Recently, Kaye Adams on BBC Radio Scotland interviewed me about accent and accents regarding one of the Scottish characters in The Haunting of Bligh Manor.
Have a listen – BBC INTERVIEW it’s all about accent and accents and the balance between authenticity and clarity.
It may help you resolve any concerns you have as to whether elocution or voice lessons would interfere with your identity – spoiler alert – they wouldn’t!
But you being universally understood, without people being distracted as they try to figure out what you just said, or where you are from, would definitely make your life a lot easier! 🙂
Whether to have Elocution Lessons or Not?
The point is that whatever accent you are delivering – in the global market place in which we all now work – you have to be ‘technically, universally understood’.
This is the decision the US production company and director made, regarding Oliver Jackson-Cohen’s portrayal of Peter Quint in The Haunting of Bly Manor – and rightly so!
If a global market ie a multi-national audience, cannot understand the words your actors are saying, because the accents are so authentic and wonderfully regionally accurate – you will not sell your program to Netflix!
Accent or Accents Need to be Internationally Understood
Whatever accent you have, when you speak English or American, you have to have the technical know how, to be able to make it sound very clear, if you want to be sure that everyone listening to you, hears every word..
The result of this is that you are persuasive, authoritative and have gravitas when you speak on your subject.
This instils confidence in your listener and makes you sound like an authority on your subject.
Speech clarity within your accent, also reassures your listeners that you are actually very knowledgeable and clear in your thoughts as well.
Remember words are to communicate – you can keep your personality and regional traits and still make sure your words are easily accessible for the world to understand!
You are not your accent. You are not your hair cut. You are not your clothes. Choose the best versions for the most appropriate occasions – your accent does not control you in the same way your hair cut doesn’t – you control your messaging to the world.
I hope you find the discussion on accent and accents helpful! 🙂