watch and listen, it is also imperative to sound out the words so that you and others can hear your speech too. Perhaps, you could play the words on the television, pause and repeat them out loud. Do this over and over again, until you cannot hear a distinct difference between the two versions.
This aural training forms an integral part in the success of achieving the correct one. There are tonal differences within the sentence as well as within a word which need to be identified. The ear has to be able to discriminate between the different frequencies of sound. As you expand the ear's capabilities it will become easier and more of an automatic reaction to imitate the pronunciation and tonal pitches necessary.
Remember though not to over emphasize or deliberately exaggerate the accent as this will also appear inconsistent. The right balance has to be achieved for success. This is attained through constant exposure and consistent practice. The process can seem harsh and unending, but the results will be well worth the effort eventually.
Always use British English words when you are busy expressing yourself to other people; these are differences to the Us English language. For instance the word "trash" is spoken as "rubbish". Their pronunciation is also distinctive as is their spelling of certain words. The spelling is important, because this dictates the shape the mouth makes when speaking it. This changes the eventual sound of the word being spoken.
Your training will be an ongoing process in order to convincingly achieve the accent which the locals have been exposed to for a lifetime. It isn't however an impossible task, and can be achieved with determination and hard work. You will know when you are successful when others comment on how your native accent seems lost and how the new one is dominant.
The mannerisms and tonal differences in British speech are very different to the American or South African way of speaking for example. However, it is also important to decide which of the accents you would like to learn, as there are many differences in the UK. Scotland, Wales and London all have their own very distinctive accents.
One sure way to achieve a successful British accent is to study and listen to the locals speaking. Pay particular attention to the character of the speech and the vocabulary. A good way is to watch television. You can either watch the news reports or even movies with a British story line.
However, it is not enough to just watch and listen, it is also imperative to sound out the words so that you and others can hear your speech too. Perhaps, you could play the words on the television, pause and repeat them out loud. Do this over and over again, until you cannot hear a distinct difference between the two versions.
This aural training forms an integral part in the success of achieving the correct one. There are tonal differences within the sentence as well as within a word which need to be identified. The ear has to be able to discriminate between the different frequencies of sound. As you expand the ear's capabilities it will become easier and more of an automatic reaction to imitate the pronunciation and tonal pitches necessary.
Remember though not to over emphasize or deliberately exaggerate the accent as this will also appear inconsistent. The right balance has to be achieved for success. This is attained through constant exposure and consistent practice. The process can seem harsh and unending, but the results will be well worth the effort eventually.
Always use British English words when you are busy expressing yourself to other people; these are differences to the Us English language. For instance the word "trash" is spoken as "rubbish". Their pronunciation is also distinctive as is their spelling of certain words. The spelling is important, because this dictates the shape the mouth makes when speaking it. This changes the eventual sound of the word being spoken.
Your training will be an ongoing process in order to convincingly achieve the accent which the locals have been exposed to for a lifetime. It isn't however an impossible task, and can be achieved with determination and hard work. You will know when you are successful when others comment on how your native accent seems lost and how the new one is dominant.
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