You Talk Funny

Why do we care as much about Elizabeth Holmes’ voice as we do about all the fraud and deception? What is it about her voice, and the idea of “authenticity,” and exactly how does Amanda Seyfried manage to sound like her in the new Hulu series The Dropout?

In the new Shonda Rhimes/Netflix true crime melodrama: “Inventing Anna,” Julia Garner plays real life fraudster-cum-socialite Anna Sorokin, and attempts her hodgepodge of an accent. So, what IS this accent, exactly? Where did it come from, and did Garner manage to pull it off?

Have you ever wondered why so many villains in American movies speak with British accents? Is it just a coincidence, or is there something more going on? If you have a dialect question you can write to me at carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com

Where did we get the term “Quarantine?” Is that different from “Lockdown” or “isolation?” Will I ever be allowed to leave my house again?

Everyone loves a good story, but it seems like all the best ones are made up. That’s where Folk Etymologies come in, or the fake stories of how these words didn’t actually originate.

Whether it’s a coming-of-age story or a monster movie, there are lots of reasons to want to create a sense of “otherness” in your character. Accents are one way to do this, and while making an Impossible Accent from Nowhere can be fun, using a real life language as a shorthand for “other” can perpetuate harmful stereotypes. So —how do we responsibly tell these stories about being “other?” Have a question? Send it to carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com Find us at Patreon.com/youtalkfunny

Why do singers sometimes lose their accents once the music starts playing? patreon.com/youtalkfunny carriehardintalksfunny.com

Fargo introduced much of the world to the charms of the Upper Midwest, but where do these flattened, nasalize vowels come from? And why is this accent used in so many dark comedies? Howard Mohr’s How to Talk Minnesotan: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oiSzwoJr4-0 And if you have a question, go to carriehardintalksfunny.com, patreon.com/youtalkfunny, or on Instagram @carriehardintalksfunny

In this last installment of our April miniseries on the great British/American accent exchange, we’ll discuss some of the best —and the worst —American accents

This is Part 3 of our miniseries on the sometimes-fraught transatlantic accent exchange between the US and the UK And now that we’re done beating up on the Americans, it’s time to see what it takes for British actors to learn a credible American accent. And what is an “American” accent, anyway? Have a voice or accent question? Write to me at carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com, or follow us on Instagram @carriehardintalksfunny

Last time we talked about how American actors go about learning a British accent, and how one accent can go so very wrong. In Part 2, we’ll be looking at some of the worst offenses, and a few actors who got it right. And we’re going to be naming some names... Have a voice or accent question? Find me at carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com, or on Instagram.

The first in a 4-part miniseries on the elusive British accent, and how so many American actors seem to get it wrong. And if you’re having some strong accent-opinions, write to me at carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com

I’ll be back next week with a full episode, but here’s a quick mini-episode on the history and etymology of April Fool’s Day....maybe. But probably not. Got a question? Find us on Instagram @carriehardintalksfunny or email us at carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com

Everyday is Talk Like A Pirate Day if you try hard enough —We'll take a deep dive into the origins of this seemingly silly voice And if you’ve got a question, you can write to carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com

Is vocal fry really the obnoxious villain it’s made out to be? Or are we all acting a little...dare I say, hysterical?

Windy politicians, hot dogs, and Superfans —what do we think of the Chicago Accent? And what does it really sounds like?

Why are old mistakes charming stories, while new ones are personally offensive? One man’s “to whom it may concern” is another man’s “irregardless.”

Announcement!

An entire generation of actors were taught to speak in that Old Movie Star voice. But, why? And where did this quasi-British accent come from?

From movies to muppets, Dracula’s iconic accent is one of our favorite tropes. But where did this sometimes-spooky, sometimes-silly voice come from? And why do we associate it with vampires? In this special Halloween episode, Carrie explores the history of Dracula Voice.

People are natural mimics —whether we intend to be or not. And when it comes to adopting a new accent, the results can be . . . mixed.

Notre Dame, Lafayette, Vincennes. What’s with all those French-sounding places that don’t actually sound very French? Kate Scott, from the Indiana Historical Society helps us figure out why we say these place names the way we do. And if you have a question, shoot me an email at carriehardintalksfunny@gmail.com

For years, we’ve heard only the fanciest of English accents, but now the times are changing —Carrie talks to comedians Simon Cockle and Sam Mabbitt about why we love hearing a good accent. Check out Simon & Sam’s podcast The Sacred Cow at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sacred-cow/id1505810790

In this first episode, Carrie covers the fundamentals of speech and speaks with improviser Sami Smith