The Voice Cafe Blog

A take on Canadian Accents – by Canadian Linguist Kelsey Flynn

The Canadian accent seems to always appear in media as either non-existant, or it’s so over generalized that it’s comical. And while it’s almost true that we say “eh?” as much as the stereotype, there are a few points that distinguish the Canadian accent in its sound and its history from other English-speaking accents.

In the zone? In or out? Changing shape

Learning a new accent can mean stepping way out of the comfort zone - initially a new voice placement can feel counter-intuitive and unfamiliar.

Uh huh. The schwa / ə /. A great starting point for learning accents

Ever watched a film or play where the accent is really good but somehow not quite right? Often it&rs

How not to typecast an accent

What is typecasting? So you are learning a new accent for a role, audition, or to help with clear communication. The process of picking up an accent is ...

Stepping West – the story of the General American accent

When asked, “What is the General American accent?” some Americans might reply “Sorry? Is there such a thing?”. Others might reply “Well, the accent with no

RP: A popular British accent with very few native speakers

So what is it about RP? It is the British accent that is most commonly taught to non-native speakers, as well as being considered a ‘must have’ accent on any actor's

The Brazilian Accent of English

Going from the north to the south of the biggest nation in South America, you really

The ‘oldest’ English dialect?

With it’s singing, swinging upbeat rhythm and distinctive sound patters, the Geordie accent and dialect owes much of its uniqueness to

Learning an accent as a non-native speaker

So what does it take to learn an accent as a non-native speaker? When we hear new sound patterns in an accent or language, we subconsciously categorize them with our own familiar native accent at least initially, and try to produce them as such. The ability to

The Voice behind the Voice Cafe

Welcome to the Voice Café’s very new and exciting blog! I am absolutely delighted to launch a blog, as I believe it is time to put a voice behind the Voice Café and give my members and interested readers more information about what the Voice Café is all about. And of course, it is