Ironing out an accent?

[GreyMan]

I've ended up with a Glasgow accent which I want rid of. English is my language, but this accent isn't. I thought moving away from there would naturally solve the problem. But it hasn't. I was shocked to hear a recording of my speech.

There are lovely Scottish accents, but this one isn't. I hope to find a way to clean it up and sound completely neutral. What affordable methods are there?

PS: Am I getting the image verification because I'm new, or do you always get it?

[Wicked Pissah]

come to Boston...I'll set you up with a Boston accent.....people will love you forever after.

[konungursvia]

I've ended up with a Glasgow accent which I want rid of. English is my language, but this accent isn't. I thought moving away from there would naturally solve the problem. But it hasn't. I was shocked to hear a recording of my speech.

There are lovely Scottish accents, but this one isn't. I hope to find a way to clean it up and sound completely neutral. What affordable methods are there?

PS: Am I getting the image verification because I'm new, or do you always get it?

Where do you now live?

[bagzi94]

Watch some British TV shows. :)

[GreyMan]

come to Boston...I'll set you up with a Boston accent.....people will love you forever after.

I'd love to! We're actually working on crossing the Atlantic some day, sooner rather than later.
We're currently in mainland Europe.

We constantly watch English and American series/films. That's why I was confident the unwelcome accent was gone. But that recording taught me different.

I've heard of actors taking specific classes for that purpose. Of course they have a different kind of spending power. But since you can buy packaged language courses, i was hoping there were "accent courses" too.

[raindoctor]

1. Go to any phonetics department in your local universities and find an expert ear, who can discriminate minute differences between your vowels and the target vowels.

2. See an accent reduction coach, who is not into training actors. Accent/dialects coaches who train actors charge at least twice what you pay for a normal accent reduction coach. The going rate here in the states: $60 per hour. Hollywood rates start at $100 per hour. Maybe, 5 to 6 classes would help: gaining awareness of your vocal tract and producing the target vowels is all what you need to shoot for.

[Hedwig]

I hope to find a way to clean it up and sound completely neutral.

Is that possible?

[GreyMan]

Is that possible?

I'm sure it is. I've heard it happen. Not to mention, I used to be fairly neutral anyway. That's why I'm surprised it's hard to go back to it.

raindoctor thanks for your input. I'll start doing some research based on your suggestions. We're not in an English-speaking place right now. But everything starts with research. And we're not here to stay.

[Bennevis]

My advice to the thread-starter - imitate the way Patrick Stewart speaks. You won't regret it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVaOZrED1zY
Patrick Stewart interview - Parkinson - BBC - YouTube