Dialects for Actors - French Accent

I am currently rehearsing for a play that requires a French dialect. I have never been one to pick up dialects easily by ear. In fact, there are only 2 dialects (other than my native Californian) that I consider myself convincing in: Standard British and Southern. So when faced with French I had a bit of a panic attack. I envisioned Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. How on earth was I going to be THAT French?! Upon further reflection I realized that there are variations and subtleties to the dialect. We don't always have to be a caricature on stage, unless it is desired for some type of effect. As actors we need to foremost be understood. The question then became, where do I begin?

Step 1: Listen to Native French Speakers

If you have a friend, family member, or acquaintance that belongs to the country you are trying to imitate, have them pronounce some words or sentences for you. For example, I have a friend from London that assists me with my English dialect all the time. We often Skype and compare pronunciations and read scripts to each other. Just be careful to put your own spin on things. Don't get stuck in a repetition, reading the same line over and over again the same way. Be creative!

If the above suggestion is not an option, try a Youtube search or watch movies with your favorite French characters. You may make some discoveries there.

I began my exploration by listening to native French speakers on the International Dialect of English Archive.

Step 2: Find the Place of Resonance

For the French dialect, the resonance is located in the back of the mouth and at the bottom of the uvula (the fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate that hangs above the throat). Vowels that are near "m," "n," and "ng" become very nasal. Visualize the point of resonance and adding vibration to the nasal cavity will do wonders for your French dialect.

I had great success finding the place of residence by listening to the vocal coaching and instructional exercises by David Alan Stern, ph.D. You can purchase Acting with an Accent (French) at Samuel French or visit Dialect Accent Specialists, Inc.

I also find that it helps to anchor your tongue behind your bottom teeth. This is how the French are taught to speak. You may be surprised how authentic your accent sounds simply by following these guidelines!

Step 3: Be Aware of Sound Changes - Vowel and Consonant Substitutions

Making adjustments to the vowel sounds in a dialect can be monumental. For example, in the French dialect the short "i" (as in "finish") becomes a long "ee" (as in "feet").

There are also consonant substitutions that make all the difference. For instance, the voiced "th" sound (as in "this" and "that") becomes a "z" or "dz" sound, while the unvoiced "th" (as in "thin") becomes an "s" sound.

I found the following website very helpful with great FREE examples, complete with audio files! Click Here!

Step 4: Rhythm, Pitch, and Stresses 

French is a musical language and typically gives the stress to the last syllable in multi-syllable words. Ivan Borodin has a very good Youtube video on this topic (see below). You may also want to check out his other accent tutorials.



Step 5: Practice, Practice, Practice!

Stay away from your script for a little while. Don't practice the same lines over and over again until you have a good handle on the accent. I recommend reading aloud and improving dialog until it becomes second nature. Then apply your new found skills to your script! I even wrote out all of my lines phonetically per the dialect's sound changes and wrote accent marks above the words or syllables I wanted to highlight. The more work you put in, the better your accent will get. Now get out there and have fun!