How to Speak With a Middle Eastern Accent

Even though each different Middle Eastern language leads its speakers to have a slightly different accent in English and other Western languages, there are a few reliable signs that signify a Middle Eastern accent. Whether you are rehearsing for a play, trying to be a spy or just wanting to impress your friends with a new impersonation, follow these steps to speak with a Middle Eastern accent.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Speak from the throat. One of the most basic ways to think about how a language sounds is to think about what part of the mouth and throat people use to produce that language's words. While English sounds come from the mouth and nose—leading Middle Easterners to think that English sounds nasal—Middle Eastern, or Semitic, languages speak with the throat. Try pushing sounds out from your throat rather than your mouth to begin speaking with a Middle Eastern accent.

2. Get rid of your "th." One thing common to Middle Eastern speech is that it does not produce a "th" sound, as in the word "through." The result is that Middle Easterners, even ones who speak very good English, stumble over the "th," if they can produce it at all. So, to speak with a Middle Eastern accent, make your "th" into a hard "t" or into an "s" sound.

3. Leave the "h" out. Ask a Middle Eastern if they are happy and they will probably respond that, yes, they are very "appy." The sound structures of Semitic languages uses a throaty mixture between a "ch" and a "j" sound instead of the breathy "h" that English uses. So, when you get to words like "house" and "happy," drop the "h" and say the word from the next letter.

4. Forget the "w." Like the "th" and the "h" sounds, Middle Eastern speech generally lacks a "w" sound. So, when someone asks you what you would like to drink, tell them that you'd like a "viskey," not a "whiskey." Also, as you blur your "h," "w" and "th" sounds, be sure to add plenty of "eh" or "uh" sounds to slow yourself down and make it seem like you're really contemplating your word choice and sentence structure.

[wontsignin]

on 6/16/2009 Who wrote this? Arabic(most popular language in the Middle East) does have a 'th', 'h' & 'w' sound. Looks like you have mistaken the Middle East for the Indian subcontinent.

[Myshashi]

on 3/27/2009 The best way to do this is to hang around people who are speaking with an Middle Eastern accent. If you do this regularly enough, then you will pick up the accent you are listening to.Update yourself with Middle Eastern accent eg.,http://www.neutralaccent.com

[gingerbreadboy]

on 1/2/2008 Nonsensical article which is inacccurate. An accent is a difference in the emphasis given a sound, not the omission of a sound.