In this video we’re looking at Nicola’s accent as
she plays Clare Devlin in the popular series Derry Girls.
“...so let’s crack on...”
If we’re meeting for the first time, I’m Alister, an English teacher and Northern Irish
dialect coach. To know more about English, languages or accents consider subscribing.
Should you be an actor looking to master your Northern Irish
accent then contact me using the details in the description below.
We’ll be analysing three clips in detail (as some reddit users have suggested).
"Sure, aren’t I doing this fast for Ethiopia?”
“Two pound.”
“What’s happening over there is really lousy, Erin.”
First listen to how Clare says the letter /r/ in these three words.
"Sure, aren’t I doing this fast for Ethiopia?”
“What’s happening over there is really lousy, Erin.”
Rhoticity in English is the pronunciation of the letter /r/ in all contexts. There
is great variation in this regard across the English speaking world.
For instance, Welsh English, New Zealand English and Australian English are usually
defined as non-rhotic, whereas Indian English,
Scottish English and North American English are defined as rhotic.
In a true Derry accent, the letter /r/ is pronounced in all contexts. It is rhotic.
On the other hand, a non-rhotic speaker would not pronounce the
letter /r/ in certain situations - when the /r/ is immediately after a
vowel and not followed by another vowel - the word HARD for example. HARD vs. HARD.
Or when the /r/ is at the end of a word - OVER as Clare said. OVER vs. OVER.
Whilst officially accents from certain regions are defined as either rhotic or non-rhotic, in reality
there is wide variation even within these regions. Sometimes the /r/ is pronounced, sometimes not.
However, this is one way in which the Derry accent stands out. It
is rhotic. Every /r/ is pronounced in every situation always. Period.
Next, notice Nicola’s pronunciation of this word:
"Sure, aren’t I doing this fast for Ethiopia?”
This feature involves a long vowel becoming shorter - something which is
extremely common in the Derry accent. Let’s look at the long vowel /ɑː/.
In Standard British English, we drop the jaw, and make a long sound /ɑː/ as in FAST.
Some people say it’s as if you’re adding an /r/ sound but not actually saying it. FAST.
However, with the Derry accent, the vowel is much shorter,
and the word is said much quicker - FAST. FAST vs. FAST.
This characteristic is best seen in the contrasting vowel sounds in these two words.
In British English, you can distinguish the difference: FAT and FAST.
In Derry, you cannot: FAT, FAST.
Thirdly, pay attention to the /ɪn/ sound in these words:
"Sure, aren’t I doing this fast for Ethiopia?”
“What’s happening over there is really lousy, Erin.”
According to many non-natives, this is the easiest part of a Derry accent to master
and I’ll show you how by looking at the pronunciation of this word.
In most English accents worldwide you’ll hear two different sounds - /ɪn/ first and /ɪŋ/ second.
Winning. /ɪn/ /ɪŋ/. Winning.
However, in a Derry accent, there’s no distinction: /ɪn/ first and /ɪn/ second.
Winnin’. /ɪn/ /ɪn/. Winnin’.
Winning vs. Winnin’.
Can you hear and can you feel the difference?
By the way this video is part of my Derry Girls
series - to see more check the playlist right up here.
Next, we have what is regarded as the most prominent and yet the trickiest aspect of
the Derry accent to master. Listen to the vowel sound in these two words.
“Two pound.”
“What’s happening over there is really lousy, Erin.”
Unlike most English accents, the diphthong /aʊ/ isn’t used in either of these words.
This feature is rampant in the Derry accent
and probably the most noticeable by non-natives, those not from Derry.
A reminder that a diphthong is a sound formed by the combination
of two vowels. It starts as one vowel and finishes as another.
/aʊ/ - you should feel the movement in your mouth, in this situation it's kind of rounded. /aʊ/.
To highlight the difference, most English accents in the world would pronounce these
two words using the diphthong: POUND. LOUSY. You can feel and hear the rounded movement.
Whereas, and I want to be crystal clear,
in a Derry accent, there is no diphthong - POUND, LOUSY.
POUND vs. POUND. LOUSY vs. LOUSY.
You should hear, and much more importantly feel the difference. Can you?
“It has a bit actually, yeh.”
Should you be an actor looking to master your Northern Irish
accent then contact me using the details in the description below.
Now, to find out about Louisa Harland’s Derry accent as she
plays Orla McCool in Derry Girls check out the video on screen now.