In this video we’re looking at Kathy’s accent as she plays the adorable Aunt Sarah
in the popular show Derry Girls.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking my change.”
“Sarah, you don't get change.”
“Aye, dead on, Gerry.
I'm gonna give them a whole fiver.
That's definitely happening.”
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 looking to master your Northern Irish accent then contact me using the details
in the description below.
Today we’ll be analysing one clip in detail, looking at 3 distinct features of the Derry
Northern Irish accent.
There will also be a second clip for you to analyse later in the video where there will
be 6 features of the Northern Irish accent so make sure to keep watching to find out
about all these features.
How many of the three features can you notice in the first clip?
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not enjoying this bomb.”
Here’s my three suggestions.
Pay attention to how Aunt Sarah says these words.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not enjoying this bomb.”
Firstly, in a standard British accent this word - ABOUT is pronounced with a diphthong,
namely the /aʊ/ diphthong.
/aʊ/, ABOUT.
A diphthong is a combination of two vowels, in which the mouth has to move and you should
feel a rounded movement - /aʊ/, ABOUT, a rounded movement.
In a Derry Accent this diphthong /aʊ/ is not in the word ABOUT.
Instead the sound is much shorter - ow, located at the back of your mouth and often comes
across as much deeper.
Listen to (and crucially feel) the difference: /aʊ/, ow. /aʊ/, ow.
ABOUT, ABOUT.
Secondly, in a standard British accent this contraction - I'M is again pronounced with
a diphthong, this time /aɪ/.
Once more, the mouth has to move and you should feel a rounded movement - /aɪ/, a rounded
movement, /aɪ/.
In Aunt Sarah’s Derry Accent this /aɪ/ diphthong is not used in this contraction.
Instead the sound is shorter with no diphthong, no rounded movement, and probably the /æ/
monophthong, making the word come across to the listener as AM rather than I'M.
Unlike a diphthong which is a combination of two vowels, a monophthong is a single vowel
sound.
Listen to (and crucially feel) the difference: /aɪ/, /æ/.
/aɪ/, /æ/.
I'M, I'M. I'M, I'M.
Thirdly, in a standard British English accent in this word - ENJOYING the final syllable
is a /ɪŋ/ sound, with the tongue kind of bunched up towards the back of the mouth - /ɪŋ/,
ENJOYING.
In a Derry Accent this /ɪŋ/ sound does not appear in the word ENJOYING.
Instead the sound is /ɪn/ and the tongue is located more towards the front of the mouth
with the tip of the tongue touching your top row of teeth.
Listen to (and crucially feel) the difference: /ɪŋ/, /ɪn/.
/ɪŋ/, /ɪn/.
ENJOYING, ENJOYING.
Let’s put these three characteristics together and listen one final time.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not enjoying this bomb.”
Now it’s your turn.
Any instructional video should contain some questions and challenge so here we go.
Check out this classic clip from Aunt Sarah and make a note of any specific Derry accent
characteristics that you hear.
There should be at least 6 in total.
Comment below your thoughts and if this video reaches 1,000 views in the first 5 days (that's
by 11th July) I will publish a full analysis of the clip that you're about to watch.
“Disgusting and disgraceful, I’ve an appointment in Tropicana at 12, 15 minutes in this stand
up but sure I’ll not get over the bridge at this rate.
It’s gonna play havoc with my build up.
This is what they want.
They want ordinary people to suffer.
This is what it's all about.”
We’ll play it one more time and if you want some help I recommend pausing this video and
checking out my full Derry Girls playlist up here which will explore all 6 characteristics
of the Derry Accent.
“Disgusting and disgraceful, I’ve an appointment in Tropicana at 12, 15 minutes in this stand
up but sure I’ll not get over the bridge at this rate.
It’s gonna play havoc with my build up.
This is what they want.
They want ordinary people to suffer.
This is what it's all about.”
Comment below which 6 aspects of the Derry Accent you noticed and again if this video
gets 1,000 views within the first 5 days, that's by 11th July 2020, I will publish a
full analysis of the clip that you've just seen.
“So are you, you should be having a lie in love, you’re on your holidays.”
Now to laugh at a terrible Northern Irish accent watch this video.
Or to hear more excellent Derry Girls accents continue with this playlist.
Thanks so much for watching and I’ll see you over here in the next one.