How to learn British accent?

[malvi]

I always wanted to learn the British accent. I was listening songs on YouTube and I stumbled across video with accents . There were two accents that I loved so much and they're called : RP accent and Posh upper class accent ( I think they are both formal and I saw that a lot of people are making fun of them) .
I was wondering how could I learn those accents? What's the most important in talking like that?

[LordJenkins]

All accents get made fun of! lol


The RP accent is the most beautifal accent on the planet in my opinion. The vowel sounds are just perfection. All other english accents around the world are so plain in my opinion. If you want to learn the accent, I recommend this book.

Get Rid of Your Accent: The English Pronunciation and Speech Training Manual: Amazon.co.uk: Linda James, Olga Smith: Books


If you want to learn the older style RP, you will want to study the cardinal vowels. Buy a book on phonetics. This book is great.

A Practical Introduction to Phonetics Oxford Textbooks in Linguistics: Amazon.co.uk: J. C. Catford: Books

[konungursvia]

Sorry, but most serious linguists will tell you that value judgments on the sounds of accents are unscientific, and ultimately unreliable. As a learner, you can choose to try to adopt your favourite, but as for championing one accent over the others, this is a poor recommendation in my view.

[thatone]

You can start by seeing the latest Harry Potter movie. It's good.

[sylviawiseman]

You can start by seeing the latest Harry Potter movie. It's good.

Actually, Harry Potter himself has a low class accent in real life, but he is an actor, so he did learn how to speak properly in films.

[5jj]

Actually, Harry Potter himself has a low class accent in real life, but he is an actor, so he did learn how to speak properly in films.

I don't think many people who speak with that accent would like to hear it called 'low class". He is not speaking 'properly' in the films; he is using a particular dialect.

[LordJenkins]

I don't think many people who speak with that accent would like to hear it called 'low class". He is not speaking 'properly' in the films; he is using a particular dialect.

Harry's accent isnt what one would call 'posh'. He has a regular london type accent.

[britintheUS]

Well you can basically learn to imitate any one you want, but as far as adopting it, it would take A LOT of passion. Many would say that you can't actually acquire another accent but I'd say if you wanted to enough you could probably manage.

You would probably make some sort of mistake as far as going back into your original accent quite often.

I'd just listen to one particular speaker who has 1 regional accent ( London, Yorkshire, Cornwall....etc) since there are so many within Britain and England itself and then keep listening to them until you pick it up. If you listen to too many different speakers from different places you'll get an unrecognisable accent.

[Hedwig]

Sorry, but most serious linguists will tell you that value judgments on the sounds of accents are unscientific, and ultimately unreliable. As a learner, you can choose to try to adopt your favourite, but as for championing one accent over the others, this is a poor recommendation in my view.

I agree with you but, was that a value judgement or an expression of personal taste? He did write 'in my opinion' both when he spoke about the most beautiful accent and plain accents.

[konungursvia]

I agree with you but, was that a value judgement or an expression of personal taste? He did write 'in my opinion' both when he spoke about the most beautiful accent and plain accents.

It's true he didn't try to pass his opinion off as fact. But he did extend his superlative judgment of RP, and his disdain for other dialects, well beyond any possible realm of usefulness here.