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Speech Therapist Sam Chwat on Changing Accents

Chwat's "New York Speech Improvement Services" attracts 200 to 250 clients a week. He taught Robert DeNiro how to gain an Appalachian accent for his role in "Cape Fear." Julia Roberts sought him out to relearn her southern drawl for "Steel Magnolias." He helped another southerner, Andie McDowell, after her lines for "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan" were dubbed by Glenn Close. Chwat also assists people in business, politics, and communications to lose their accents and learn Standard American English.

22:46

Other segments from the episode on September 1, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, September 1, 1994: Interview with Sam Chwat; Interview with Nathan Lane; Review of the film "Fresh."

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