speech - How can I learn to speak with various accents?



How can I learn to speak with appropriate English accents when reading books aloud? For example, are there simple rules for each accent?


My question is general question, but my application is specific and requires only a good enough attempt; as of now (currently reading "the Secret Garden") my accents are all over the place and inconsistent from page to page.



Answer



There is actually a book/CD set called Accents: A Manual for Actors that is a wealth of information on different accents, from native speaker regional accents to foreign accents. It does an amazing job of explaining how to physically produce those accents. It's geared towards native English speakers, but I see no reason it wouldn't be helpful to someone actively trying to lose a foreign accent.


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