Objective: To teach an advanced class of freshmen theater students how to correctly learn to use a Northern Irish accent and dialect to enhance their acting while developing an appreciation for the Irish culture and language.Materials Required:
Small, green top hat
Instant Irish accent mouth spray (in spearmint flavor)
Optional sheep
Pot of gold (to share with teacher)
Introduction: The students will first analyze the fundamental principles of language, including the way vowels and consonants are spoken. At first, students will be exposed to a text and attempt to read out loud with Irish accent. Then the students will listen to a few sound files of speakers native to Northern Ireland and have time to practice amongst their friends. Students will then be asked to go out into their community and speak with a Northern Irish accent. They will then report the people’s reactions, their feelings about the assignment, etc. in a one page report. By exposing students to the Northern Irish culture through teaching about their specific dialect, students will gain an appreciation to a unique culture while increasing their acting skills.
Accent Characteristics: There are many forms of accents and characteristics of the English language. English has evolved differently in many places. The Irish accent, specifically the Northern Irish for our study, has some variations that make it unique among other forms of English.
- The most basic difference in Irish English and other places where English is spoken revolves around the influence of the Gaelic language and its impact. Native Irish speakers integrated aspects of the Gaelic language into English, especially in the more rural areas of the North. For examples, Gaelic words like ludraman and amadan are used in conjunction with English words.
- The difference in Northern Irish English and its counterpart in the South can be seen more clearly through the stronger Gaelic influence that is incorporated in the North in comparison with the South.
- In general, speech in Ireland is rhotic-speakers pronounce a
- Further noting the distinctions between Northern and Southern Irish English, the vowel system of Northern Irish English resembles Scottish English rather than the English of Ireland. For example, boot rhymes with foot.
- Further distinctions include the noticeable tendency in Northern speakers to raise their pitch towards the end of an utterance.
Irish accent sound file: http://www.ku.edu/~idea/europe/ireland/ireland5.mp3
Task: Each student’s task is to come up with a skit utilizing what we have learned about northern Irish accents. This can be done alone or in groups up to three people. The more people in your group, however, the longer your skit must be. For one person the skit must be 3-5 minutes; two people 5-7 minutes; three people 7-9 minutes. You may choose whatever you would like to for the script. You may make one up, use a passage from a book, an excerpt from a movie or play; do whatever you wish, just be creative!
Assessment: To see how well you have mastered your northern Irish accent, you must go out into the community and start up a conversation with someone you don’t know. This can be in a restaurant, grocery store, elevator, church, or other public place. It doesn’t matter where it is; the only thing that matters is that this person does not know you. You must strike up a conversation with this person using your Irish accent, and they must be convinced that you are from Ireland. Evidence of this may be that they ask you where you are from, or some such comment. You don’t have to lie. If you are asked where you are from, tell the truth, and also tell about this assignment. You may do this in groups as well, but everyone must speak. To show me that you’ve done this, you will write me a one page, double spaced paper explaining what happened and what you thought of the assignment. You can have a lot of fun with this, don’t get overwhelmed. And don’t fake your papers, I will know.
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