No, really, that *is* my real-life accent.

[shivver]

I find it really strange that when I'm writing dialogue for an American character and sounding it out in my head to see if it flows correctly, first, it comes out with an English accent. Then I have to consciously think, "No, she's American. Make her sound American." And then I try again, and invariably, the character sounds like Peri, and I have to force the voice to not sound like Peri. :P

Comments

[dm12.livejournal.com]

*snort* That's amusing!

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Why? Why? Why does every American character sound like Peri to me? I am American and am surrounded by Americans, and yet I cannot hear a DW character be an American without her being Peri! *tears at her hair*

[dm12.livejournal.com]

I've no idea why, just that the actress isn't even American! Hugely hilarious that you just keep hearing Peri, then! Why not Grace?

Oh, I'm not hearing Peri with your Traci character. Are you?

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

I do when I read her dialogue to myself, and I have to stop Peri's voice in my head, to make sure I don't start writing Traci like Peri.

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Well, you're doing a great job!

[bas_math_girl]

Good grief, Peri's accent was so annoying and fake! How horrible for you.

[arcanetrivia]

In the show I agree, but though I've only listened to snippets of 6th Doctor Big Finish audios, it seems she did get better.

[bas_math_girl]

That's really good to know because I've been avoiding listen to those Big Finish audio stories; so thank you for that. Her wandering accent in the show bothered me a great deal.

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

I agree with shyfoxling that Peri's accent got better in the audios, as Nicola Bryant got more practice. But it's mostly the Peri timbre and attitude that I hear, which then, of course, infects the words I choose and... it's a slippery slope. :)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

LOL!! Oh my goodness. Think we've all had moments somewhat like this. And yeah..hard to American when the show is British!! Just make sure you don't confuse your own voicebox, lol!!

*Squishes you*

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really hope I don't sound like Peri! :D Actually, I know I don't - her voice has an earthy quality that mine doesn't have, while mine is more fluty. (I hate the way my voice sounds, but I think everyone feels that way about their own voice when they hear a recording.)

It is very hard to American, isn't it? I do it constantly at work. In our game, players have neighbors that they can visit, and we rolled out a new feature for that recently, and all through that, I don't know how many times I typed "neighbours" and had to correct it! It didn't help that one of my recent fics is titled "Neighbours" and I was typing the word all the time. :P