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How would you rate Hugh Grant's English pronunciation?

Justin - 2009-02-23 11:28:25 - Languages

I'm a Korean learner of the English language, especially British English. I often use DVDs to improve my English listening skills. And the DVDs include mainly romantic comedy films, starring "Hugh Grant". For example, "Notting Hill", "About a Boy" , "Music and Lyrics" and "Love Actually" are my favourite audiovisual materials of English education. Of course, I also see another kind of films like "Billy Elliot" to get used to the northern accent. I think Hugh Grant's pronunciation is very clear and helpful to improve foreigners' English. How would you rate his pronunciation from your native speaker's point of view?

Best Answer:

Hugh Grant's quality of English is very high. He looks and sounds like a member of the middle to upper-middle class, probably public school educated to the very highest standard. There are two clear English accents here in England, there is the Northern English and the Southern English - both are classified as posh - well spoken. It is always a good idea when learning English, to have some knowledge of different accents if possible. Here is a very famous English actor, a movie star in fact and someone you might already know of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXJ-oAq2XZg The two men in the above video clip are, Michael Parkinson and Michael Caine - Parkinson has a northern accent and Caine has a London [Cockney] accent. Here then is the very highest quality English ever spoken upon a stage. The late Laurence Olivier - Richard III. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thz2EUizC9Q You can listen to lots more English by viewing these video clips from the House of Commons - PMQs [Prime Minister's Questions]. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Broadcasts/DG_4010354

Answers:

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I rate his speach as excellent.

He's definitely a bit posh but it won't hurt to speak like him!!

I think he pronounces English just fine, but be aware that if you learn to speak like him, you will have an Australian accent. ;) It doesn't matter what accent you have, as long as you speak English well! :)

Hugh Grant..poncey. It's ok for learning basic English skills but for everyday use if you talked like that up North you would likely get called a "Southern fairy" and be given what is politely called "some shoe". If you like the Northern accent, look for a film called "Kes".

I like his speech and pronunciation, he speaks well.

Hugh Grant's quality of English is very high. He looks and sounds like a member of the middle to upper-middle class, probably public school educated to the very highest standard. There are two clear English accents here in England, there is the Northern English and the Southern English - both are classified as posh - well spoken. It is always a good idea when learning English, to have some knowledge of different accents if possible. Here is a very famous English actor, a movie star in fact and someone you might already know of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXJ-oAq2XZg The two men in the above video clip are, Michael Parkinson and Michael Caine - Parkinson has a northern accent and Caine has a London [Cockney] accent. Here then is the very highest quality English ever spoken upon a stage. The late Laurence Olivier - Richard III. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thz2EUizC9Q You can listen to lots more English by viewing these video clips from the House of Commons - PMQs [Prime Minister's Questions]. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Broadcasts/DG_4010354

It's okay :) Quite posh...Nothing like the Queen's English (Nobody speaks that so don't fret.) If you want to learn a 'proper' English accent then I'd say he's one of your best people to copy. There's also well spoken people like Kate Winslet...Patrick Stewart ( He has a great accent. Very sexy.) There are many regional accents amougnst the British countries. Hugh Grant is a minority. It would be great if you learnt to speak in a Welsh, Irish, or Scottish accent. Try Scottish ! Lol! I would be biast because I am Scottish though. There are some very clear Scottish accents...but also one's I don't even understand! I wouldn't stick to just learning off of Hugh Grant...Take inspiration from all of these English speakers in films and things you come accross...Trust me, the majority of us Brits don't speak like Hugh Grant! :)