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What to Expect from Accent Modification Coaching?


What is Accent Modification / Accent Reduction?

Accent Modification, commonly referred to as Accent Reduction (a term I dislike), is the process of adapting one’s voice to sound more neutral, typically closer to a General American or British Received Pronunciation dialect. The main purpose of this type of training is to enhance clarity of speech, increase speaker intelligibility, and build confidence when speaking English.


There are a number of reasons one might seek this type of training, including working professionals who are hoping to grow their careers, actors who want to be more castable in their current market, or individuals who want to remove anxiety when speaking in their day-to-day life.


It’s also important to note that this work is not limited to non-native English speakers—those who have a thick regional accent might also seek to neutralize their speech for similar reasons.


What can I expect from a typical coaching session?

When working with me, you’ll find that I do not have a one-sized-fits-all approach, nor do I follow a set curriculum. No two people I work with have the exact same needs. Your vocal tract—your instrument—is unique, as is your perspective, learning style, and natural ability. For that reason, I always adapt my training to the individual in front of me.


In our first few sessions, we’ll take a deep dive into your natural speaking voice. What “stock” set of phonetic sounds do you naturally have? How do those sounds differ from the target dialect? How does the “music” of your voice differ in areas such as intonation, rhythm and tone? As we uncover those mysteries, you’ll learn all about the physical requirements when applying your new accent.


Once you have a strong understanding of these basics, our sessions will transition into practicing different personalized exercises targeting your specific needs, exercises that you can take home with you and practice in your own time—and that’s a critical part of the process.


To use a metaphor, if you start going to the gym and see a personal trainer once a week, you’ll learn the proper way to exercise for your body type…but if you’re only working out once a week, you’re unlikely to see serious growth. Accent Modification is a physical activity, and retraining the muscles of the mouth requires the same level of dedication and outside practice.


What kind of exercises can I expect to learn?

While I’m constantly adapting my teaching style based on the needs of my clients, there are some tried and true tools that will benefit you to have in your toolbox, such as:

  • Phonetic imitation – Learning to produce specific sounds accurately.

  • Minimal pair drills – Practicing words that differ by only one sound.

  • Visual aids of mouth anatomy – Understanding tongue and lip placement.

  • Tongue twisters – Strengthening pronunciation agility.

  • Reading exercises – Develop a critical eye and ear when reading aloud.

  • Voice recording and analysis – Identifying patterns and areas for improvement.

  • Extemporaneous speech practice – Speaking naturally in real-time scenarios.

  • Scripted scene practice – Refining clarity in structured dialogue.

  • Self-guided Practice – adapting exercises to work independently between sessions.


Wouldn’t group classes be more cost-effective?

Most likely, but they wouldn’t be personalized to your individual needs. In a group class, the instructor is often beholden to a rigid curriculum, which will inevitably waste your time when covering topics you don’t necessarily need assistance with. Working with a private coach like myself guarantees that we’re only covering the areas that you need improvement on. Plus, I can guide your learning process to deal with the most critical issues you’ll face on your journey first, all while adapting to your learning style in real time.


How long before I see results?

My clients typically experience noticeable growth within a few months. However, it’s important to set expectations—modifying one’s natural speaking voice is a long-term effort. If you’re a non-native English speaker expecting to master an entirely new accent in just a few lessons, you may find yourself disappointed. Part of going on this journey is learning to incorporate it into your daily life. There are a number of factors that will influence how quickly you progress, including your current mastery of the English language, your commitment to both regular lessons and outside practice, any past training you may have received, and managing your temperament throughout the process.


To expand on that, our voice is a crucial part of our identities. The process of modifying it can be an emotional experience for many, and it’s easy to get frustrated and burnout if you’re not progressing as quickly as you expected. I view a big part of my job as providing tools for my clients to manage their emotions when those moments of frustration may sneak in.


How do I get started?

First, I recommend scheduling a free 15-minute consultation with me. During that time, we’ll chat about your dialect and accent goals, I’ll answer any questions about the process, and we’ll ensure we’re a good fit. I’ll also give you information about logistical information such as how to schedule a session, my cancellation policy, and my fees—all of which you can read about in my F.A.Q.


 
 

BASIC RULES OF A RUSSIAN ACCENT

Updated: May 18, 2024



The Russian accent is a staple in our films and TV shows, and is therefore incredibly valuable for any character actor to have in their repertoire. This simple starter guide will introduce you to some of the basic rules to follow when learning the accent, resulting in a version that’s perfect for auditioning.



INTRODUCTION

Anytime you explore an English as a Second Language (ESL) accent like Russian, you must consider your character’s proficiency with the English language. Has your character spoken English for many years, or only learned it recently? Did they learn in childhood, or as an adult? Do they speak it everyday, or infrequently? Decisions like these will affect the accent choices you make, just like it does for real world speakers.


And they are indeed “choices”. In real life, ESL speakers are often inconsistent when speaking English. They may speak a word a certain way in one moment, and pronounce it differently the next. This comes from the fact that many “features” of the accent are really just unintentional mispronunciations, adjusting how frequently we choose to utilize them can affect how thick the accent will sound. But while inconsistency is common in real life, as actors we must endeavor to make consistent choices so that our performances are repeatable. 


Let’s begin by covering some of the most common sound shifts you’ll want to try on when switching from a General American dialect to a Russian accent, starting with the vowels. If your own accent isn’t American, the shifts you need to make here may vary.


VOWELS SHIFTS 

1) The “short /i/”, [ɪ] as in KIT may move to a “long /i/”, [i] as in TREE

Bring in six images of the big ship. 

Tip: This change is simple to note on your script, simply replace every “short /i/” sound with “ee”


2) [ɛ] as in DRESS may move to a “short /i/”, [ɪ] as in KIT

Fred the elegant elephant was fed lemons in bed.


3) [æ] as in TRAP may move to [ɛ] as in DRESS

The fat cat had a bath and danced.

Tip: You can indicate this change on your script by replacing any “A” that makes the [æ] sound with an “E”


4) [ɑ] as in LOT is lip-rounded, closer to [ɒ]

I thought of calling Shaun this fall.

Tip: Round your lips on this sound, almost like you’re making a kissy-face. On its own, this sound change may feel British–but trust that when we add the additional features of the Russian accent, it will be distinct.


5) The “short /u/”, [ʊ] as in FOOT, may move to a “long /u/”, [u] as in GOOSE

The cook put away the book after he took a look. 

Tip: Once again, focus on rounding your lips on this sound, while simultaneously raising the tongue slightly in the back of your mouth.


6) [ʌ] as in STRUT may move to the back rounded vowel [ɒ], perhaps as in THOUGHT

My brother stumbled in a clump of shrubs above us.

Tip: This sound may also change based on the spelling of the word. For instance, “us” could be pronounced “oos”.


7) The vowels [eɪ̆] as in FACE and [oʊ̆] as in GOAT are two part vowels for Americans; the Russian speaker may cut these sounds in half, resulting a sort of pure, “punchier” version of the vowel.

As a favor, my favorite flavor was placed on my plate. 

It’s only a stone’s throw to Rio. 

Tip: To practice these changes, try singing the American version of these vowel sounds in slow motion, then abruptly stop your voice before the vowel “finishes”.



CONSONANT SHIFTS

1) For every <R> sound, we may hear a “trilled-R”, where the front of the tongue rapidly flaps (commonly referred to as the “Spanish-R”). If this is difficult for you, try a singular tap instead, closer to a soft “D” sound.

The enriched rich red rose grew rotten. 

Tip: For those who find this difficult, use the practice phrase “Krispy Kreme”--replace the “R”s with “D”s: K’dispy K’deme. Try saying it very slowly, then work your way up to a rapid pace–notice how the “R”s now sound closer to a trill?


2) Many consonant sounds will be “devoiced”, losing any activation of the vocal cords, including Zs and Js.

The wiz kid’s zit was risen.

Tip: Notice we often pronounce the letter “S” as “Z”s–not so in this accent, everything may feel like a true “S”.

Jerry jumped the judge and jury.

Tip: All the “J”s should now sound like “CH”s.


3) <W> sounds will often change to <V>s.

Which Wally will want to quit?


4) <TH> sounds will often change to <T> or <D>.

Give those things to them or they will go without.

Tip: Soften these sounds by producing them off the back of the teeth.


5) Every <L> should feel dark, almost swallowed in the mouth.

Lily’s light linen tablecloth cleaned nicely.

Tip: Pulling the tongue back to produce this sound can help to find the general mouth feel for a Russian accent, where everything might feel a bit more retracted.


6) Every <H> at the start of a word should happen with your tongue touching the soft-palate.

Happy hippos held their heads high.

Tip: It may feel like you’re clearing a scratch in the back of your mouth.


MUSICALITY

The Russian accent often sounds much deeper compared to most accents of English. In addition, the general resonance of a Russian speaker might feel more retracted in the mouth, resulting in a sort of “darker” sound. Coupled together, it can feel like you’re swallowing everything towards your throat.


As with many ESL accents, speakers will often misplace emphasis within a word or phrase. For instance, “mistake” may sound like “MEEsteak”, “speculate” could be “speKYOOlate”, etc. There’s no right or wrong here, just be careful of overdoing this or you’ll start to sound like you’re doing a caricature of the accent, rather than anything authentic.


Russian speakers often eliminate the articles “a” and “the” when speaking, so the sentence, “I’m going to the store to buy a cucumber,” may instead sound like, “I’m going to store to buy cucumber.” Again, this can feel a bit over-the-top if utilized too much…though it is a popular trop amongst writers.


Finally, you may hear a certain increased nasality in the accent after nasal consonants (<N> and <M>), especially when preceding a short vowel. For instance, “beneath” may sound like “behNYEET”, “never” may be “NYEver”, etc.


CONCLUSION

A Russian accent can be very difficult for English speaking actors to perform naturally, without going over-the-top. That said, don’t be afraid of starting with an extreme version of the accent and then pulling back over time. Practice all of the sound shifts on your own text. Then, imagine the “thickness” of the accent exists on a dial from 1-10; what happens if you turn the dial down a little bit? Then a little bit more? As in life, you’ll encounter characters who exist at every point on the dial. There is no right or wrong in regards to pronunciation when performing ESL accents, only how many features may sneak through to the English pronunciation. When in doubt, opt for simple choices that suggest the Russian accent without going over the top. You may also see audition breakdowns asking for “Eastern European” accents, and in those cases utilizing a very light version of the Russian accent will often produce acceptable results.


I’ve provided some links to example speakers below; be sure to give some a listen to hear the accent demonstrated properly.


EXAMPLE SPEAKERS:

Note, Scott Alan Moffitt, The Actor's Dialect Coach claims no ownership of the material in the following links--they are provided for educational purposes only. Certain links may contain language or content not suitable for children.


BASIC RULES OF A SOUTHERN ACCENT

Updated: Apr 27, 2024



This tutorial will cover the basics of a Southern American accent of English. It’s undoubtedly one of the most requested, and therefore most valuable, accents American actors can have in their repertoire. This beginner’s guide is meant to serve as a simple jumping off point in your exploration of the accent. But before we begin, let's first explore the history of the accent.



HISTORY

First, let’s define exactly what we mean by “Southern”. Generally, boundaries of the Southern U.S. include Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. To a lesser extent, speakers with a Southern accent can be found in Florida, West Virginia, Missouri, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. 


Historically, many distinct Southern dialects existed in the U.S., which were widely affected by British, Irish, and Scottish immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as enslaved African-Americans. It should be noted, many Black Americans speak with a version of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), which shares many common features with a Southern accent. Over time, the Southern accent naturally consolidated into a more cohesive sound, though there are still a wide variety of region specific dialects, such as Appalachian English and Cajun English. 


The amount of people who naturally speak with a Southern accent is steadily declining in modern times, however it remains an important accent for performers due to the large number of roles requiring some version of it. It’s also important to acknowledge the difference between a classic “Old South” version of the dialect, which is easily identifiable due to its lack of rhoticity, or pronunciation of final R sounds. 


Regardless of region, there are many distinct sounds that are pervasive throughout the South. Those common sounds will be the focus of this tutorial. As an actor, you can easily use the accent outlined in this guide for general auditioning purposes; but as with any accent, once you learn more about your character’s background, it’s generally a good idea to further investigate the specific sound shifts of their home region.


As we explore the unique sound shifts of a Southern Accent, remember that we are comparing these sounds to the Standard American Accent. If you have a different natural accent, further comparison of these sounds to your natural accent may be required.


VOWELS SHIFTS 

1) [ɛ] as in THEM shifts to [ɪ] as in KIT when preceding the nasal consonants <M> or <N> in spelling.

It ended when twenty of them were sent home.

Tip: This linguistic feature is called the “pin-pen” merger, as in this accent the two words are pronounced the same.


2) [ɪ] as in KIT may have a noticeable drawl, stretching the vowel towards /EE.uh/ [iə̆].

I saw six images of the big ship.

Tip: The vowel may feel slower and like it’s gliding to a weaker position, try it out in slow motion, gradually speeding up: /EE.uh/


3) [æ] as in TRAP may also drawl, almost towards /AA.yuh/ [æɪ̆ə̆].

The fat cat had a bath and danced.

Tip: As with the previous rule, this vowel may feel like a slower glide.


4) The stressed sound [ʌ] as in STRUT may rise towards a stretched [ʊː] as in FOOT.

My brother stumbled into a clump of shrubs above us.

Tip: Careful not to overdo this sound shift, as it can sound a little stereotypical.


5) The two-part vowel [aɪ̆] as in PRICE may lose the offglide, resulting in /ah/ [a].

My fine key lime pie was dry.

Tip: On its own, this vowel may sound like a breathy sigh.


6) The two-part vowel [ɔɪ̆] as in CHOICE may have a more neutral offglide, resulting in /OH.uh/ [ɔə̆].

Any noise annoys a noisy oyster.



CONSONANT SHIFTS

1) All <R> sounds that come after a vowel may feel slightly darker or more pronounced.

George steered his car further than ever before.

Tip: Think about pulling your tongue back slightly on <R> sounds, creating a sort of “darker” feeling in the mouth.


2) If an <L> sound is followed by silence or a consonant sound, it may be pronounced more like a <W>.

The little hill’s old bell sure is swell.

Tip: If the <L> sound is followed in the word or phrase by a vowel sound, it should be pronounced normally.


3) Multi-syllable words ending in <ING> may drop the <G>.

Today I’m camping, fishing, hiking, and eating.



MUSICALITY

As with every accent, the variety of music you hear among speakers will be incredibly varied person-to-person. However, there are perhaps a few generalizations we might make about the Southern speaker.


Overall, Southerners may speak slightly slower than the average American, which can add to the negative stereotype that they are less intelligent. This is of course not true, rather they simply favor lingering in vowels as a means of emphasis. A common adage to keep in mind is that “Southerners may talk a little slower, but they’re thinking just as quickly.”


More-so than many other American accents, there is perhaps a greater difference in pitch play between the sexes than normal. Female speakers are much more likely to feature a higher pitch, especially towards the end of sentences, which can make everything feel like a question. Take the phrase “Bless your heart!” This simple three syllable phrase can experience a dramatic rising inflection towards the end.


Southern men, on the other hand, historically associate a deep register with their masculinity, and may feature much less articulation. This often results in an almost mumbled manner of speaking.


Again, these are sweeping generalizations that should be carefully considered and thrown out when appropriate for the character–but sometimes starting from a place of caricature can provide a nice jumping off point.



UNIQUE WORD PRONUNCIATIONS

As with every accent, Southerners have many unique word pronunciations, which don’t necessarily fit into any sort of logical set of “rules”. While it would be impossible to capture all of the unique pronunciations here, here are some of my personal favorites:

-can’t: /KAYNT/

-thing: /THAYNG/

-you all (y’all): /YAHW/

-guitar: /GEE.tar/

-tomato: /tuh.MAY.duh/


Again, these are just a few unique pronunciations. I always encourage my actors to keep a running list of new ones that you may hear when listening to resources. And of course this doesn’t even account for unique vocabulary or slang that accompanies different dialects of English. Be sure to always do your research when encountering unusual vocabulary in your scripts.



CONCLUSION

The sounds of the American South can hardly be considered uniform, but there are certainly consistent sound changes that are heard in a vast majority of accented Southern speakers. Practice the sound shifts outlined in this starter guide to familiarize yourself with the basics, and when exploring a specific character be sure to further research the local sounds.


Explore the provided links below to hear the accent demonstrated by real world speakers.


EXAMPLE SPEAKERS:

Note, Scott Alan Moffitt, The Actor's Dialect Coach claims no ownership of the material in the following links--they are provided for educational purposes only. Certain links may contain language or content not suitable for children.


Elliot, Sam - SAG Interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_8yc5OB6mg

McConaughey, Matthew (secondary)  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpZ4kY3AJWU

“The Real Texas Accent” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3AuqeI51mY


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