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Performing Arts - Reference, Theater, Performing Arts
Foreign Dialects by Lewis Herman — book cover

Foreign Dialects

by Lewis Herman, Herman Lewis, Marguerite Herman
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Overview

Most actors and directors have struggled with the problem of needing to imitate foreign dialects. Marguerite and Lewis Herman have created an essential tool for actors, directors and writers aiming toward the most authentic performances possible.
Foreign Dialects contains an extensive repertoire of dialects that will assist the actor in the preparation for the most difficult foreign roles. Now in paperback, this classic text offers the director or producer a quick, convenient aid for correcting actors and evaluating applicants for authenticity and dialect ability. In addition, it guides those writing fiction as well as radio, movie, and television scripts. Thirty foreign dialects are provided, with character studies, speech peculiarities, and examples of the dialects in easy-to-read phonetic monologues—including Cockney, British, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Greek and Yiddish.

Synopsis

Most actors and directors have struggled with the problem of imitating foreign dialects. The art of achieving an authentic dialect can be both taught and mastered with much study and practice. Marguerite and Lewis Herman have created an essential tool for actors, directors, and writers aiming towards the most authentic performances possible.

Foreign Dialects contains an extensive repertoire of dialects which will assist the actor in the preparation for the most difficult foreign roles. Now in paperback, this classic text offers the director or producer a quick, convenient aid for correcting actors and evaluating applicants for authenticity and dialect ability. In addition, it will give writers a sourcebook to guide them in the writing of fiction as well as radio, movie and television scripts.

Thirty of the principal foreign dialects of the various national groups are provided, with character studies, speech peculiarities, and examples of the dialects in easy-to-read phonetic monologues. Among the dialects included are Cockney, British, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Greek, and Yiddish.

Included are musical inflection graphs--an important aid to accuracy--which show the pace and pitch of delivery for various dialects, and a simplified visual phonetic system which graphically reproduces speech patterns.

About the Author, Lewis Herman

Lewis Herman and Marguerite Shalett Herman compiled this material during more than 25 years of acting, writing, teaching, and study, in Europe, Hollywood, Chicago, and New York. They also acted and directed for stage, television, radio, and motion pictures.

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Book Details

Published
January 1, 1997
Publisher
Taylor & Francis, Inc.
Pages
376
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780878300204

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