How to Talk British English

Listen to British friends speak if applicable.

Accents are a way of pronouncing language in a certain area of the world. Whatever your reason for speaking in a different accent, such as for a play or film role, learning another dialect can prove challenging, though being able to pick up accents from repeated listening to that accent makes the process much easier. British accents use different parts of the mouth than American accents, and along with inflection understanding British slang will help make your accent seem more authentic.

Instructions

1. Choose the accent you would like to emulate. The British Isles include England, Scotland and Wales, and the people of each country have a different accent. There are also numerous accents within the countries, such as a Cockney or Liverpool accent in England.

2. Focus on a particular British person, such as a famous actor, and repeat how the person pronounces words. Watch British television to gain a better idea of how the British speak. The BBC is a British channel that is often available through American cable.

3. Learn British slang. Part of successfully emulating a British accent is understanding how the British use certain words. For example, "ace" is a common term for "brilliant" often used in Liverpool, and "All right?" is used around London and the south of England in place of "Hi, how are you?" "Beastly" is a term used to describe something unpleasant or nasty.

4. Remember to enunciate. Unlike American accents, which often run sounds together as opposed to pronouncing nearly every syllable, British accents enunciate words, especially focusing on the 't' sound. Use the front of the mouth and the tip of the tongue to create a "harder" sound as opposed to the "soft" sound American speakers create by speaking with the back of the mouth and even through the nose.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are an iPhone user try downloading the British accent training application for practice.

• Dialect coaches are available to help you learn the accent.

References

• The Very Best Of British: The American's Guide To Speaking British: Slang
• Omniglot Writing Systems And Languages Of The World: Secrets Of Speaking With A Genuine Accent
• PR Mac: Learn To Speak With A British Accent iPhone App Now Available

Resources

• University Of Arizona: British English