You could try some of these sites.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=american+Californian+accent+lessons+online&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=free+american+Californian+accent+lessons+online&meta=
Hope those are of help.
Perhaps I am not the best coach for this, being a native Californian and all, however:
If you are looking for a generic "California" rather than "surfer dude" or "Valley Girl ( neither of which, by the way, have been used here in at least 20 years)" , try good ol' American Midwestern with a slightly lazier pacing.
The flat A's and hard R's are very much in evidence, with a sprinkling of Spanglish (Spanish/English) vowel inflections.
Comedian George Lopez has a great, albeit exagerrated for effect, Spanglish delivery in his routines.
We live and work in a mind-boggling mishmosh of cultures, languages and accents. To pinpoint a "California" accent is damn near impossible. Doubly so for me, because to my ear it just sounds like regular speech.
Stick with generic American, and try to sound relaxed. The "laid back" California cliche has a solid basis in observable reality.
If you can't get there, I would recommend viewing and recording a variety of American T.V. shows, including 'teen shows'. There are many to choose from.
Watch various clips and then record your own voice, with the same words. Compare the originals with your versions and keep practising. Ask friends to listen and to give their opinions. Be prepared for criticism - and laughs - and ask them to see if they can do better!
If you have audio-dub facilities on your machines, you could try this directly, using your own 'American' voice over the top of the actors' voices, as you go along. Takes some practice and going 'over and over' the clips. This was much easier with VHS tapes rather than CD's, as you could record and wipe in seconds and try again. I have dubbed whole films in this way, such as DiCaprio and Winslett in 'Titanic'. I made the 'posh' people sound stupid and the ordinary folks sound 'posh' - with many words changed! It's great fun. Have a go with a microphone, if you can.
Note that 'West Coast' accents in America often have what is called a 'burr' or emphasis on the letter R, especially at the ends of words which end with the letter R. It's hard to show this just in text but an example of West Coast accent might be:
"We just have to go a little furrtherrr and we will meet up with your motherrr."
Of course, there are many other pronunication variations. Another one is the American inability to say the letter T in the middle of a word, using the 'D sound' instead. For example, a Californian might say, "Mowdorrr" instead of "Motor" or "Towdally" instead of "Totally."
If you are auditioning for 'Grease', you'd 'Bedder shape up'! Don't use the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, as an example!
Best wishes. "I'll be barrck!"
The only thing I can think is would be to hang around Americans as much as you can. (Provided they have not picked up an English accent.)
Also, you could try and watch as much American television as you can.
You might also consider watching the movie Grease a bunch of times.
In CA it's Valley Girl talk and they say EEN instead of ING for the end of words, e.g., instead of going it would be goeen, starting would be starteen, watching would be watcheen, etc and also every sentence is in the form of a question with an upward cadence at the end of every sentence. And also, RULLY? (really) Fer Shur! (for sure) no he dint! (no he didn't...)
OMG where do you come from you are so lucky
anyway
I love doing American Accents I'm from NZ and it's funny coz I do them all the time. Watch TV and Grease alot and you pick it up and try it out on peeps you'll get there. I'm sure you're not hopeless
go on youtube and listen to americans californian accents then try praticing and ask your mom or dad to listen 2 see if you sound liek them. just try your best. im sure you'll be able to do it. =]
repeatedly slam your head into the nearest wall untill you've lost 95% of your mental capacity.
Then say everything as a question? Even if it's a statement?
Should be pretty close.
hang around a old folkes home, oopssorry that florida
No comments:
Post a Comment