I once heard a fascinating interview about Brit and Aussie singers sounding Canadian (or USA) when singing (coincidentally, while I was visiting England). The hypothesis went that the UK/Australian accent was technically in the same category as "mumbling". Singing requires them to PROJECT AND SPEAK CLEARLY FROM THE DIAPHRAGM, so it comes off clearer and sharper. Which is apparently how North Americans speak normally.
Hah, well, I don't think my wife (from Italy) would agree with that; she's always accusing me of "mumbling" after I get off the phone with one of my brothers, because we always just slip into in-jokes and twang. Obviously I need to PROJECT AND SPEAK CLEARLY FROM THE DIAPHRAGM
Haha, I have the same experience when in grad school in Midwest; especially people originally from that area (e.g., Indiana, Ohio) were really lazy to articulate, and they admitted it!
Does this really happen? (remembering the episode with Ross in Friends). Does it ever happen the other way around?
ReplyDeleteYes, when I speak to my British friend for a while I start accidentally using the silent R sometimes!
DeleteIt kinda happens with music. I find that a lot of British & Australian artists do sound American when they sing.
DeleteI once heard a fascinating interview about Brit and Aussie singers sounding Canadian (or USA) when singing (coincidentally, while I was visiting England). The hypothesis went that the UK/Australian accent was technically in the same category as "mumbling". Singing requires them to PROJECT AND SPEAK CLEARLY FROM THE DIAPHRAGM, so it comes off clearer and sharper. Which is apparently how North Americans speak normally.
ReplyDeleteHah, well, I don't think my wife (from Italy) would agree with that; she's always accusing me of "mumbling" after I get off the phone with one of my brothers, because we always just slip into in-jokes and twang. Obviously I need to PROJECT AND SPEAK CLEARLY FROM THE DIAPHRAGM
DeleteHaha, I have the same experience when in grad school in Midwest; especially people originally from that area (e.g., Indiana, Ohio) were really lazy to articulate, and they admitted it!
Delete