M – RA has spoken Russian, French and German in his roles so far. How good was he and which one was your favourite?
Who can resist a(n attractive) man with an accent? Any actor will do well to take on at least one role where he plays a foreigner, I think. Well, at least it worked with me. My “first” was Lucas North with his fluent Russian. I absolutely loved the guttural sounds emerging from Lucas’ swan-like neck. And even more so when he played the haughty, sexily-bespectacled Russian oligarch in Spooks 8×6. [Fast forward to 6.20 in the clip below.]
I have been hunting unsuccessfully for the scene in Spooks 7×1 where Lucas speaks Russian on the phone. It sounded convincing to me – but then again, I do not speak Russian. I asked my RLRA friend (who is half-Russian) how good his accent was, and she regretfully informed me that it was not as authentic as I thought. Bah.
I also liked Richard’s attempt at old French in Pilgrimage as Raymond de Merville. Ah, mais oui, le Francais, c’est la langue d’amour… *melts in a puddle*. Making those retching sounds in your throat in order to produce an authentic sounding /r/ is not easy for English speakers, and he does it pretty well. But again, my French is too rudimentary to make any qualitative judgment. Squirrel, April, what do you say?
The only language I *can* make a judgment call on, is German, spoken by Richard as Daniel Miller in BS. If you think this is my favourite foreign language as spoken by RA, well, au contraire! I am simply too close to that language, too discerning an audience to be able to ignore the pronunciation mistakes. Having said that, I had the impression that RA’s German definitely improved with the later episodes of the show – I suppose it helped that he was immersed in the German language in his surroundings during several months of filming in Berlin. Here is an example, clipped by Servetus, on whose blog you will actually find extensive discussion about RA’s attempts at German.
Just for comparison’s sake, here is a native speaker of German saying the same sentence:
With a little bit of time having passed since I saw the episode, I actually think that RA is doing an ok job. He wouldn’t pass as the native speaker that Daniel Miller is meant to be, but he gets many of the characteristic sounds of German right. But yeah, it just doesn’t float my boat.
So to summarise: My favourite accent/language is RA speaking Russian. Preferably with glasses on. 🤓
Yours?
Guylty Pleasure 
That’s a a tough call. The only language in which I could detect an accent (other than English) would be Spanish. I don’t think he has spoken that one. So I vote for his nonverbal communication skills. My favorite is his kissing women while backing them up into various walls.
LikeLiked by 3 people
… also known as “nailing”. But I think you are hitting it on the head. The language of luuuuuurve is the most attractive of all!
LikeLiked by 2 people
He is fluent in that language.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahaha the Wall sex was great in Season1!
LikeLike
To me, his French wasn’t bad at all — it was my main subject at uni but I bow to the native speakers of course. I’m another who likes the sound of his Russian, but I haven’t a clue which bits are wrong.
I don’t suppose we count the few words of Arabic in the first episode of Strike Back. 😀
LikeLike
Good point – yet another language that I don’t speak and can’t judge…
LikeLike
He speaks a few words of Italian in Romeo and Juliet audiobook. It’s funny to her him say the names of the places I know so well. He also uses a few words of the dialect of Verona to name one of the foods of the market. His pronunciation is not bad, except for the “Adige”, the river of Verona that he gets completely wrong
LikeLike
Oh, I forgot that. That actually sounded pretty good when I heard it.
How is Adige pronounced? Ah-dee-jeh?
LikeLike
My fave is when he ‘purrs in French’ in the audiobook of “The Bloody Chamber.” I just about had a stroke. Talk about the language of love! As long as he’s purring or growling, I don’t care what the actual language is supposed to be. Shows how discerning I am.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehehe, the language of love again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not versed in those languages so, they sound fine to me. The one I don,t like is his American accent, to low. My humble opinion.
LikeLike
Ha! I didn’t dare mention his American accent as a “foreign language”, but I am with you there. Not that I can actually make any judgment on how good he is at the accent. I just think he doesn’t sound “authentic” when he speaks American. That’s probably down to me knowing that he really has a most delectable native English accent, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite delectable at that!! His Irish as Rocky Deeming seemed ok no?
I didn’t like The Cahahan American accent though
LikeLike
I agree. The Cahalan American accent left me cold. It didn’t sound like him at all! I’m not even going to try that ridiculous Into the Storm or whatever it’s called. I mean, yuck. And another American accent? No thank you! Maybe if I turn the sound off and just watch for his prettiness?
LikeLike
I agree that when he speaks English with an American accent it doesn’t sound “like him.” I find myself getting irritated, which I can’t explain.
LikeLike
Same here, Besotted. It’s just weird. I mean, I don’t mind him switching *British* accents. But non-British accents somehow clash with my perception of him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s definitely an option.
LikeLike
Richard as Gary in Into The Storm was cool- he didn’t really have to say all that much just look wet and concerned for most of the film. He’s supposed to have a Midwestern American accent. I thought it was pretty good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, no Irish there, Michele. Ricky Deeming was a Northerner. The show was filmed in Ireland but it was meant to depict Northern England, around the city of Durham to be exact. Phew…
However, RA has put on a bit of an Irish accent on a couple of occasions – just for the fun of it, actually. It wasn’t to bad. Here he is, doing the characteristic aspirated /t-h/ in an interview for The Hobbit: https://youtu.be/Ov71dxVXpf4?t=136 “T-horin, pushing the t-h-rolley” 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh sorry about that. In the interview he sounds a bit congested poor guy! Thank you for the link. He looks comfy cozy in that jumper 😍😍😛👏
LikeLike
That was a promo round in Berlin on the release of DOS in 2013. The comfy jumper seems to be a fan favourite that really came into its own at that Waterstone’s Q&A session in London. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4bUUTYrIFY
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love his Ricky Deeming and all of his English accents, especially Northerners. Rawr!!! His American accent is good IMO (and I have native backup for that), I just don’t care for it. I like his Englishness way too much.
LikeLike
Totally love it whenever he wheels the Northern accent out. John Standring is a particular favourite.
His American accent really seems to have come a long way. When he started out in Into the Storm, even *I* could tell that it wasn’t that great. Having lived in the US for several years now, has certainly rubbed off on him.
But yeah, like you, I prefer his native English accent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Standring was adorable in so many ways and soft spoken like a big teddy bear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. Allround lovely-duvly man *sigh*.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Since I don’t speak any languages besides English I’m a poor judge of accuracy of how well he speaks other languages. I can only rate the effect it has on me physically when listening. I’d have to say that it’s RA speaking French that makes my heart flutter a bit. 💗
LikeLike
Understandable.
LikeLike
I agree Widoedm53. His French sounds fine to me (maybe not perfect, but very very good for a non-native speaker) but as a non-native speaker myself, I’m not gonna pretend my opinion counts for much. I did like listening to (and ogling) him in Pilgrimage (and that’s about the only thing I liked–the violence, ack!).
LikeLike
Pilgrimage was such a “boys’ film”. Apart from the fact that there were basically no women in it, you could tell that it was a project where lots of boys had lots of fun fighting with swords and other assorted weapons, camping in the woods, being all butch. The violence was a bit much for me, too. But apart from Raybo (and his lunatic fringe) the Connemara landscape was also very pretty to look at…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh, can we do accents as well? My favourite is the northern-ish one he uses for Guy and Uhtred, and Mr Thornton to some extent, but his ordinary speaking voice is just fiiiiiiiine. 😉
Oh, and I fell about laughing at his Liverpudlian one for Miss Mowcher in David Copperfield.
LikeLike
I haven’t a problem with any of his accents or foreign phrases in the audio books but when it comes to the visuals I do.
I think I am hyper sensitive to how he looks when he speaks with a foreign accent it just doesn’t ‘fit’ somehow, I guess its my problem.
I gave a brief summary of Tide’s Fall on C19 Do you want me to post it here?
LikeLike
Oooh, definitely want to hear about Tide’s Fall. I am also happy to give you a guest post slot – that way more people here in blog world will read it. What do you think?
LikeLike
Ich persönlich finde ihn besonders beeindruckend, wenn er als Thorin Khuzdul spricht. Das mag mit meiner allgemeinen Begeisterung für diese Welt zusammenhängen.
Sein Deutsch ist weit von dem eines Muttersprachlers entfernt, aber es ist schon irgendwie besonders, ihn in der eigenen Sprache zu hören. “Goldig” würde ich es nennen. (Sie heben ihm aber auch teilweise recht knifflige Worte in den Mund gelegt, findest du nicht.)
LikeLike
Ja, bei Letzterem stimme ich dir durchaus zu. Vor allem in dem von mir zitierten Beispiel war “Auguststraße” schon wirklich etwas für Fortgeschrittene… Ist halt wirklich immer schwierig, wenn man als totaler Anfänger plötzlich einen Muttersprachler darstellen soll. Ich habe da ja auch sonst höchstes Verständnis dafür – selbst nach 18 Jahren Irland hört man mir den deutschen Akzent immer noch an. Ich sitze da also im Glashaus.
Und Khuzdul – du hast absolut Recht. Das war bei weitem die allerbeste Fremdsprache.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Und die Fremdeste wohl auch 😉
Die Frau, die das mit ihm geübt hat, ist sehr beeindruckend. Ich habe sie in den Anhängen zu den Hobbit-Filmen gesehen und hätte zu gerne mal selbst Unterricht in Khuzdul bei ihr oder in Sindarin *träum*
LikeLike
Ja, ich fand das auch toll – fließend eine Sprache sprechen, die es sozusagen gar nicht gibt.
LikeLike
Hi Guylty, I might have the clip of Richard speaking Russian. I’ve emailed it to you as I don’t know how to upload it. I think it came from this amazing site: http://armitageaudio.tumblr.com/
LikeLike
Received – and oh, fabulous!!! Yes, that’s the bit. Sounds absolutely convincing to me.
As does the bonus you sent along. *sigh*
Many thanks!
LikeLike
You’re welcome. Yes and it’s amusing to hear his volcanic anger in Russian
LikeLike
Actually, I’d like to hear ‘volcanic anger’ in *any* language from him.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love it when he yells. *bites fist*
LikeLike
N/C
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think his American accent has improved, but still needs a little work. I volunteer to help him out with that. He needs to add a little laid back California-speak to the mix, dude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can you imagine him with a deep Southern mush mouth accent? It’s difficult to get right but oh, baby! That American accent would sound good on him, methinks.
LikeLike
He would definitely benefit from a little of your magic treatment, Kathy. And at the same time you could finally present him with his metal medal. *coughs*
LikeLiked by 1 person
That presentation of the metal medal would be soo cool!!!
LikeLike
Yes, I am awaiting the opportunity to present him with his well-deserved medal made out of metal, that’s metal with a T: m e t a l. Wherever the next stage door may be, if you bring the medal, I will be there to give it to him, hopefully politely and with reverence. Hmmm, I don’t know if I can manage to give it to him that way, it goes against my nature. 🙂
LikeLike
I will make sure that you are sufficiently reverential and polite, Kathy. I’ll be there. It’s a deal.
LikeLike
The Russian as Lucas is sexy. I have no earthly idea what he is saying but I love how he rolls his words. I like Daniels German. I don’t think he butchers it like MF or Leland does. I hoped he would speak more of it in S2 but nada. I haven’t seen Pilgrimage yet about the French but that is a gorgeous language I hope to learn it one day that I need to hear him speak that. Maybe I’m missing out on the Audio accents and foreign verbiage he is purring out
Did he speak French in Wanderlust? Anybody anybody….
LikeLike
I particularly love when he says “feces of dogs” 😂
In fairness, no, his attempts at German were not that bad. Better than some of his co-stars. But then again, *they* did not have to play a native speaker of German… I actually didn’t think MF was that bad.
Wanderlust – yes, I think he did speak French, but even *that* couldn’t redeem the audio book in my ears 😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I just played that section and his “feces of dogs” is so guttural and sexy…. I liked his Russian Ogilarch, it looked like he had fun with it. As for the American accent he had a dialect coach there on set now for 2 seasons and his character hails from Virginia (hey!!) so the melting pot of American he is using I think isn’t bad. He isn’t speaking NEW Yawk or Bostone or Texannn . There are regional dialects in the UK right? America is really no different maybe some are more pronounced than other parts like the above mentioned but my problem with Calahan was he garbled a lot, low talked so I had to strain to hear what he was saying which wasn’t much. Claude was British but he used a version of his own natural accent right? Lucas was more his natural accent no? Accents are tough. You strive for authenticity and even then that can be unattainable.
LikeLike
Yep, the UK has very strong regional dialects.
I heard a British accent for Claude, too; kind of like his own accent, I would’ve thought. Lucas North has a slight Northern inflection iirc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But Lucas was from the Northern part like when he relayed to the teen boy who stole the laser like gun thing about Lucas’ father’s background whereas Richard is from Middle Earth right like from Middle England. Is London more pronounced? I mean could you tell if he were speaking where he hailed from in England? Like Southern England are there different sayings that a Londoner or a Leister chap may not know?
LikeLike
Well, really depends, and of course, as an actor he has had lots of speech training and probably speaks a fairly neutral version of English. ‘Middle England’ refers more to class than to region afaik – as in “middle class England” – but I think RA has mentioned that he has relatives in Northern England (Yorkshire, Leeds) through his father, so he is familiar with *that* accent. He definitely drew on that in NS and in UATSC.
Otherwise, yes, there are pronounced differences between Londoners (‘Cockney’) and Northerners and others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wanna weigh in on the Daniel as a native speaker. I must admit I’m a bad fangirl and didn’t study the character bio by heart, so if I get it wrong, somebody please whack me on the nose with a newspaper. IIRC he is an army brat with an American dad and a German mom who grew up all over the place and mom dies when he’s 12 (?), right? That does not a native speaker make. I know army brats with German moms who were stationed in Germany and unable to talk to their maternal grandparents because they speak no German. None, zero, zilch, not one word. I’m not talking a non-native accent. I mean they don’t know the language at all. Sounds crazy, but some parents are like that. So assuming he spent most of his lif eafter her death not in Germany and nobody speaking German with him, his slight accent is totally okay for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kate you just described my family background!! My mom is German, dad is American, we are Army brats. I can read German and my vocab is sketchy. If I resumed living in Germany for six months I think to a native German I could barely pass. My sister knows zilch German and my brother thinks he is a native speaker but knows null. We did not speak to our maternal grandparents in German. My dad wanted us to speak English only and my mom just complied, She would talk to us in German when she was angry or we did something wrong. I just wish Richard as Daniel had continued to speak German in S2 esp with Esther. Their conversations esp “dirty talk” would have been interesting. I think your “somebody please whack me on the nose with a newspaper” is just precious…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As an army brat myself, I absolutely concur, Kate. My parents were stationed in Germany twice, the first time when my older brother was about two and then when I was four or five. Now that I think about it, I was probably conceived in Germany! My brother actually spoke German before English, but of course it completely fell to the wayside by the time he was older. And as someone who lives in Los Angeles, my wonderful city of immigrants, I can’t tell you the number of first-generation Americans who have no clue what their Mexican, Armenian, Persian or Asian grandparents are saying.
Having not yet seen BS (and having recently found out that another knee surgery is in my future, I will save it for my recuperation), I’ve wondered why Daniel is referred to as a native speaker if he’s an army brat. I look forward to hearing his accent. Well, upon my second viewing, that is. I doubt I’ll hear a word the first time. Usually the first time I watch anything with RA, I’m too busy ogling to listen. (Insert embarrassed emoji face here.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unless your parents were German speakers themselves, I wouldn’t have expected American children who are growing up on a US Army base in Germany to speak any German at all. I think I am only so critical of Daniel’s accent because he is billed as having a German mother. And mother tongues are usually formative.
Anyway, LL, don’t worry. I have been reliably informed by non-German speakers that Richard’s German comes across as pretty authentic. Probably in the same way that I find his French pretty French – yet Squirrel as a French native speaker finds certain inconsistencies with his accent.
Nothing wrong with ogling. That’s part of the joy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No need to whack you on the nose – you are basically right when it comes to Daniel’s bio. However, I had the impression that they intended him to be a native speaker, what with the German mum. But then again, there is the fact that he says somewhere that he lived on base with his parents – so maybe that means he was fully immersed in English.
Having my own experience with two bilingual children of my own, however, I know that the surrounding language usually is the stronger one, even if it is not the mother tongue. (Applies to my kids: Fluent in German, German mother tongue, but better in English, which is also the surrounding language.) In Daniel’s case I assumed that his German was better than his English.
But I totally take your point. US Army bases in Germany were like enclaves of America abroad, with little contact with the outside environment. So maybe the German language didn’t reach in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree that he is technically a native speaker as in he is genetically half German through his mom and learned it from her . That said, I completely agree with you, G. that any bilingual person usually has a stronger language and immersion is a key factor. Since DM missed both the maternal connection as well as the immersion from a youngish age, I forgive his less-than-perfect accent. I mean, listen to Arnold Schwarzenegger speak German nowadays. It’s distinctly Americanized.
LikeLike
Yuck, that is something that I have never understood. I mean, I have been living away from my native country for close to two decades now, but I cannot imagine losing my ability to speak German… Are those people never speaking their native tongue anymore, or how come they can’t reproduce the sounds properly? I can understand grammatical errors, but sounds? Puzzling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess Arnies 5 kids don’t speak German or maybe the one boy speaks Spanish bec of his momma? I wonder if Maria learned German for Arnie? They courted a long time before he put a ring on it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a missed opportunity for the kids. There’s no easier way of learning a language than growing up with it. But then again, busy actors/politicians like Arnie probably aren’t involved in the raising of children. And if *they* don’t speak the language, then there probably is also no need for the partner to speak the language.
I am glad that people nowadays are so much more appreciative of language skills. I am currently teaching my son’s girlfriend German. She is going to visit my mum together with my son, and she wants to be able to communicate a little.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think that is wonderful that she wants to learn German. My dad was opposed to us being bilingual although my sis and I were when we were 5. Once we left Germany I studied German in high school and college but both my siblings didn’t. To be fair to my dad I think he wanted to acclimate us from living overseas to America and being accepted socially. He learned a little German to impress my Oma and Opa when he was courting my mom but once they were married null.
Maria I think put up with Arnie’s over inflated ego and philandering for far too long and they are still legally married I believe! The kids seem well adjusted and well behaved as far as I have read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The attitude towards bilingualism was quite different back then. I have several friends from binational families whose parents deliberately decided against bringing them up bilingually – because it was thought that learning two languages simultaneously was too much for a child, and that they might develope a stammer, or that they might speak both language badly instead of speaking one language well. In the meantime it has been proven that bilingualism is not only good in terms of languages but good for the brain full-stop.
I’ve been very lucky that Mr Guylty lived with me in Germany for 2 years and learnt the language while he was there. He can converse with my German relatives even though he makes grammar mistakes. But for our family situation it has meant that I can speak German with my children without him feeling excluded. And I think the (irrational) feeling of being excluded is what is at the bottom of many people deciding against bringing up their children bilingually.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes quite well said! 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Learning a second language ‘just like that’ is definitely a gift. Anyone who’s had to learn a language the hard way, will attest to that.
We’re a bilingual household as well. I couldn’t imagine cutting out one language completely in favor of the other.
P.S. WordPress notification hates me. I got nothing on this conversation. 🤬
LikeLike
I think in our case my dad wasn’t even like Daniel in S1 that he would learn it and speak it frequently although Daniel should have spoken it w Patricia and Maximus in my opinion. I don’t think he had any prejudice against German language per se I think it was more his thought it would be hard for us children to socially integrate once we lived stateside. My sis and I had other issues w the social integration aspect but anyway. My dad made sure we dressed like American kids which in the 80s were designer jeans, Lacoste alligator shirts (I love that brand to this day) and Nike’s or whatever was in style then. Bless his heart he wanted us to be happy and not feel alienated. My brother was like 11 when we went stateside again so it was much easier for him to meet people and socialize in primary and high school. If this is TMI sorry I tend to ramble …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not rambling to me. How long did you live in Germany? I can imagine it would’ve been a bit of a culture shock going back, especially into a non-military setting or was your dad still in the service? I think the whole army environment is a culture unto itself in any case. I’m glad Mr. H. is fluent in German. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
LikeLike
Kate we lived in Germany 3 times in my childhood: Munich, then Wurzburg where my brother was born and then Frankfurt from 1977 to 1980. So I saw it from little toddler to 5,6,7 year old to tween/pre teen. I love Germany and the German language. I think it is complex and elegant and strong and so rich in adjectives and phrases. I hope down the road to learn some French. The pronunciation is what I would have a hard time with. I listened to the Pilgrimage outtake and Richards French sounds sexy to me just low and like he’s slightly above whispering in my ear. My down under would be in hyper drive if I listened to him speak any foreign language on Audio. 💗💗💗💗😍😍😍🤣😛
LikeLike
Butting in to ask – you are based in Germany, though, aren’t you?
LikeLike
You mean us, G? Yes, we are in Germany. Still, I know guys who’ve been here 30+ years and couldn’t buy a loaf of bread, so I’m grateful Mr. H. got onto it and learned German when we first met.
LikeLike
Yep, that was directed at you!
Mr H is a gem! Good on him for learning the language properly. Likewise, I am really grateful that Mr Guylty also learnt the language – way before we had kids. In our day-to-day life, we always converse in English with each other. But since the kids speak German with me, it was essential that he knew German, too.
Besides the practicalities of being able to buy a loaf of bread or to know what mum is talking about with the kids, I also think that knowing the “other” language is essential to understanding the mind-set and culture of your partner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree about the cultural aspects. Language is such a big part of that. We have no ‘system‘ to speak of, it’s a happy code-switching hodgepodge in my house, even sometimes when others are around. Our motto is “Sink or swim, baby!”
LikeLike
For me, the use of language is somewhat irrational – as in: I tend to stick with the language that I “met” a person in. I met Mr Guylty in English, hence that is our primary language. We will only speak German with each other when we are in Germany and non-English speakers are present. (Or when I am so intensely emotional that I revert back to my native language *hehe*)
It’s a system that I have also observed in my children who are fully bilingual. They are really reluctant to accept any breaches of the sytem. I.e. when my father-in-law, who speaks fluent German, attempts to speak German with them, they get really pissed off and tell him off or refuse to answer in German. I feel a similar reluctance when I meet a friend whom I met in college in Ireland (through the English language) but who is a German teacher. I *hate* speaking German with her because I do not associate her with that language…
LikeLiked by 1 person
With my husband it’s anything goes. He might ask a question in German and I might answer in English if that’s the headspace I’m in at that point or vice versa. With other people I lean towards the language *they* are more comfortable in bc I feel the need to police my German with non-native speakers who aren’t as proficient. It’s easier for me (I’m selfish). It can also depend on the topic. If I’m discussing something quintessentially British or American, I lean towards English.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess we all have our own MO to deal with the bilingual situation. Your system actually makes more sense than my irrational, emotion-based system.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is extremely honest and enlightening and made me quite emotional all in a good way! I think my mom is the same way. She only speaks German to Germany as we call her cousins but anybody else it is English. She is always self conscious that she has an accent like Henry Kissinger and we can’t tell at all and I have told her it doesn’t matter bec most of our friends love that she is German!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can understand your mum. And I just had a situation this evening that fits our discussion. An Irish friend from my college days here in Ireland came for dinner today. I see him maybe twice a year. Anyway, we were catching up and chatting about my translation work, and that I (against usual practices) also translate INTO my second language. And he replied something about like “Your English is perfect, and in written work they don’t hear your German accent.” It wasn’t meant as a slight, it was a statement of fact – but somehow it smarted. 18 fucking years in this country, and 10 years of studying English before that. Hmph!
However, despite my reaction, I have long made my peace with the fact that I have a German accent. It is part of me, German is part of who I am, it is my heritage and my mothertongue, and I am not ashamed of that. I can speak English fluently – even if I have an accent. (But I am glad that I haven’t passed on the German inflection to my kids 😁)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I meant to go to bed an hour ago. Stop being so interesting, people!!
I feel this sooo strongly. I HATE my accent. I had a moment of insanity and recorded a video question for the BS Q&A. Immediately after uploading it I texted my BFF and said “Listen to it. Do I sound horribly German?” She listened and said “Yes, you sound German. You know this. I know what you sound like. It’s lovely. I love listening to you.” I just wanted to delete it but she made me promise not to. I wish I didn’t care. I wish more the accent would go away!
And I feel like I should apologize to RA for ever criticizing his insecurities about his looks or voice. I mean, listen to me!
LikeLike
(Yeah, it’s past my bed time, too – and I am an hour behind you…)
Yep, as a former student of English and a long-time ex-pat, I regard the German accent as a personal failure. Except that with advancing age, I have simply given up. It’s not going to change. Better make the most of it. In the end, it is just you and me being hypercritical of ourselves.
If you want to feel better or commiserate, I can give you a link to a recent video I uploaded on YT where you can hear my “charming Djerman accent in action. You’ll see (hear!) that you are not alone… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz8ef9xEb_I&t=18s
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right, I’m really going to bed after this:
1) I love how you sound! It’s really just us being overly critical of ourselves.
2) That said, personal failure perfectly describes my feelings about *my* accent.
3) My tweet with “the video” is still up. I feel I should reciprocate with a link so you can judge my accent but only if you want.
LikeLike
Rubbish on personal failure you both!
Kate I haven’t heard your voice but kudos to you for making a BS video to submit. That is something I would want to do but am too shy and hate how I look in a video that I don’t want to scare poor Leland and whoever else will partake in the BS Q&A 😬🤦♀️🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, bless you my child for thinking I would *ever* show my face to RA (or the rest of the world) in a video on Twitter. 😉😉 When hell freezes over does not begin to cover my attitude towards that! I used a stunt double. I have enough to worry about with my voice.
LikeLike
Kate stunt double? Your sister? And as for the SD I’m very apprehensive too and will need mounds of Pinot Noir but we can do it together and get a photo w him and signed pics. Just imagine those arms around our waists and us leaning in close to him gazing up at those baby blues sans baseball cap and ratty white T. Sigh sigh 💗💗💗💗😍😍
LikeLike
No, not my sister. She loves me but she wouldn’t do that for me. 😉
I posted the link as a reply here in the comments.
LikeLike
Have you posted the link already or have I overlooked it in my haste to reply to all the comments this morning?
LikeLike
No. I was foolishly hoping you guys would let me chicken out. 😬
Here you go:
LikeLike
Kate
1 great question for both of them and I agree w your comparisons of S 1 and S2.
2. You too have a beautiful speaking voice. In fact you and Guylty sound like sisters
3 very endearing approach to your question. I can hazard a guess who the other female sitting next to clean shaven Richard was
I hope they use your question!!
LikeLike
I am clearly Snow White in this scenario with RA fittingly represented by none other than Prince Charming himself.
And thanks re the voice. I’m in two minds about whether or not I want an answer. Answer = RA saw it = terror!
LikeLike
Kate I love Snow White!! For a minute there I thought the brunette was someone else wink wink nod nod 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
No. 😂 Nobody but yours truly. I mean, the interviewer had to be in the shot as well, right? It’s the only way I’ll ever get to sit next to him. 😉
LikeLike
Oh yes absolutely and you would make a hell of an interviewer w Guylty doing the photography so she can direct Mr Blue eyes to toss the baseball cap and dress more Lucas North Belstaffy 😘🤣💗👍👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh, I totally love the way you did your video. Great idea, and good question. (BTW, did we ever receive answers???)
As for accent – definitely American and *not* very pronounced German! You really *are* too hard on yourself! The softness in your accent could almost pass as Irish 😉
LikeLike
Awww, thanks!
No, no answers yet. I suppose they’ll save that for the big PR push closer to the premier, maybe?
LikeLike
Looks like it. Although I intensely dislike it when they ask fans to do something and then neither follow up nor tell us when the requested answers will be given. Kind of puts a dampener onto things for me. For cod’s sake – they asked for our questions in JULY!!!!
LikeLike
Sorry, I went to bed last night – so that’s why the reply took so long. Because the answer to 3) is YES!!!!! I love hearing my fellow-fans’ voices.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The YT video is wunderbar! You have a delightful speaking voice very soft and melodious! I had to google Edith Horton (🤔🤫)I also like the bracelets and ring! You’re hands were very steady mine would be shaking trying to turn the pages with out ripping them or cursing bec I don’t know what to say. Well done! I hope you do more! I’ve never even heard of this so I’ve learned something new as well!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, should’ve read *all* the comments before I replied to your earlier comment 😉
Aw, thanks, you are very sweet to reassure me, Michele.
The book I mention is by Edith Holden – and it is called “The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. It is really sweet – she wrote and illustrated a diary, including her favourite poems, observations on nature, and all those gorgeous sketches of flowers and animals. Very sweet.
Oh, and glad you liked my junk journal. They are my new obsession – so fun to create, and I love that they are (another) mixed media kind of thing where I get to design and glue and sew all in one project. Since that video, I have made a few more, so I might do another flip through, soon.
LikeLike
I hope you make another YT video soon. Just another blossoming dimension of your creative talents 👏👏👍😘
LikeLike
😘
LikeLike
Kate my comment to Guylty goes for you to the accent is part of your heritage and it is a honor to be German and bilingual. Who the fuck cares anyway? I hate the sound of my voice but I answer the phone everyday and people say you have a radio voice. I smile thru the phone. So we are our worse critics. God he really needs to do a play in a London so we can all meet and jam together!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it is a honor that you are German and bilingual and probably trilingual w French if you brushed up on it. So what if you have an accent another like 10 years and the Irish brogue will flow from you if not already.
LikeLike
Hehe, did you listen to the video I linked for Kate? Usually, when I am abroad in English speaking countries, people get slightly confused by the weird mixture of my accent. There is the discernible German, but then there are Irishisms as well. I got quite a few confused questions when I was travelling in NZ a few years ago 😂Beejaysis…
LikeLike
No, not rambling but interesting. Although I honestly don’t see your dad’s point re. difficulties with social integration. Being able to speak German with your mother did not exclude you from speaking English with *him*, thus learning both languages. I have heard the argument before from other English speaking fathers (in binational family set-ups) and what it always boiled down to was the father feeling excluded when his wife and children spoke the other language. Hence they put the pressure on to only speak English, rather than making the effort to learn the other language themselves. Not saying that that was your dad’s ulterior motive, but that’s how things played out in the families with such set-ups that I know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I suspect you are right. He did feel excluded and I always wondered if my mum felt resentful of that. That he sort of prevented my sister and I from engaging in German w our mum. That is an insightful perspective of yours as always 😊👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
😘I hope I didn’t drill too deep, or potentially put my finger into a wound over a possible regret. What counts is that you are happy with and celebrating both your ancestries.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no not at all. I relish this type of dialogue bec a lot of times you or a fellow commentator will point out something that I am either thinking also or didn’t think about. Now if I can only sway you to beardy Richard 🤣😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊Ah well… the bearded look will never be my favourite, but in all honesty, and even *with* the facial shrubbery he still looks mighty fine to me… 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I generally don’t care for ‘facial shrubbery’ (lovely expression btw) but on RA it works. Now the thing I don’t ever have to see on him is that solitary mustache. 😑 Nope, sorry, not good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
100% agree w you no mustache at all I think he had one for Monet role and it was really ugh.. but beards in general have grown on me thanks to Richard he just rocks the hell out of a beard even with the extra “shrubbery” crawling down his neck💗💗💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like the stubble – the “carelessness” of that is simply irresistible. The beard – meh, that looks lazy. And old.
LikeLike
Well, you know that I’m on Team Shrubbery, as long as it is well-groomed and not too long. Proctor length is perfect for me. What drives me nuts (and not in a good way), is that in his real life, he lets the neck beard run wild and that’s just wrong. And lazy. But I do adore the stubble, too. I also agree that there should never be just a mustache on that perfect face. No, nope, no how, nozzers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Go Team Shrubbery!! I love Proctor look I think it is so sexy and hunky and strong even Daniel as Trevor in BS2 I liked even the whole combat look jacket that and jeans just radiated sexy and cool and confident and let me nuzzle up to him!! 😍😍😍😘💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂Team Shrubbery!!! Nope!!! I mean, I don’t want to be on Team Lawn, either, but Overgrown is just right for me.
Ugh, neck fuzz is verging on turn-off. What a shame, especially as RA has such a beautiful natural “Igelfutz” (the little pointy bit on the neck).
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so funny and thank you for pointing out the anatomy part!
Go to bed!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe, I’ve taken enough pictures of the pretty Igelfutz to know…
LikeLike
Oaky, time to enter The Fangirl Confessional Booth. Part of the reason I am Team Shrubbery is I do love the way it looks on him. But part of the reason is that both of my ex-husbands had beards, so I know firsthand what that feels like and what stubble when they are growing back their beard feels like. One is…preferable. Infinitely preferable. And I know, I know, I know that I will never…uh…well…you know…but still… *scurries off to hide somewhere*
And go to bed, young Guylty lady! We need you well rested for posting and shrining!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LL go Team Shrubbery! I’ve never kissed a guy ( I would our Guy any time) with a beard or the amount of fernage that Richard accumulats in a day. But I think he just looks hot and so dashing and
debonair with the beard not Grizzly Adams beard but enough foliage to swoon over. He looks 47 and he should be proud to be that age.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“fernage” and “foliage” 🍃😂
LikeLike
I just realize I forgot the e in accumulates!🤦♀️I like your greenery analogy so just trying to stay up with you literally sista!!
LikeLike
Hehe, go to bed, Michele!!! It must be the early hours where you are!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guyly I just got up! My pups get me up at 4:30 am usually and then I eagerly peruse my email for your comments!! I work out at 7 am my time. I don’t need a lot of sleep and last night our entertaining and riveting conversations had me pumped up. The dogs were snoring and I was wide awake!
LikeLike
Thank cod it’s the weekend and you can put in a little snooze in the afternoon if need be.
What kind of dogs do you have?
LikeLike
Sorry for misspelling your name:so Sascha who was originally named Schwatze but didn’t like that is a beagle schnauzer mix. She is the queen of the house nothing gets by her aka the Sheriff. My middle one is Maximilian Max for short or muffin man he is a cocker spaniel chill laid back thinks about humping and eating typical guy
And Edmund Eddie for short is a labradoodle he is the baby at 4 years old 75 pounds that thinks he is a lap dog. They are my children no doubt!
LikeLike
Wow, they are big dog! Lucky you. I’d love to have a dog, too, but city centre living is probably not nice for a dog…
LikeLike
Well they are my kinder bec I don’t have human babies but they are the lives of my life. They give me unconditional love and what’s better then that .. well there are things but .,,
LikeLike
I totally get what you mean.
LikeLike
Yep I happy that you do! 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙋🏻♀️ First-hand beard vs. scruff experience as well. Definitely a world of difference between the textural experience. One is definitely preferable in a day-to-day setting. The other can be interesting in a one-off situation… 🤭
LikeLike
😂😂😂Love how you put that.
Ok, all, then let’s agree on this: beard better for close encounters, stubble better for remote ogling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
At last! Facial foliage consensus! We have achieved a remarkable feat, ladies, and we should all be proud. I think we should be working for the U.N. Just imagine all the problems we could solve!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Next step: World peace!! ✌️
LikeLike
Amen to that!!
LikeLike
Nah, not peace! World domination!!!! 💪🏻
LikeLike
Yes! World domination was my first thought, too! (Full disclosure: my two little old lady cats are part of a World Domination Group on Twitter.)
LikeLike
LL you’re so funny and sweet😂🤣😘
LikeLike
LOL – it didn’t know that such thing existed!
LikeLike
Hahaha, exactly. Power to us!
LikeLike
Despite my preference of the “overgrown” look, I have to agree with you when it comes to the romantic practicalities of it all. Beards are definitely less abrasive *coughs*. But stubble looks so much sexier imo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So Mr Gulty falls into the latter of stubble then the former of Proctor?
LikeLike
Yep. He actually is a bit of a Standring in many respects. But occasionally has grown a beard – out of laziness.
LikeLike
It’s funny you mention that bec I was going to ask you which of Richards characters Mr. Guylty resembles ?👍👏
LikeLike
He’s a quiet, shy Standring.
LikeLike
Ahhh lucky duck!! You deserve only the best!!!!
LikeLike
Lucky indeed. A very understanding man. Tolerates my fangirling, too.
LikeLike
Love, love, love the Proctor look, LL!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Neither can I. And it would’ve been entirely unnatural for me to speak to my babies in anything other than my mother-tongue. To this day I find it difficult to coo over my in-law’s and friends’ babies in English.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m different when it comes to that. I always call English the language of my heart, so I’m much more comfortable being cutesy/mushy/emotional in English, no matter who I’m talking to.
My brain also sometimes malfunctions and doesn’t clock which language is happening (only with Eng/Ger). I once got a bit inebriated in an English setting and kinda got stuck in English mode. My sister was with me, so she spoke German with me and I answered in English. It’s no problem, she’s fluent. Someone was listening and asked her why she kept insisting on speaking German with “the poor drunk American.” She just laughed at the person and said “That’s my sister. She doesn’t realize she’s not speaking German right now.” So yeah, bilingualism is fun!
LikeLike
LOL, indeed it is. For me, English is slightly further away from my emotions, probably because I did not learn it “naturally” but had to consciously learn it in school. So whenever I get worked up about something, my German is irrepressible. (Puts me at a major disadvantage when forceful complaining/outrage is required.)
Oh, and my drunken English is so much better than sober English. I can remember the most obscure words in such scenarios…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha I need to take you and Kate out for some Pinot Noir great German food and test the waters. Everyone else is of course invited!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe, customary pre-performance meet-up goes without saying! And post-event swooning, too.
LikeLike
Hooray! As long as I and Besotted and Zee and Sue and Kathy and LL and everyone commenting here are included in your SD hand holding w Kate! What a fun group selfie that would be!!
LikeLike
Our new time sheet/accounting program at work allows us to designate to which bank accounts our direct deposits go and in what proportions, and I’d been thinking of opening a savings account at the credit union. If it’s not direcfly tied to my regular checking account, there’s some slight hope that it will remain untouched. Obviously I need to start saving my pennies for a wonderful trip abroad! What a fabulous goal. I can’t imagine anything more fun than a SD experience with my fangirl sisters. All we need to do is get our stubborn man to cooperate!
LikeLike
Good plan, LL. You know, you don’t have to save huge sums. Every little counts!
LikeLike
True dat! I just need to have a serious chat with myself about my Zox habit. 😬
LikeLike
Yep, I can see how that could become pricey.
LikeLike
We’re on!
LikeLike
Oh, I learned English as a second language in school as well. It still feels close to my heart. Like I didn’t know what I’d been missing until I found it. I curse much better in English!!!
LikeLike
Haha, that goes without saying. I LOVE cursing in English. German simply doesn’t have the variety.
LikeLike
Hahaha!! Our mom always curses in German much more emphatic and she doesn’t know that many curse words in English 🤔😬
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vous avez de la chance d’avoir entendu plusieurs langues dès votre berceau ou dans le ventre de votre mère.
Pour ce qui est de trouver un langage adéquat pour l’éducation ou les mots d’amour, l’allemand fournit des sons doux et dur à la fois. Le très grand dompteur de fauves Frédéric Edelstein, du Cirque PINDER, a dit que le seul langage utilisé couramment avec les lions et les tigres était l’allemand. Roah, Roaaar, Raaah!- Roa, Ahrrfff ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eAHP-WOdpI
LikeLike
Squirrel, April, what do you say?
Dans un blog, je me suis déjà proposée pour lui donner des cours de français particuliers, en tête à tête.
Je n’aime pas sa façon de parler le français. Il parle doucement, en intériorisant trop, en réfléchissant trop à ce qu’il dit et comment il le dit. Cela paraît artificiel. Quant à son accent, il parle français comme un allemand. On se croirait dans un film de la seconde guerre mondiale. Je crois entendre Thomas Jouannet parlant français dans le film: “Le silence de la mer” (si vous aimez les “romantic-drama”, je vous le recommande). Il avait dit avoir appris la prononciation en cours et avec ses partenaires belges. Définitivement monsieur Richard Armitage doit venir s’immerger dans un pays francophone pour prétendre parler comme un français. Mais je félicite ses efforts.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430594/
LikeLike
Interesting. Thank you for your views on RA speaking French. Since my French is too rudimentary to make any judgment, his French dialogue sounded good to me. But I totally get what you are saying. LOL on “He speaks French like a German” – I can relate to that!
LikeLike
I’m glad sometimes that I don’t know when an accent isn’t quite “it“ so I can simply enjoy without nitpicking. [This is NOT directed at you, squirrel, I’m talking about my own tendency to spoil fun things for myself by over analyzing. I found your assessment very informative. Thanks!]
I went back to Pilgrimage and he did sound a bit ‘halting(?)’ in places but overall I enjoyed it. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.
LikeLike
Same here – hence my general enjoyment of the Russian accent/language. (Until my friend burst the bubble. But hey, who cares – it works for *me*, and that’s all that counts ;-))
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m the same. It sounds fine to me, don’t tell me otherwise, lalala.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 OK
Dans un extrait proposé ici par Guylty, il entretien une conversation avec un moine. Je pense que son accent aurait été top, s’il avait été ce moine. S’il avait parlé avec un même phrasé lent doux, avec une même intonation monocorde, monotone, couverte. Comme dans l’audiobook de “the lords of the North”, j’adore quand il prend la voix d’un moine. Alors que là, sa voix de méchant guerrier est grave et forcée, cela sonne mal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting! So basically what you are saying is that the character interferes with the language. Or rather: the fierceness and violence of the character influences the way he speaks French and makes it sound artificial.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Vous comprenez ma pensée. Il y a un travail fait sur la voix et un travail fait sur l’accent. Cela fait trop de choses à gérer en même temps. Avec une voix plus facile à maîtriser, comme celle d’un moine, l’accent aurait été plus fidèle à ce qu’il aurait dû être. Mais je ne suis pas une spécialiste, je peux me tromper.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You may not be an expert, but you are part of the audience and you are a French speaker, so I think you are making a valid point. It sounds as if the voice and accent were laboured.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 bon WE
LikeLike
That makes a lot of sense. Too many things to work on simultaneously. “Zu viele Baustellen,” as I would say in German.
LikeLike
🙂 That’s it for me. On every sundays morning, I listen to “the Lords of the North”, in order to perform household chores in good company and good mood. Have a nice day!
LikeLike
Blanche Neige et les Sept Nains – Heigh-ho ! – YouTube
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blanche Neige et les Sept Nains – Siffler en travaillant
LikeLiked by 1 person
Since I can only semi speak Spanish as a second language, his accents in all languages sound fine to me. That includes American English. A lot of people criticized his accent in Into the Storm but it sounded fine to me. We’re an awfully big country with lots of different accents.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to know that his accent was also approved by some America native speakers ;-). I just heard his accent in the BS3 trailer… I don’t know what it is, maybe I am too critical, or maybe it is because I’m always so surprised when he opens his mouth and speaks with a non-British accent, but it really sounded strange to me…
LikeLike
Guylty in his snippet interview he speaks w his natural ah Brit voice💗💗💗💗😘😘😘
LikeLike