The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #101309   Message #2041532
Posted By: Greg B
02-May-07 - 03:20 PM
Thread Name: BS: Belfast accents
Subject: RE: BS: Belfast accents
Where is she located? I know a great dialect coach in the
NY Area (Dan Schatz's brother, in fact).

For self-tutelage, go on the BBC web site and listen to some
of the reports coming out of Northern Ireland. Belfast is
very distinct--- Frank McCourt describes it as 'flat' and
that's about the most apt description. Gerry Adams does
quite a good impersonation of one :-)

So does Tommy Makem.

Ulster folk speak, I think, quite a bit slower and in more
measured fashion than folks from the Republic. I'd describe
it as perhaps trading musicality away for clarity.