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.