How To Speak English Like Harry Styles

Summary

In this RealLife English lesson, Andrea explores the unique accent of British singer Harry Styles, highlighting its blend of Birmingham, Manchester, and London influences due to his upbringing and lifestyle. She discusses common Northern English accent features, such as the reduction of the H sound and the 'Glottal T,' and contrasts them with Received Pronunciation. The lesson aims to help learners understand and appreciate the diversity of British accents, using Harry Styles as a compelling case study.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Harry Styles is a British singer with a unique accent influenced by his upbringing in Birmingham, Cheshire, and time spent in London and America.
• 🗣️ The UK is home to over 30 different accents and dialects, each with its own characteristics.
• 👂 In Northern English accents, like Harry's, the 'h' sound at the start of words is often reduced or omitted, a feature also found in Cockney English.
• 👉 The 'u' sound in words like 'lucky' and 'us' is pronounced with a short 'uh' sound in Northern English, contrasting with other British accents.
• 🏙️ As you travel further north in England, the 'uh' sound becomes more pronounced, even in regions like Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, and Scotland.
• 🚫 The 't' sound is often omitted in British English, known as a Glottal T, which involves stopping and releasing the flow of air without the 't' sound.
• 🗣️ Harry's accent, like other Northern English accents, shortens the 'a' sound in words like 'last', 'glass', and 'answer', unlike the longer 'a' sound in Southern English accents.
• 📺 The video script suggests using TV series like 'The Office' to learn British English, as laughter can improve cognitive function and make learning more enjoyable.
• 🔗 The script promotes a course called 'Fluent with Friends', which uses 'Friends' to teach English fluency, including vocabulary and access to a global community.
• 👀 The lesson also encourages subscribing to the channel and turning on notifications to keep up with new English learning content.

Q & A

What is the main focus of today's lesson by Andrea?

The main focus of today's lesson is an in-depth analysis of Harry Styles' accent.

What band is Harry Styles known for being a member of?

Harry Styles is known for being a member of the band One Direction.

Where was Harry Styles born and how does it influence his accent?

Harry Styles was born in Birmingham, which is in the Midlands of England, and this influences his accent with some variations from the Birmingham accent.

What other regions has Harry Styles lived in that affect his accent?

Harry Styles' family moved to Cheshire, near Manchester, when he was young, and he has also lived in London and America, which contribute to the variances in his accent.

How many different accents and dialects are there in the UK according to the script?

According to the script, there are more than 30 different accents and dialects in the UK.

What is the typical way Harry Styles reduces the H sound at the start of words?

Harry Styles tends to omit the H sound at the start of words, which is typical of Northern English accents and also found in the Cockney accent.

How does Harry Styles' pronunciation of the U sound differ from other British accents?

In Harry Styles' accent, and typically in Northern England, the U sound is pronounced with a short 'uh' sound, unlike other accents where it might be longer.

What is a Glottal T and how is it used in British English?

A Glottal T is a pronunciation where the T sound is omitted, and instead, the flow of air is stopped and then released, making a sound without the distinct T. It is common in British English, including Northern England.

How does Harry Styles' accent treat the A sound in words like 'last'?

In Harry Styles' accent, and typical of Northern English, the A sound in words like 'last' is shortened, unlike the longer A sound found in some other British accents.

What is the Fluent with Friends course mentioned in the script and what does it offer?

The Fluent with Friends course is a 48-week program that uses the first two seasons of Friends to teach English. It includes PDF power lessons, vocabulary memorization software, access to a global community, and more.

What other resources are recommended for learning about the British accent and common mistakes?

The script recommends checking out a specific lesson that focuses on the British accent and common mistakes, particularly by Americans, in TV series and movies like Friends.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Harry Styles' Accent Analysis

In the first paragraph, Andrea introduces a lesson focused on analyzing the accent of British singer Harry Styles. Born in Birmingham but raised in Cheshire, Harry's accent shows a mix of influences from the Midlands and North West of England. Andrea highlights that the UK has over 30 different accents and dialects, with Harry's accent being particularly interesting due to his time spent in London and America. The lesson aims to explore Harry's accent in depth, starting with his reduction of the H sound at the beginning of words, a trait common in Northern English accents. Examples are provided where Harry omits the H sound, making words like 'he' pronounced as 'e'. This accent feature is contrasted with Received Pronunciation and Cockney accents. The paragraph also encourages viewers to subscribe for more English learning content.

05:01

🗣️ Northern English Accent Features

The second paragraph delves deeper into the Northern English accent characteristics of Harry Styles. It discusses the pronunciation of the 'U' sound, which is shorter and more like 'uh' in words such as 'lucky' and 'us', a feature common in Northern English dialects and further North in Scotland. The paragraph also addresses the Glottal T, a British English phenomenon where the 'T' sound is omitted, creating a glottal stop. This is demonstrated with words like 'better', where the 'T' is not pronounced. The paragraph promotes a course called 'Fluent with Friends', which uses the TV show 'Friends' to teach English, and invites viewers to try it for free.

10:03

📺 British English and Accent Learning Resources

In the third paragraph, the focus shifts to the shortening of the 'A' sound in Northern English, contrasting it with the longer 'A' sound in Southern English accents like London's. Words such as 'last', 'glass', and 'answer' are used to illustrate this difference. The paragraph suggests watching 'The Office' as a way to learn British English through humor, which is beneficial for language learning as it releases endorphins and reduces stress. Additionally, a link is provided for a lesson on common mistakes in British English, particularly by Americans, using examples from popular TV series and movies.

Keywords

💡Accent

An accent is a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typically associated with a particular country, region, or social class. In the video, the focus is on Harry Styles' accent, which is a blend of various regional British accents due to his upbringing in different parts of England. The script discusses how his accent has been influenced by his time in Birmingham, Cheshire, and Manchester, as well as his exposure to American accents through living in the U.S. Examples from the script include the reduction of the 'h' sound and the pronunciation of the 'u' sound, which are characteristic of Northern English accents.

💡Received Pronunciation (RP)

Received Pronunciation, often referred to as the 'BBC English' or 'Oxford English,' is a standard accent of English in the UK. It is widely recognized and is considered neutral or prestigious in certain contexts. The script contrasts Harry Styles' accent with RP, highlighting that he does not speak with this accent but rather with regional inflections. The example given is the pronunciation of 'h' at the start of words, which is often dropped in Northern English accents but maintained in RP.

💡Cockney

Cockney is a traditional East London accent, characterized by its distinctive pronunciation and vocabulary. The script mentions that the reduction of the 'h' sound at the start of words is typical of Northern English accents and also synonymous with the Cockney accent. This is exemplified in the script when discussing how Harry Styles might say 'he's lovely' as '[e's lovely].'

💡Glottal T

A Glottal T refers to a pronunciation feature where the 't' sound is replaced by a glottal stop, a sound produced by closing the glottis. This is common in British English, particularly in casual speech. The script explains that Harry Styles, like many Northern English speakers, uses a Glottal T, as heard in words like 'better,' which might be pronounced without the 't' sound.

💡Northern English

Northern English refers to the accents and dialects spoken in the northern regions of England. The script discusses how Harry Styles' accent reflects Northern English features, such as the reduction of the 'h' sound and the pronunciation of the 'u' sound as 'uh.' These characteristics are illustrated through examples of how he might say words like 'lucky' and 'us.'

💡Birmingham

Birmingham is a city in the West Midlands of England, known for its distinct accent. The script notes that Harry Styles was born in Birmingham, which contributes to the mix of accents in his speech. The Birmingham accent is part of what makes up Harry's unique speech pattern, as heard in the variations from the standard British accent.

💡Cheshire

Cheshire is a county in North West England, near Manchester. The script mentions that Harry Styles' family moved to Cheshire when he was young, which influenced his accent. Cheshire's proximity to Manchester means that the accent there shares some features with the Manchester accent, contributing to the diversity of Harry's speech.

💡Manchester

Manchester is a city in North West England with a strong local accent. The script suggests that living close to Manchester has had an impact on Harry Styles' accent, particularly in the way he pronounces certain vowel sounds, aligning with Northern English speech patterns.

💡London

London is the capital city of England and home to various accents, including Cockney and Received Pronunciation. The script contrasts Harry Styles' accent with those commonly heard in London, highlighting the differences in pronunciation such as the 'a' sound, which is shorter in Northern English accents like Harry's, compared to the longer 'a' sound in London accents.

💡Fluency

Fluency in language refers to the ability to speak or write smoothly and effortlessly. The script discusses the RealLife English fluency coach's aim to help learners achieve fluency in English, particularly in understanding native speakers like Harry Styles. The video's focus on accent variations is intended to enhance viewers' listening skills and fluency by familiarizing them with different pronunciation patterns.

Highlights

Harry Styles' accent is a mix of Birmingham and Manchester accents due to his upbringing.

Harry's accent shows variations due to living in London and America.

There are over 30 different accents and dialects in the UK alone.

Harry often reduces the H sound at the start of words, typical of Northern English accents.

He omits the H sound, as in saying 'e's lovely' instead of 'he's lovely'.

Harry's accent features a short 'uh' sound for the 'u' in words like 'lucky' and 'us'.

The 'uh' sound is common in Northern English and becomes more pronounced the further North you go.

British English often omits the T sound, known as a Glottal T.

Harry uses a Glottal T, so 'better' might sound more like 'be'er'.

Harry's accent shortens the 'a' sound in words like 'last' and 'glass'.

Northern English accents generally have a shorter 'a' sound compared to London accents.

The course 'Fluent with Friends' is recommended for learning English with Friends' episodes.

Harry's accent is a blend of regional British accents influenced by his life experiences.

The lesson provides insights into the nuances of British accents beyond Received Pronunciation.

Harry's speech patterns are analyzed to understand his unique accent.

The lesson offers practical examples of how Harry speaks to illustrate accent features.

The course encourages learning English through engaging with popular culture.

Transcripts

What's up everyone?

I'm Andrea your RealLife English fluency coach

and in today's lesson we're going to be taking an in-depth look at the accent of Harry Styles.

So in case you didn't know Harry Styles is in fact British

he is one of the members of a huge band, One Direction

and he's also most recently forged a very successful solo career.

Now Harry Styles was in fact born in Birmingham

which we say is in the midlands because it's found in the middle of England but

when he was very young his family did move up to the North West

of England very close to Manchester in a place

called Cheshire, so his accent is quite

interesting because you will hear some variations

from the Birmingham accent and the Manchester accent

and also more recently just because he's lived in London

and also America he does have some other variances

to his accent as well it's also really interesting to know that in the UK alone

there are more than 30 different accents and dialects

so while you might not be that familiar with many

because generally in media you maybe hear

the RP the Received Pronunciation accent or a cockney London accent, there

are actually many many more so we're going to be taking

a look at this today and a real in-depth look at Harry Styles

accent in particular.

So before we get into the lesson

I want to let you know that every week we make lessons

to help you learn fast English without getting lost,

without missing the jokes and without subtitles

in fact Akshad says that he didn't realize

it could be so fun to learn new vocabulary,

so if that sounds good to you don't forget to hit that subscribe button and

the bell down below so that you don't miss any of our new lessons.

Okay so the first aspect of Harry's accent that we're going to take a look

at is the way that he reduces the H sound.

at the start of words.

So this is very typical of

Northern English accents but also in other parts of Britain too it's also

synonymous with the cockney accent which is the

East side of London but you definitely won't hear this with

a received pronunciation accent.

So what Harry does is at the start of

words he tends to omit so he doesn't say that first h

sound so rather than saying "he's lovely isn't he?" he says

[e's lovely isn't e]

so let's take a look at how that sounds when he says it.

So there are quite a lot of examples of

when Harry does this for example instead of saying "I met him"

he would probably say [I meh-im]

and this is what natives tend to do to speak

faster and more naturally so sometimes we reduce words

so that it just becomes more fluent and more natural and more

quick to speak.

In the same interview we can find some other things that he

tends to do with the way that he speaks as well for

example another aspect of his accent that is

very Northern English is the way that he says

the U sound in words it's been it's been fun to kind of like

watch over it all so for example when I say

lucky the u has an uh sound and when I say us

again it has an uh sound but with Harry's accent and very typically

in Northern England you will hear more of an uh sound

so it's a short uh sound so he will say lucky and us and

much, so let's take a look and see how that sounds.

So the further North you travel

you will hear this sound whether you are in

Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and even going all the way up to

Scotland they don't say this sound like I would, i'm from London

and we tend not to have this sound when we speak

English but certainly in Northern England

and the further up you go all the way to Scotland they do tend to have this

uh sound sound more like an uh sound you will also hear it in words such as

us, fun and stuff so let's take a look at

how Harry says it because he does say it very differently to me.

Do you still struggle to understand fast speaking natives?

Then I highly recommend our Fluent with Friends course

In this 48 week course you will learn

with the first two seasons of Friends, you'll receive PDF power lessons every

week, vocabulary memorization software access

to our Fluency Circle global community and so much more and the best part is

you can try it right now for free with our three-part Masterclass

all you have to do is click up here or in the description box below

to learn more and sign up now, we hope to see you there!

You might have noticed also that in British English we tend to omit

the T sound in words and this is called a Glottal T

so with a Glottal T what happens is there is still a sound there but you

don't hear the t sound what happens is the flow of air is

stopped and then released so it does make a sound but you won't

hear that t sound so for example in words like better some

people might say better so there is still a sound there

if you can notice it better better all it is is the stopping

of the flow of air and then the releasing of it

so there is still a sound there that's called the Glottal T.

So this is very common in British English

and Northern England is no exception they also speak with a Glottal T and so

does Harry Styles so in some of these interviews he

doesn't say "a lot of," "a little bit" or

"Italy" instead he says it this way:

If you'd like to learn

more about the British accent and common mistakes

made in particular by Americans in our favorite TV series and movies such as

Friends, then I highly recommend that you check

out this lesson next you can click the link here or in the

description box below to watch it straight after this lesson.

Another characteristic of Harry's accent is the shortening of the A sound

so if you've listened to my accent a lot through watching our lessons

or you listen to more accents where they are from London

we tend to have a longer A sound in words such as last,

so Harry does not say this word like this

he says it like this:

So this is very typical of Northern English accents

they have a shorter a sound in these words

and in received pronunciation in RP and in London in general and maybe some

other parts of England, in the south of England

we tend to elongate this sound so I would say

last, I would also say glass, and I would say answer however

Harry does not say these three words like I would.

So there you can hear that it's a short A sound he says

glass, last, answer and so that's very typical of Harry's

accent and Northern English accents aswell.

Let's take a look at the six best TV series to learn British English.

So the first one is The Office

When you laugh your brain releases endorphins yeah your stress hormones

are reduced and the oxygen supply to your blood

is increased so you feel I try and laugh several times a day just because it makes you feel good.