Duncan's Accent
dan wilson
Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
opinion of DM/AP accent?
Kip
Wade Pyro Boger
I'm niether, however, it's my understanding that DM's accent is supposed to
reflect a person who was born Scottish but has been around, because I know
personally, if you hang around an area with an accent significantly
different that yours, oft times you tend to start to pick that accent up some.
I', pretty sure that I read somewhere that Christopher Lambert actually worked
with a linguist in the movie to come up with that accent reflecting his
travels.
Pyro
--
Wade "Pyro" Boger <WXB...@PSU.EDU>
_ Penn State University, Schuykill Campus
, __ ________H__________________________________________________
(@\\o\\=/=+=+=[] ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\
^-^-~~-~~~~~~~H~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ "It's a Kind of Magic"- Highlander
"No time for sanity, chum!"- The Tick
Dayspring
dan wilson <da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote:
>Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
>opinion of DM/AP accent?
>
I'm willing to bet that just about no actor in Hollywood would even
_want_ to try and do a true Scottish Highlands accent. From what I've
heard, a Highlands accent is almost a language to itself. I don't know
that Americans or British folk or just about anyone else could hardly
understand what a person from the Highlands was saying.
I do bet that Duncan's accent is more like someone from the Lowlands.
That's just a bet, but I've heard that Lowlanders are much easier to
understand for someone who is not used to the accent, and so I would
imagine it would be easier to emulate that accent.
Though as to the accuracy of Duncan's accent to a real Scottish accent
(Highlands or Lowlands, or anywhere InBetweenLands :) ) I couldn't say.
As much as I like the movie though... I'll bet it's a _LOT_ closer than
Christopher Lambert's (Christophe Lambear :) ). Go figure... they have
a Frenchman playing a Scot, and a Scot playing an Egyptian Spaniard. :)
Matt
P.S. Something to ponder... Did you know that Bob Hoskins (sp?) from Who
Framed Roger Rabbit (among other movies) is from England, and normally
speaks with a strong British accent. He does a better Brooklyn accent
than somebody from Brooklyn! :)
--
Dayspring |_______________________________
@XXXXXXXXXX||____________________________//
| mmn...@vms.cis.pitt.edu
Jon Pertwee (1919-1996) Rest in Peace.
They fought like warrior-poets... they
fought like Scots...
PAK
This damn computer tells me that <325606...@cyberg8t.com>, dan wilson
<da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote this (personally I don't know whether to
believe it!!!!!!!)
>Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
>opinion of DM/AP accent?
>
>Kip
better over the years but....Well his narration for Season 1 is bloody
awful for want of a better word. In my opinion the only people who can
do realistic Scottish accents are people born in Scotland who have grown
up listening to others with the accent and speak that way themselves.
Anyone else trying it always sounds like a parody. It's the same with
all accents.
Paul/Knxoy
--
{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}
{ ___ __ _ _ __ }
{ ( ,\ ( ) ( )( )( ) "Yes, bugger all that." said Nanny }
{ ) _/ /__\ )()( )(__ "Let's curse somebody." }
{ (_) (_)(_) \__/ (____) }
{ Pa...@ingsoc.demon.co.uk WYRD SISTERS - PTerry }
{ or paul...@UNN.ac.uk }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eugenie MT
In article <5352ln$s...@usenet.srv.cis.pitt.edu>, Dayspring
<mmn...@vms.cis.pitt.edu> writes:
>As much as I like the movie though... I'll bet it's a _LOT_ closer than
>Christopher Lambert's (Christophe Lambear :) ). Go figure... they have
>a Frenchman playing a Scot, and a Scot playing an Egyptian Spaniard. :)
My thoughts exactly!! If only Sean Connery had been a little younger
at the time Widen came up with the Highlander. He would have made an
excellent Connor MacLeod. Sorry CL fans, but that accent of his bugged
me. It wouldn't have been so bad (I think) if Sean Connery hadn't been
right there for contrast in the movie. All I kept thinking was
"Why is he playing Ramirez? HE should be the Highlander!"
It reminded me of how I felt watching the Robin Hood movie with
Kevin Costner mutillating an English accent in between scenes where
he sounded as American as could be. Ruined the picture. Even the guy
playing the Sheriff (with wickedly good humor) couldn't save it.
>Matt
>P.S. Something to ponder... Did you know that Bob Hoskins (sp?) from Who
>Framed Roger Rabbit (among other movies) is from England, and normally
>speaks with a strong British accent. He does a better Brooklyn accent
>than somebody from Brooklyn! :)
I really enjoyed Bob Hoskins in that movie. He does do a great
New York accent.
Eugenie MT
It is the wise woman that keeps her head
when all about her are losing theirs.
@ There can be only one
@###{}=========================>
@ May it be Duncan MacLeod,
The Highlander
Jette Goldie
dan wilson <da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote:
>Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
>opinion of DM/AP accent?
>Kip
Passable at a pinch - and a good deal better than Scotty's from ST
<g>. Don't get me started on Rachel MacLeod though.
Jette
*************************************************
*Bosslady
*Nemo Me Impune Lacessit(dinnae gie me ony lip,
*or ye're heid's mine)
*
* http://www.ednet.co.uk/~bosslady/
* site of the Highlander Fan's Tour of Scotland *
*
* Now rehearsing with the SJDKAHB
* (Female Vocalist)
*************************************************
Jette Goldie
Dayspring <mmn...@vms.cis.pitt.edu> wrote:
>dan wilson <da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote:
>>Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
>>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
>>opinion of DM/AP accent?
>>
>>Kip
>I'm willing to bet that just about no actor in Hollywood would even
>_want_ to try and do a true Scottish Highlands accent. From what I've
>heard, a Highlands accent is almost a language to itself. I don't know
>that Americans or British folk or just about anyone else could hardly
>understand what a person from the Highlands was saying.
Bzzzt!!! Wrong!! The Highland accent is one of the most easily
understood. They speak English _beautifully_ (after all it isn't
their first tongue) with a delicate lilt. Actually a language teacher
I used to know said that "if you want to learn English well, go the
Scottish Highlands". However Aberdeen and it's surrounds is another
matter. Other SCOTS don't understand that one!! <g>
>I do bet that Duncan's accent is more like someone from the Lowlands.
>That's just a bet, but I've heard that Lowlanders are much easier to
>understand for someone who is not used to the accent, and so I would
>imagine it would be easier to emulate that accent.
Nothing like a Lowlands accent. I have a Lowlands accent. I also
speak in the Lowlands dialect (Highlanders speak English - Lowlanders
speak 'Braid Scots'). A Lowlander in full flow is much harder to
understand than a Highlander speaking English.
>Though as to the accuracy of Duncan's accent to a real Scottish accent
>(Highlands or Lowlands, or anywhere InBetweenLands :) ) I couldn't say.
>As much as I like the movie though... I'll bet it's a _LOT_ closer than
>Christopher Lambert's (Christophe Lambear :) ). Go figure... they have
>a Frenchman playing a Scot, and a Scot playing an Egyptian Spaniard. :)
Oh, LOTS closer!! <vbg> I don't know what the dialogue coach was
doing on HL1 but it certainly wasn't earning his/her fee!!!
Jette Goldie
euge...@aol.com (Eugenie MT) wrote:
>In article <5352ln$s...@usenet.srv.cis.pitt.edu>, Dayspring
><mmn...@vms.cis.pitt.edu> writes:
>>As much as I like the movie though... I'll bet it's a _LOT_ closer than
>>Christopher Lambert's (Christophe Lambear :) ). Go figure... they have
>>a Frenchman playing a Scot, and a Scot playing an Egyptian Spaniard. :)
>My thoughts exactly!! If only Sean Connery had been a little younger
>at the time Widen came up with the Highlander. He would have made an
>excellent Connor MacLeod. Sorry CL fans, but that accent of his bugged
>me. It wouldn't have been so bad (I think) if Sean Connery hadn't been
>right there for contrast in the movie. All I kept thinking was
>"Why is he playing Ramirez? HE should be the Highlander!"
>It reminded me of how I felt watching the Robin Hood movie with
>Kevin Costner mutillating an English accent in between scenes where
>he sounded as American as could be. Ruined the picture. Even the guy
>playing the Sheriff (with wickedly good humor) couldn't save it.
Heh! Sean only HAS one accent - his own (gotta love him though).
What ruined the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves movie for me was not
Kevin's accent - we Brits are used to Yanks mutilating our tongue <bg>
but the awful errors in history and geography.
For instance - early on Robin and his Saracen friend arrive on the
south coast (near Dover - those cliffs are a giveaway) and Robin
announces "We will be in my father's castle by nightfall". Hmmm, his
horse is jet propelled? Dover to Nottingham takes all day in a modern
motor car - it was about a three week journey in Robin's time. Plus
they seemed to go via Hadrian's Wall - another few hundred miles north
of Nottingham (I recognised the scenery).
Then those 'Wild Scotsmen'!!!! AAAARRRRH!!!! By the 13th Century the
Picts were dead and gone!!! Woad belongs to Roman times, not the
Middle Ages!!!
Urgh! I really HATED that movie.
Jette Goldie
PAK <Pa...@ingsoc.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>This damn computer tells me that <325606...@cyberg8t.com>, dan wilson
><da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote this (personally I don't know whether to
>believe it!!!!!!!)
>>Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
>>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
>>opinion of DM/AP accent?
>>
>>Kip
>As someone from south of the wall, I think his Scottish accent has got
>better over the years but....Well his narration for Season 1 is bloody
>awful for want of a better word. In my opinion the only people who can
>do realistic Scottish accents are people born in Scotland who have grown
>up listening to others with the accent and speak that way themselves.
>Anyone else trying it always sounds like a parody. It's the same with
>all accents.
>Paul/Knxoy
yeah, I wouldn't even ATTEMPT a Geordie accent!! (and you should hear
my 'Sawf Lundun' accent) (where AP is from)
Dayspring
boss...@ednet.co.uk (Jette Goldie) wrote:
>Dayspring <mmn...@vms.cis.pitt.edu> wrote:
>
>>dan wilson <da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote:
>>>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
>>>opinion of DM/AP accent?
>>>
>>>Kip
>
>>_want_ to try and do a true Scottish Highlands accent. From what I've
>>heard, a Highlands accent is almost a language to itself. I don't know
>>that Americans or British folk or just about anyone else could hardly
>>understand what a person from the Highlands was saying.
>
>Bzzzt!!! Wrong!! The Highland accent is one of the most easily
>understood. They speak English _beautifully_ (after all it isn't
>their first tongue) with a delicate lilt. Actually a language teacher
>I used to know said that "if you want to learn English well, go the
>Scottish Highlands". However Aberdeen and it's surrounds is another
>matter. Other SCOTS don't understand that one!! <g>
[snip]
>Jette
Then all my secondhand comments are cheerfully withdrawn. :) (except the
HL1 accents :) I think we can all agree on that!). Just goes to show
you that heresay is no alternative to living in the land... (darn it
Jette! You are soooo lucky!! :) )
Matt
Regina Michelle Wilhelm
On 5 Oct 1996, Dayspring wrote:
> dan wilson <da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote:
> >Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
> >from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
> >opinion of DM/AP accent?
> >
> >Kip
>
> I'm willing to bet that just about no actor in Hollywood would even
> _want_ to try and do a true Scottish Highlands accent. From what I've
> heard, a Highlands accent is almost a language to itself. I don't know
> that Americans or British folk or just about anyone else could hardly
> understand what a person from the Highlands was saying.
>
> I do bet that Duncan's accent is more like someone from the Lowlands.
> That's just a bet, but I've heard that Lowlanders are much easier to
> understand for someone who is not used to the accent, and so I would
> imagine it would be easier to emulate that accent.
>
> Though as to the accuracy of Duncan's accent to a real Scottish accent
> (Highlands or Lowlands, or anywhere InBetweenLands :) ) I couldn't say.
>
> As much as I like the movie though... I'll bet it's a _LOT_ closer than
> Christopher Lambert's (Christophe Lambear :) ). Go figure... they have
> a Frenchman playing a Scot, and a Scot playing an Egyptian Spaniard. :)
Here's something else to ponder: Anyone ever see "Mortal
Kombat?" It's a great movie if you don't want a real story but you like
techno music. Anyway, Our good buddy Christopher Lambert is playing a
Chinese god. A white, French-accented Chinese god. Wait for the line
about the Bizarre powers. It's hilarious!
Personally, I don't care how appropriate Adrian Paul's accent is
(Highlands or otherwise), I like it. :) I especially like the variable
thinknessin the flashbacks. Now, when it's the present, is it more faint
British or faint Scottish? Also, I seem to recall his accent in a
flashback in "Family Tree" was Amer'can. Anyone have avideo and wanna
tell me fer sure?
Oh, one other thing: In "Love Potion No. 9", a not necessarily
good movie starring Sandra Bullock, he plays an Italian noble-type. Ooh,
that was vurry nice. She jilts him, though. I'D take him. >:)
> --
> Dayspring |_______________________________
> @XXXXXXXXXX||____________________________//
> | mmn...@vms.cis.pitt.edu
>
> Jon Pertwee (1919-1996) Rest in Peace.
>
> They fought like warrior-poets... they
> fought like Scots...
>
Reggie :)
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Banzai88
In article <32584...@mozart.ednet.co.uk>, boss...@ednet.co.uk (Jette
Goldie) writes:
>>As much as I like the movie though... I'll bet it's a _LOT_ closer than
>>Christopher Lambert's (Christophe Lambear :) ). Go figure... they have
>>a Frenchman playing a Scot, and a Scot playing an Egyptian Spaniard. :)
>
>Oh, LOTS closer!! <vbg> I don't know what the dialogue coach was
>doing on HL1 but it certainly wasn't earning his/her fee!!!
Well, they managed to make it sound like he could speak english.
According to the extras on the LD, he couldn't say much more than "Hello"
when he signed for the part. (much to their surprise!)
Chris
Banz...@aol.com
][
@#####|)======================>
][
"Certifiable, and damned proud of it!"
- Dick Solomon
Kip Allen
Jette Goldie wrote:
>
> PAK <Pa...@ingsoc.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >This damn computer tells me that <325606...@cyberg8t.com>, dan wilson
> ><da...@cyberg8t.com> wrote this (personally I don't know whether to
> >believe it!!!!!!!)
> >>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
> >>opinion of DM/AP accent?
> >>
> >>Kip
> >better over the years but....Well his narration for Season 1 is bloody
> >awful for want of a better word. In my opinion the only people who can
> >do realistic Scottish accents are people born in Scotland who have grown
> >up listening to others with the accent and speak that way themselves.
> >Anyone else trying it always sounds like a parody. It's the same with
> >all accents.
>
> >Paul/Knxoy
>
> yeah, I wouldn't even ATTEMPT a Geordie accent!! (and you should hear
> my 'Sawf Lundun' accent) (where AP is from)
>
> Jette
>
My accent must be a lulu. I was born in Illinois, raised in Missouri,
lived and worked in New York, Iowa and Alabama and have lived in
California for the last 15 years.
Kip
Monkysquat
In article <53i5rh$g...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, banz...@aol.com (Banzai88)
writes:
>
>In article <32584...@mozart.ednet.co.uk>, boss...@ednet.co.uk (Jette
>Goldie) writes:
>
>>>As much as I like the movie though... I'll bet it's a _LOT_ closer than
>>>Christopher Lambert's (Christophe Lambear :) ). Go figure... they
have
>
>>>a Frenchman playing a Scot, and a Scot playing an Egyptian Spaniard. :)
>>
>>Oh, LOTS closer!! <vbg> I don't know what the dialogue coach was
>>doing on HL1 but it certainly wasn't earning his/her fee!!!
>
>Well, they managed to make it sound like he could speak english.
>According to the extras on the LD, he couldn't say much more than "Hello"
>when he signed for the part. (much to their surprise!)
Well he had never spoken English until he made Greystoke, and
let's face it there wasn't alot of him speaking in it either! Mostly
grunting, howling, and making monkey sounds. When you
hear him in an interview his accent is far stronger and his
english is kind of broken.
Tim
Simon Morgan
In message <325606...@cyberg8t.com>da...@cyberg8t.com, da...@cyberg8t.com said:
> ==========
> alt.tv.highlander #13, 831 chars, Oct 4 23:55 96
> From: da...@cyberg8t.com,
> ----------
>Article: 49797 of alt.tv.highlander
>Path: cix.compulink.co.uk!news.compulink.co.uk!dispatch.news.demon.net!demon!arclight.uoregon.edu!news-peer.gsl.net!news.gsl.net!howland.erols.net!newsfeed.
>internetmci.com!news-in2.uu.net!news.cyberg8t.com!usenet
>From: dan wilson <da...@cyberg8t.com>
>Newsgroups: alt.tv.highlander
>Subject: Duncan's Accent
>Date: Fri, 04 Oct 1996 23:55:48 -0700
>Organization: Cyberg8t Internet Services (800) 399-4NET
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>Message-ID: <325606...@cyberg8t.com>
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>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0b6Gold (Win16; I)
>
>Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
>from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
>opinion of DM/AP accent?
>I find as someone from the south of Hadrian's wall AP uses a very curious
lowland accent for a highlander. But there is the fascinating idea that
the producers have used of letting the original, say French, accent of a
immortal character elide into a mid Atlantic one for present day episodes.
Am I correct in believing that AP is also half Italian - hence some very
odd vowel sounds from time to time. I assume he is bilingual. Does DM
ever go to Rome?
Penny
>Kip
>
Leon A. Helguera
My question about his early years doesn't have to do with
his accent but with his language! In the late 1500's and
early 1600's people in Scotland ( particularly the more
rural Highlands) spoke Scottish which ( at that point) was
<much> closer to Irish Gaelic with virtually <no>
relationship to English. It was only in the decades
following the Stuarts succession to the English throne
that there was a concerted effort to wipe out the
Scots language north of Hadrian's Wall.
So why isn't AP ( AKA DM) and his Highland clan
speaking in <Scottish> during the early 1600's flashbacks?
I mean,if you're going to have the right clothes and
accent why not the right <language> for that time?
Or do the producers not think that we could ( or would)
read subtitles? Just asking. .
Walk Proud and Far,
Leon
Claire Maier
Simon Morgan (p...@cix.compulink.co.uk) wrote:
: >Duncan is Scottish, but Adrian Paul is English. I know we have folks
: >from the UK from both sides of Hadrian's wall in this NG. What is your
: >opinion of DM/AP accent?
:
: >I find as someone from the south of Hadrian's wall AP uses a very curious
: lowland accent for a highlander. But there is the fascinating idea that
: the producers have used of letting the original, say French, accent of a
: immortal character elide into a mid Atlantic one for present day episodes.
:
: Am I correct in believing that AP is also half Italian - hence some very
: odd vowel sounds from time to time. I assume he is bilingual. Does DM
: ever go to Rome?
Yes, AP is half Italian, but Italian has very pure vowel sounds, not odd
ones. I've heard it said that Adrian's accent in English is East End
London. (Adrian also speaks fluent French, but who knows what that accent
is like?)
Duncan's present day accent is supposed to be unplaceable American with a
hint of Scottish lilt.
Adrian's mother is from Florence, and his Italian (and yes, he did grow up
bilingual) has a Florentine accent. Adrian has been to Rome on vacations,
but he hasn't spent much time there. He's spent a lot of time in the
Florence area, visiting his maternal relatives.
Kip Allen
Claire Maier wrote:
> Duncan's present day accent is supposed to be unplaceable American with a
> hint of Scottish lilt.
His accent is no more American than mine is Scottish.
Kip
Barbara J. Nelson
I wouldn't say that I'd actually be unhappy if they used the correct
language and used subtitles. Obviously that would make it more authentic.
However, I am much happier that they use english most of the time so I can
concentrate on watching the faces, etc..., instead of looking down at the
bottom reading the text. Also, it's nice to play my tapes when I'm working
around the house - more listening than actually watching.
-----------------------------------------
BJ :) --------,'---{@
bne...@airmail.net
---------------
A Thought for the Day:
ON DEEP THOUGHTS
A day without sunshine is like night.
Leon A. Helguera <helg...@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu> wrote in article
<325FDB...@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu>...
Dorneman
Leon A. Helguera wrote:
> So why isn't AP ( AKA DM) and his Highland clan
> speaking in <Scottish> during the early 1600's flashbacks?
> I mean,if you're going to have the right clothes and
> accent why not the right <language> for that time?
> Or do the producers not think that we could ( or would)
> read subtitles? Just asking. .
Because it's a relatively low budget TV show with a limited shooting
schedule and tight production times, not a theatrical movie with the
luxury of time and a budget for translators. Neither is it a
documentary on Celtic life.
Besides, I don't believe the average American viewer of syndicated fare
reads subtitles.
Dail42rt
In article <326668...@sprintmail.com>, Dorneman
<dorn...@sprintmail.com> writes:
>
>Besides, I don't believe the average American viewer of syndicated fare
>reads subtitles.
>
>
No, but if you let me look at the pictures, I'll try to keep up.
Dail
Adrian Penalo
About this thread. It also bothers me to see that Duncan MacLeod is
Scottish, and when he was younger (less than 200 years old) he had a
very pronunced accent. But now in the 20th century he doesn't even
sound like a Brittain. Talking about loosing his accent, ah!
--
Adrian Penalo (FIU)
Computer Engineering
Miami, FL (USA)
Dawn C.
Well he is over 400 years old.. time enough to have it weaken since he's
not been in Scotland
RosebudSal
In article <32698B...@fiu.edu>, Adrian Penalo <apen...@fiu.edu>
writes:
>
>About this thread. It also bothers me to see that Duncan MacLeod is
>Scottish, and when he was younger (less than 200 years old) he had a
>very pronunced accent. But now in the 20th century he doesn't even
>sound like a Brittain. Talking about loosing his accent, ah!
>
>
Well, Duncan was born in Scotland. Unfortunately, AP wasn't or else he
could play Duncan with a genuine accdent. I've met quite a few people from
foreign countries who have no accent. My best friend's
boyfriend is German, and almost sounds like an American. He spent
a few years here when he was a kid and the past year at Harvard Law
school.
When I met him I was astounded that he barely had an accent. So I think
it's completely plausible for an accent to fade over time.
Duncan has also traveled and learned many other languages, it makes
total sense for him to lose much of his original accent.
Maria
ruthe
Adrian Penalo wrote:
>
> About this thread. It also bothers me to see that Duncan MacLeod is
> Scottish, and when he was younger (less than 200 years old) he had a
> very pronunced accent. But now in the 20th century he doesn't even
> sound like a Brittain. Talking about loosing his accent, ah!
>
> Adrian Penalo (FIU)
> Computer Engineering
> Miami, FL (USA)
The accent fading was a deliberate decision by the producers, directly
related to the amount of time Duncan *didn't* spend in Scotland. As a
matter of fact, if you watch older episodes with this in mind, you can
see the evolution (devolution?), with the accent growing fainter in the
1700s and 1800s, and completely gone in this century. To paraphrase AP,
Duncan now sounds like any well-traveled, multi-lingual European.
And to back up the logic, my kid brother and I grew up in NY and moved
to New England when he was six - he has an NY accent on certain words
(coffee, car, dog), NE on others (ok, Boston, park, haaavahd), and
Maryland (where he lived for eight years) on still others!
That help?
ruthe
July
Adrian Penalo wrote:
>
> About this thread. It also bothers me to see that Duncan MacLeod is
> Scottish, and when he was younger (less than 200 years old) he had a
> very pronunced accent. But now in the 20th century he doesn't even
> sound like a Brittain. Talking about loosing his accent, ah!
>
> --
> Adrian Penalo (FIU)
> Computer Engineering
> Miami, FL (USA)
Well, my take on this is that he hasn't actually lived in Scotland for 200
years and people who move from one country or state to another tend to pick
up the accent of where they live now, esp. after a number of years. I for
one, grew up in Hawaii and we have a definate accent (Pigin English) that is
unique to the Islands. But, I've been living in California for 10 years and
hardly have that accent anymore. If Duncan still lived in Scotland, he would
still have a Scottish accent. Since he has mostly been in the US and Western
Europe, he picked up the accents of thoes places. JMHO.
-July
pyotr filipivich
And then there was Brian. Veddy British, when he was born he
was 6 pounds two and six. Definate English accent, which he clung to as
"the proper way to Speak the Queen's English", as opposed to the
manglings committed by colonialists or former colonialists.
Till he went home on holiday. And all his Brittish friends
sayid "Brian, you sound like an American!"
Duncan probably thinks he speaks like a proper Scot, but I'd
wager that werre he to return to the family croft - his family would
say "Duncan, you sound like a bloody Sassach!" Not to mention a certian
dismay at his outlandish clothing. (20th century European vs 16 century
highlaner.)
tschus
pyotr
--
"If once a man indulges himself in Murder, very soon he comes to think
little of Robbing, and from Robbing he comes next to Drinking and
Sabbath-breaking, and from that to Incivility and Procrastination." T.
De Quincy (1785-1859) "Murder Considered As One of the Fine Arts"
Joshua Jasper
In article <54dvk9$g...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>,
RosebudSal <roseb...@aol.com> wrote:
>In article <32698B...@fiu.edu>, Adrian Penalo <apen...@fiu.edu>
>writes:
>
>>
>>Scottish, and when he was younger (less than 200 years old) he had a
>>very pronunced accent. But now in the 20th century he doesn't even
>>sound like a Brittain. Talking about loosing his accent, ah!
>>
>>
>
>could play Duncan with a genuine accdent. I've met quite a few people from
>foreign countries who have no accent. My best friend's
>boyfriend is German, and almost sounds like an American. He spent
>a few years here when he was a kid and the past year at Harvard Law
>school.
>When I met him I was astounded that he barely had an accent. So I think
>it's completely plausible for an accent to fade over time.
>
>Duncan has also traveled and learned many other languages, it makes
>total sense for him to lose much of his original accent.
>
>Maria
I lived in Singapore for 12 years as an adolescent. I lost alot
of the NY/Long Island speech paterns. I guess my accent could be
classified as 'north eastern American'. I could see how DM could loose
alot of his accent.
Sinboy
M. Jenkins
Adrian Penalo <apen...@fiu.edu> wrote:
>About this thread. It also bothers me to see that Duncan MacLeod is
>Scottish, and when he was younger (less than 200 years old) he had a
>very pronunced accent. But now in the 20th century he doesn't even
>sound like a Brittain. Talking about loosing his accent, ah!
Actually, I think the fact that his accent has changed over the years
is very realistic. He hasn't lived in Scotland for a very long time.
When you live in a new place for a while, you start to lose some of
your old accent and pick up a little of the accent that you've started
hearing. I say this from experience. Duncan's been living in North
America for a long time, he shouldn't really sound Scottish anymore.
Now if you want to talk about a bad accent, how about in the first
season episode The Sea Witch. In the flashback Duncan is speaking
English with a Russian accent. Where did that come from? Now if he'd
been speaking Russian with an English accent, well not too many people
would have understood it. But at least I wouldn't have been listening
to it and saying "Why did they do that?" But it was the first half of
the first season, and anything really stupid that happened is because
the Highlander people were going through a learning process. I don't
think they repeated this particular mistake the next time they did a
flashback to Russia.
Mimo
**************************************************************
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The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground
and miss.
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Life, the Universe and Everything
**************************************************************
Eugenie MT
In article <54g9id$5...@head.globalcom.net>, mjen...@shentel.net (M.
Jenkins) writes:
>Now if you want to talk about a bad accent, how about in the first
>season episode The Sea Witch. In the flashback Duncan is speaking
>English with a Russian accent. Where did that come from? Now if he'd
>been speaking Russian with an English accent, well not too many people
>would have understood it. But at least I wouldn't have been listening
>to it and saying "Why did they do that?" But it was the first half of
>the first season, and anything really stupid that happened is because
>the Highlander people were going through a learning process. I don't
>think they repeated this particular mistake the next time they did a
>flashback to Russia.
>
>Mimo
>
>*
What I came up with is they thought DM speaking English
with a Russian accent would indicate that he was really speaking
Russian without having to do the scene with subtitles.My 2nd guess
is DM was passing himself off as a Russian so when he spoke
English he did it with an accent.(I could be Really off on this
last guess because I don't remember that ep too well, so
I don't know if he was trying to pass for Russian or not.)
Kathleen Kelley
Eugenie MT wrote:
>
> In article <54g9id$5...@head.globalcom.net>, mjen...@shentel.net (M.
> Jenkins) writes:
>
> >Now if you want to talk about a bad accent, how about in the first
> >season episode The Sea Witch. In the flashback Duncan is speaking
> >English with a Russian accent. Where did that come from? Now if he'd
> >been speaking Russian with an English accent, well not too many people
> >would have understood it. But at least I wouldn't have been listening
> >to it and saying "Why did they do that?" But it was the first half of
> >the first season, and anything really stupid that happened is because
> >the Highlander people were going through a learning process. I don't
> >think they repeated this particular mistake the next time they did a
> >flashback to Russia.
> >
> >Mimo
> >
> >*
>
> What I came up with is they thought DM speaking English
> with a Russian accent would indicate that he was really speaking
> Russian without having to do the scene with subtitles.My 2nd guess
> is DM was passing himself off as a Russian so when he spoke
> English he did it with an accent.(I could be Really off on this
> last guess because I don't remember that ep too well, so
> I don't know if he was trying to pass for Russian or not.)
Or, the accent may have been to indicate that he
had been in Russia for a long time.
--
Kathleen [kke...@microserve.net]
Good must always triumph over evil. Did you not know that?
Highlander Store: 1(800)280-9331 Adrian Paul Fan Club: peac...@aol.com
Highlander Web Sites: http://www.rysher.com/highlander/
http://www.highlander-official.com/
[FAQ] http://mithral.iit.edu:8080/highlander/
TV Program Guide: http://www.tmstv.com/cgi-bin/quest/whatson
Music: Dust in the Wind [Kansas] Princes of the Universe [Queen]
Cyra4
Well, in the Adrian tapes, DM says that TPTB weren't sure what to do about
his accent (hence, the Sea Witch problem) so they decided in the second
season to have him have the scottish accent in all flashbacks up until the
time he came to America (I think sometime in the early 1800's), After that
he would have his current accent in flashbacks - I hope that makes sense.
Peace,
Dina
Adrian Penalo wrote:
>
> About this thread. It also bothers me to see that Duncan MacLeod is
> Scottish, and when he was younger (less than 200 years old) he had a
> very pronunced accent. But now in the 20th century he doesn't even
> sound like a Brittain. Talking about loosing his accent, ah!
>
Jette Goldie
"Leon A. Helguera" <helg...@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu> wrote:
>My question about his early years doesn't have to do with
>his accent but with his language! In the late 1500's and
>early 1600's people in Scotland ( particularly the more
>rural Highlands) spoke Scottish which ( at that point) was
><much> closer to Irish Gaelic with virtually <no>
>relationship to English. It was only in the decades
>following the Stuarts succession to the English throne
>that there was a concerted effort to wipe out the
>Scots language north of Hadrian's Wall.
> So why isn't AP ( AKA DM) and his Highland clan
>speaking in <Scottish> during the early 1600's flashbacks?
>I mean,if you're going to have the right clothes and
>accent why not the right <language> for that time?
>Or do the producers not think that we could ( or would)
>read subtitles? Just asking. .
> Walk Proud and Far,
> Leon
No, Leon, *I* speak *Scottish*, Duncan would have spoken Gaelic: and
the reason we don't hear him speak it is the same reason we don't hear
him speak French in Paris - the magical TV Translator. Most of us do
not speak Gaelic ( or French). so the dialogue is translated for us.
(Scottish - Braid Scots - is spoken by the Lowland Scots. Highlanders
are Gaels. Different people)
HL fan
"Leon A. Helguera" <helg...@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu> wrote:
>My question about his early years doesn't have to do with
>his accent but with his language! In the late 1500's and
>early 1600's people in Scotland ( particularly the more
>rural Highlands) spoke Scottish which ( at that point) was
><much> closer to Irish Gaelic with virtually <no>
>relationship to English. It was only in the decades
>following the Stuarts succession to the English throne
>that there was a concerted effort to wipe out the
>Scots language north of Hadrian's Wall.
> So why isn't AP ( AKA DM) and his Highland clan
>speaking in <Scottish> during the early 1600's flashbacks?
>I mean,if you're going to have the right clothes and
>accent why not the right <language> for that time?
>Or do the producers not think that we could ( or would)
>read subtitles? Just asking. .
> Walk Proud and Far,
> Leon
My question is then: How can Mia Peeples in Pharoh's Daughter, come
out of a casket after 2000 years, and speak perfect english? Come on,
live a little. Give the writers a chance. they can't cover
everything.
Queenie
And on the same dead horse, when Rebecca finds Amanda, they speak English.
But of course, there was no English language in 850 AD, except for Anglo-
Saxon. And since there are precious few people alive today who could
understand that language, English is what we get.
Besides, subtitles would get old after a while!
Queenie
Regina orbis terrarum
Ghostdancer
Queenie <lrobi...@qnet.com> wrote in article <327448...@qnet.com>...
> mot...@mclv.net, HL, fan wrote:
>
> And on the same dead horse, when Rebecca finds Amanda, they speak
English.
> But of course, there was no English language in 850 AD, except for Anglo-
> Saxon. And since there are precious few people alive today who could
> understand that language, English is what we get.
>
> Besides, subtitles would get old after a while!
>
> Queenie
> Regina orbis terrarum
Right, who wants to look at subtitles when there is Duncan to look at! Also
consider that in the US, there are too many people (excluding most of the
participants of this NG who happen to be very literate) who are
functionally illiterate.
Sousuemee
What's the point if you don't LOOK at Duncan?
Dayspring
Queenie <lrobi...@qnet.com> wrote:
>mot...@mclv.net, HL, fan wrote:
[snip, I hope I got the attributions right, sorry to those involved if I
didn't]
>> My question is then: How can Mia Peeples in Pharoh's Daughter, come
>> out of a casket after 2000 years, and speak perfect english? Come on,
>> live a little. Give the writers a chance. they can't cover
>> everything.
Latin! Both Duncan and Nefertiti (sp?) would be able to speak Latin, and
(with a little imagination) that's a pretty good bet (just translated for
our convenience, and to save a little on subtitles :) )
(Do ya not know Latin? Well... that's something we shall have to remedy,
isn't it?)
>And on the same dead horse, when Rebecca finds Amanda, they speak English.
>But of course, there was no English language in 850 AD, except for Anglo-
>Saxon. And since there are precious few people alive today who could
>understand that language, English is what we get.
>
>Besides, subtitles would get old after a while!
>
>Queenie
>Regina orbis terrarum
There's lots of reasons not to go with the real languages. Subtitles get
old. It's lots of work for actors who have to phonetically learn the
script. And generally, the accents would be _horrible_, which would be
pretty distracting to the few people who would know the language.
It's interesting to note that originally Adrian Paul wanted to do lots of
accents for the role, but I suppose they dropped that, because then it
gives the idea that they really were speaking English, and other reasons
(like bad accents again, although AP did a pretty good job in the episode
with the Russian guy, can't remember the title... um first season
definately)
Matt
--
Dayspring |_______________________________
@XXXXXXXXXX||____________________________//
| mmn...@vms.cis.pitt.edu
Jon Pertwee (1919-1996) Rest in Peace.
They fought like warrior-poets... they
fought like Scots...
Leon A. Helguera
Jette Goldie wrote:
*>
*> "Leon A. Helguera" <helg...@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu> wrote:
*>
*> >My question about his early years doesn't have to do with
*> >his accent but with his language! In the late 1500's and
*> >early 1600's people in Scotland ( particularly the more
*> >rural Highlands) spoke Scottish which ( at that point) was
*> ><much> closer to Irish Gaelic with virtually <no>
*> >relationship to English. It was only in the decades
*> >following the Stuarts succession to the English throne
*> >that there was a concerted effort to wipe out the
*> >Scots language north of Hadrian's Wall.
*> > So why isn't AP ( AKA DM) and his Highland clan
*> >speaking in <Scottish> during the early 1600's flashbacks?
*> >I mean,if you're going to have the right clothes and
*> >accent why not the right <language> for that time?
*> >Or do the producers not think that we could ( or would)
*> >read subtitles? Just asking. .
*> > Walk Proud and Far,
*> > Leon
*> No, Leon, *I* speak *Scottish*, Duncan would have spoken Gaelic: and
*> the reason we don't hear him speak it is the same reason we don't
*hear
*> him speak French in Paris - the magical TV Translator. Most of us do
*> not speak Gaelic ( or French). so the dialogue is translated for us.
*>
*> (Scottish - Braid Scots - is spoken by the Lowland Scots.
*Highlanders
*> are Gaels. Different people)
*>
*> Jette
*> *************************************************
*> *Bosslady
*> *Nemo Me Impune Lacessit(dinnae gie me ony lip,
**> *or ye're heid's mine)*> * site of the Highlander Fan's Tour of Scotland
*> *
*> * Now rehearsing with the SJDKAHB
*> *************************************************
Bienvenidos Bosslady,
Thanks for making that distinction clear! It's good to hear from
an authority on the subject! I know all about the Magical Dramaitc
Translator but I just think it wouldn't have hurt for us to have gotten
more of the <true> feel for whence Duncan emerged to have heard him in
Gaelic.
I was actually hoping that <you> would add your imput on this one
since you are in a better position than most of us! You came through for
us beautifully! I appreciate your reply.
NICHOLAS SPIES
As for Duncans accent and the issue of subtitles. I would like to see
subtitles occasionally. I admit they get they do get old and hard to
read after a while but I love to hear other languages spoken. Sometimes
I pop in the Godfather in the old V.C.R. just to hear Italien spoken so
naturally. So I hope they would let immies speak other languages because
living here in Louisville I don't get to hear other languages that
often.
Valerie
(Yuri Sorceress of the Wicker People)
P.S. How would I get a permantent signature for my messages using
Netscape 2.02. I have haven't used Netscape before so I'm still learning
my way around it.
Katherine Tanaka
NICHOLAS SPIES wrote:
>
> As for Duncans accent and the issue of subtitles. I would like to see
> subtitles occasionally. I admit they get they do get old and hard to
> read after a while but I love to hear other languages spoken. Sometimes
> I pop in the Godfather in the old V.C.R. just to hear Italien spoken so
> naturally. So I hope they would let immies speak other languages because
> living here in Louisville I don't get to hear other languages that
> often.
> Valerie
> (Yuri Sorceress of the Wicker People)
Louisville, KY, I presume?
Rent some foreign films! (gasp. I just suggested non-HL viewing!)
Speaking from experience as someone who is reasonably familiar with
Japanese,
I prefer seeing a character speaking English (with the understanding
he/she
is speaking Japanese) to hearing an actor BUTCHER an unfamiliar
language.
Listening to guest actors slaughtering foreign languages is NO way to
be exposed to the beauty of other cultures. Or are you suggesting that
only those actors who can speak the correct language for the character
are chosen? Poor AP!
I watch for.lang. TV with subtitles just for the kicks, and same for
foreign
films. It IS a good way to pick up some additional knowledge, but
please,
let's let HL do what it does best, entertain us with AP, Flashbacks, and
Fantastic fight scenes, etc.
Kat
(willing to correspond in Japanese, French, bad Spanish or Mandarin)
Leon A. Helguera
Queenie wrote:
.>
.> mot...@mclv.net, HL, fan wrote:
.> >
.> >
.> > My question is then: How can Mia Peeples in Pharoh's Daughter,
.come
.> > out of a casket after 2000 years, and speak perfect english? Come
.on,
.> > live a little. Give the writers a chance. they can't cover
..> > everything.
Good point,motizer,
They cannot cover everything ( and, in cases such as with Ms.
Peebles, it might be better to let dramatic license take over) but
I <still> don't see how subtitles would ruin the show!
.>
.> And on the same dead horse, when Rebecca finds Amanda, they speak
English.
.> But of course, there was no English language in 850 AD, except for
Anglo-
..> Saxon. And since there are precious few people alive today who
could
.> understand that language, English is what we get.
.>
.> Besides, subtitles would get old after a while!
.>
.> Queenie
.> Regina orbis terrarum
Bienvenidos Queenie,
So you say that we should not have had Rebecca and Amanda speak
Anglo-Saxon because there are" precious few people "who understand it?
Gee, I'm glad you weren't around Kevin Costner when he decided to
have large parts of "Dances With Wolves" spoken in Lakota! Probably
even <fewer> people understand <that> language but it certainly didn't
spoil the entertainment value of the movie! Also, I think it was good
that the language got recorded on film for posterity !
You're right about subtitles getting old after awhile but I don't
see the harm in having them translate at least <once in a while>! We'd
not only get more of a feel for whence Duncan et.al. emerged but also
we <might> actually learn a little of another language in the process!
Would <that> be so terrible?
There are probably more people in Riyadh alone who can speak English
than there are US Americans who can speak Arabic so we definitely need
to catch up with the rest of the world! They can understand <us> but
not vice versa! And what better way to learn than by watching an
entertaining program? Walk Proud and Far,
Leon
Rick Mansfield
NICHOLAS SPIES wrote:
>
> As for Duncans accent and the issue of subtitles. I would like to see
> subtitles occasionally. I admit they get they do get old and hard to
> read after a while but I love to hear other languages spoken. Sometimes
> I pop in the Godfather in the old V.C.R. just to hear Italien spoken so
> naturally. So I hope they would let immies speak other languages because
> living here in Louisville I don't get to hear other languages that
> often.
> Valerie
> (Yuri Sorceress of the Wicker People)
If you are in Louisville, you should check out The Vogue Theater.
They have all the better current foreign movies.
Rick Mansfield
Jill and Mittsy
Anne wrote:
>
> I'm really starting to hate this
> "I-want-DM-speak-other-languages-,subtitled-for-us" *thing* of you all!
> You want Gealic? You got it:
>
> Côm on wanre niht, scrîdan sceadugenga. Scêotend swâê fon, Pâ Paet
> hornreced healdan scoldon ealle bûton ânum.
>
> Bet you couldn't read that! Can you imagine DM saying it ?!?!
>
> Anne
You're right! I couldn't read it. What *does* it say? :)
Jill
--
~ With every passing hour, our solar system
~ comes forty-three thousand miles closer to
~ globular cluster 13 in the constellation Hercules.
~ And still there are some misfits who continue to
~ insist that there is no such thing as progress.
-- Ransom K. Ferm
Anne
I'm really starting to hate this
"I-want-DM-speak-other-languages-,subtitled-for-us" *thing* of you all!
You want Gealic? You got it:
Côm on wanre niht, scrîdan sceadugenga. Scęotend swâę fon, Pâ Paet
hornreced healdan scoldon ealle bűton ânum.
Fiona M Davidson
In article <327961...@concentric.net>, Jill and Mittsy
<ja...@concentric.net> writes
>Anne wrote:
>>
>> I'm really starting to hate this
>> "I-want-DM-speak-other-languages-,subtitled-for-us" *thing* of you all!
>> You want Gealic? You got it:
>>
>> hornreced healdan scoldon ealle bûton ânum.
>>
>> Bet you couldn't read that! Can you imagine DM saying it ?!?!
>>
>> Anne
>
>
>Jill
Me neither and I have the Gaelic (although it's not exactly fluent)!
Anne - what are you trying to say here ? and is the incomprehensible
nature of that post the result of a weird character set ? certainly
there is no ^ accent in Gaelic and that all looks like something
entirely non-Indo-European - like Basque.
You want to clarify this for us all please :)
latha math, an dr\asda
Fiona
P.S. and it's Gaelic not Gealic !
****************************************************************************
Fiona M Davidson
fi...@fmdavid.demon.co.uk
"The first ten million years were the worst,
The second ten million, they were the worst too.
The third ten million, I didn't enjoy at all,
After that, I went into a bit of a decline"
Marvin the Paranoid Android
Eugenie MT
In article <327912...@pop1.inter.nl.net>, Anne
<J.van....@pop1.inter.nl.net> writes:
>
>I'm really starting to hate this
>"I-want-DM-speak-other-languages-,subtitled-for-us" *thing* of you all!
>You want Gealic? You got it:
>
>on wanre (winter?) niht (Night?),
>scrīdan sceadugenga.
>Scźotend (Scottland?)
>swāź fon, Pā Paet (Father?)
>hornreced healdan scoldon ealle būton ānum (Year?).
>
>Bet you couldn't read that! Can you imagine DM saying it ?!?!
>
>
>Anne
Anyone else wanna take a stab at it?
Eugenie