Performing ESL Dialects: From Research & Analysis to Practical Application & Achievement
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Makenzie Kuntz
College:
The College of Health Professions and Human Services
Major:
Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Joshua Feliciano-Sanchez Moser
Abstract:
Dialects are defined as varied forms of a language spoken by members of a certain language-speaking population, and are typically specific to a region or area. Mandarin, for example, is a dialect of Chinese. Cockney is a dialect of English. The list goes on and on. Actors often find themselves faced with the challenge of learning how to speak in a dialect far different from their own based on the setting of a scene, character traits, etc. This is true for most actors, no matter if they are performing on-stage, for the camera, or even for voice-overs. Accurate portrayal of a dialect in a performance ensures an authentic character persona, therefore making the entire production that much more believable.
Essentially, the author seeks to explore how features of one’s native languages can influence the English language. The author’s involvement has two main components- the first is acting as a student researcher on a new dialect book focused on Spanish-speaking communities. The book has the working title of Performing Accents & Dialects of the Spanish-Speaking Diaspora and will be published in two volumes through Routledge: Taylor & Francis. The second is fulfilling the role of Assistant Voice and Dialect Coach in Kean University Theatre Conservatory’s production of Once On This Island, where the dialect of French Speaking Caribbean will be explored.
Participation in both of these areas will allow for the collection of qualitative information regarding the overarching topic. Using recorded speech samples, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and the software PRAAT, the author will carry out an in-depth analysis of the different features respective to each dialect. This information will in turn be used as a guide for teaching actors how to achieve a dialect quickly and accurately.
The interdisciplinary nature of this research emphasizes the relevance of elements such as pitch, prosody, rate, volume and phonetic knowledge to an actor’s dialect portrayal.