English language--Accents and accentuation
'Voice' Author Explores Accents, Language And What Makes A Tone Sexy
New Yorker writer John Colapinto says the development of vocal structures may have been the key to humans' becoming the dominant species on the planet. His new book is This is the Voice.
In 'Perry Mason,' Matthew Rhys Lives Out His Boyhood Noir Fantasies
Welsh actor Matthew Rhys plays the title role in the new HBO series, Perry Mason. His version of the iconic criminal defense attorney is younger and more hardboiled than the one Raymond Burr played in the popular TV show from the '50s and '60s. The new series focuses on Mason as a divorced private investigator in the early 1930s in Los Angeles — before he became a lawyer.
'Outsider' Actor Ben Mendelsohn On Australian Machismo And Mastering Accents
In the HBO series, which was adapted from Stephen King's novel, the Australian actor plays a detective trying to solve a murder — and resisting the idea that the killer may be a supernatural entity.
Actor Damian Lewis Explores A World 'Of Ego And Power' On Showtime's 'Billions'
The classically-trained British actor plays a ruthless hedge-fund manager on Billions, which recently ended its fourth season. Lewis describes his character as "the embodiment of the American dream."
Emily Blunt's 'Mary Poppins' Is As Magical And Mysterious As Ever
Emily Blunt talks about portraying Mary Poppins: getting the accent right, singing, and being suspended from a wire to simulate flying.
For Candidates, An Accent on Authenticity
What do Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, and John Edwards have in common? They've all been criticized for the way they speak. Linguist Geoff Nunberg has some thoughts about candidates and regional cadence.
From the Archives: British Film Actor Michael Caine.
Actor Michael Caine. He’s made over 70 films, including “Get Carter.” (REBROADCAST from 11/17/92)
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.
Speech Therapist Sam Chwat Discusses Accents.
Speech Therapist Sam Chwat. 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.
British Film Actor Michael Caine.
Actor Michael Caine. He's made over 70 films, from "Alfie" to "Sleuth" to "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "Hannah and Her Sisters." Caine has worked with such esteemed directors as Brian DePalma, John Huston, and Woody Allen. His autobiography, "What's It All About?" (Random House) is coming out in paperback in January of 1994. (Rebroadcast of 11/17/1992)