How to Do a Dublin Accent
The Irish accent is originally based on the Celtic language Gaelic, or Erse, and the dialects existing within this accent are colorful and varied from region to region. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a brogue all it's own. Famous writers including James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde all hail from this fantastic city. Whether you're an actor or someone who enjoys learning to speak in a different dialect, there are some basic tools you can use to start your vocal journey back to Dublin.
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Instructions
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Practice speaking with a "hard R." Americans typically use one sound for the letter R; however, there is a different way to use this sound when speaking in a Dublin dialect. This "hard R" sounds more aggressive and appears in most words containing the letter R. Mechanically, your tongue should curl up more toward the top of your mouth, creating a sound almost like a growl. Try using this sound with these words, and emphasize the Rs: hair, right, north, father and fortune.
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Calla lily Curl the tip of your tongue to touch the hard palate, leaving space on the sides, to create the L sound. Americans tend to have what are called "dark Ls," but in Dublin the L sound is lighter. It requires more muscularity but should provide the correct sound. You can do exercises to strengthen your tongue. Try this one: Say "Calla lily" over and over, concentrating on making the L sound as quick as you would make a T or a D sound.
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Learn how to pronounce the T sound. This sound is lighter than in America, so much so that it's sometimes unvoiced. Try making the T sound at the end of the word "right," but don't make the sound. It should sound like you're blowing a small amount of air through the position of the mouth but not actually making contact. Try it with these words, without forgetting the previous steps: fighter, writer, little, trident and taper.
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Say the word "right." Now replace the vowel sound with "oi," so it sounds like "roit." This is an important sound when tackling this dialect. Any time you hear the vowel sound you hear in the word "right," simply replace it with the "oi" sound you find in words like "boy" and "toy." Try it with these words: fight, liken, eye, goodbye and sigh.
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Change the vowel sound you find in the word "tea" to sound like "tay." This applies to any words with the vowel sound in "tea." For example, the word "here" sounds like the word "hair" in this dialect. Try this vowel shift with these words: meat, Jesus, beach, beer and leave.
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Jonathan Swift Remember, the Dublin dialect is famous for a kind of lilting quality. Don't be afraid to go up and down your vocal register, from higher sounds to lower sounds, because this is an essential part of the dialect. Grab a book by William Butler Yeats or Jonathan Swift to test your new consonants and vowels. Have fun with your new dialect!
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Tips & Warnings
To listen to native speakers, go to the International Dialects of English Archive website. (See link in Resources.)
References
Resources
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Comments
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While this article is a nice try, it won't help you speak like a Dubliner. For one thing, there are two distinct and unmistakable Dublin accents, depending on which side of the Liffey you're on -- north or south. Use the words "brogue" or "lilting" at your own peril. They're American stereotypes, and the word brogue was used by the English as an insult during its 800 years of Irish colonization.
