Learn How to Do A Proper British Accent In Less Than 3 Minutes with Professor David Ley

‘Ello, whats all this then?
We can all fake a British accent. Or so most of us would think. Professor David Ley, a voice and speech specialist from the University of Alberta shows us how to speak in a standard upper middle class English dialect in a youtube video.

Professor Ley discusses the nuances of the dialect and the technique. There is a difference between how the upper class and the working class speak.

The first thing we need to do to find that dialect is to sit up and forward in our chairs. The sound is going to come to the front of our mouth. Our tongue is going to move forward. It is going to be much easier for us to speak clearly and crisply as is required of this dialect. If we sit back in the chair we can hear what happens to the tongue… goes back in the mouth and that is a great place to go if we want to do a working class dialect.

It’s widely held that outside of the stage, there isn’t any valid reason for assuming the affectation of an accent without looking pretentious. But it is fun and will lend you more credibility the next time you put on tails and role play Downton Abbey and ask your dinner guests what weekends are.

The accent is also useful if you have to seduce spy mistresses as an M16 agent.

Bond Girl Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger

No, Mr. Bond! Sit up straight and lean forward. That is how you get your tongue in the proper place.

Downton Abbey Image Copyright ©Carnival Films and ©Masterpiece.
Goldfinger Image Copyright ©MGM Studios.

Tate Srey - Tate Srey is an artist and an engineer. He is a nerd who likes to lift heavy things and put them back down again. He loves to run and swim and build things. He makes his own wine and beer, and dies a little inside when he has to pay more than $5 for draft. He has a natural affection for people with a teacher's spirit-- those who will share their knowledge and experience with others. Some men just want to watch the world learn. Tate can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

4 Comments

  1. sorry i don’t get this and it doesn’t help at all but i support you cuz you did this rlly hard work

  2. Adam Seymour - 01/11/2014 reply

    Soooooooooo sooooooooooooooooooooo bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. sounds american…

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