Help me do a Boston Southie accent.
March 15, 2015 7:48 PM Subscribe
I'm playing Costard in a production of Love's Labours Lost. He's a lower class character among royalty. A bright guy, but ignorant of their ways. I want to attempt a Southie accent, and I'm looking for help.
So far I've re-watched Good Will Hunting, The Fighter, and Ted, and have googled "how to do a Boston accent".
I'm looking for additional advice from a Bostonian beyond the basics, but ideally, a phonetic transcription or recording of Costard's lines would really help me out. I've included the lines below.
Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.
The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.
In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with
her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner, --it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman; for the form, in some form.
As it shall follow in my correction: and God defend the right!
Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.
Not a word of Costard yet.
Peace be to me and every man that dare not fight.
No words of other men’s secrets, I beseech you.
With a wench.
Sir, I confess the wench.
I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it.
I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel.
This was no damsel, neither, sir; she was a virgin.
if it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.
This maid will serve my turn sir.
I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.
I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was take with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and therefore welcome the sour cup of prosperity. Affliction may one day smile again; and till then sit thee down sorrow!
Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach.
I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded.
Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.
No egma, no riddle, no lenvoy; no salve in the mail, sir: O, sir, plantain, a plain plantain! no lenvoy, no lenvoy; no salve, sir, but a plantain.
The boy hath sold him a bargain. A goose that’s flat.
Thou hast no feeling of it Moth. I will speak that lenvoy: I Costard, running out, that was safely within, fell over the threshold and broke my shin.
I smell some lenvoy, some goose in this.
Remuneration! O, that’s the Latin word for three farthings: three farthings - remuneration - “What’s the price of this inkle? One penny. No, I’ll give you a remuneration. Why, it carries it. Remuneration! I will never buy and sell out using this word.
Pray you sir, how much carnation ribbon may a man buy for a remuneration?
Marry, sir, halfpenny farthing.
I thank your worship: God be wi’ you.
When would you have it done, sir?
Well, I will do it, sir. Fare you well.
I shall know, sir, when I have done it.
I will come to your worship tomorrow morning.
Gardon. O sweet gardon! better than remuneration, a’leven-pence farthing better: most sweet gardon! I will do it sir, in print. Gardon! Remuneration!
God dig-you-den all! Pray you , which is the head lady?
Which is the greatest lady, the highest?
I have a letter from Monsieur Biron to one Lady Rosaline.
I told you; my lord.
From my lord to my lady.
From my lord Biron, a good master of mine, to a lady of France that he call’d Rosaline.
Have with thee, my girl.
Some certain treason.
Nay, it makes nothing, sir.
Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio!
Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.
O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of words, for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus. thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.
An I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it to buy gingerbread: hold, there is the very remuneration I had of thy master, thou halfpenny purse wit, thou pigeon-egg of discretion. O, an the heavens were so pleased that thou wert but my bastard, what a joyful father wouldst thou make me! Go to. Thou hast it ad dunghill, at the fingers’ ends, as they say.
O Lord, sir, they would know whether the three Worthies shall come in or no.
We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care.
I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the Big--
It is ‘Great’ sir. Pompey surnamed the Great. That oft in field with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat. And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance, and lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France, if your ladyship would say “Thanks Pompey”, I had done.
Tis not so much worth; but I hope I was perfect. I made a little fault in ‘Great’.
Your servant, and Costard.
O sir, you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this. Your lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a close-stool, will be given to Ajax. He will be the ninth Worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak? Run away for shame, Alisander. There an’t shall please you; a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed. He is a marvellous good neighbour, faith and a very good bowler: but for Alisander, -- alas, you see how ‘tis a little o’erparted. But there are Worthies a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort.
The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone. She is two months on her way.
Faith, unless you play the honest Trojan, the poor wench is cast away. She’s quick. The child brags in her belly already. Tis yours.
Then shall Hector be whipped for Jaquenetta, that is quick by him and hanged for Pompey that is dead by him.
I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man. I’ll slash. I’ll do it by the sword. I bepray you, let me borrow my arms again.
I’ll do it in my shirt.
Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.
The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.
In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with
her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner, --it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman; for the form, in some form.
As it shall follow in my correction: and God defend the right!
Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.
Not a word of Costard yet.
Peace be to me and every man that dare not fight.
No words of other men’s secrets, I beseech you.
With a wench.
Sir, I confess the wench.
I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it.
I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel.
This was no damsel, neither, sir; she was a virgin.
if it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.
This maid will serve my turn sir.
I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.
I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was take with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and therefore welcome the sour cup of prosperity. Affliction may one day smile again; and till then sit thee down sorrow!
Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach.
I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded.
Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.
No egma, no riddle, no lenvoy; no salve in the mail, sir: O, sir, plantain, a plain plantain! no lenvoy, no lenvoy; no salve, sir, but a plantain.
The boy hath sold him a bargain. A goose that’s flat.
Thou hast no feeling of it Moth. I will speak that lenvoy: I Costard, running out, that was safely within, fell over the threshold and broke my shin.
I smell some lenvoy, some goose in this.
Remuneration! O, that’s the Latin word for three farthings: three farthings - remuneration - “What’s the price of this inkle? One penny. No, I’ll give you a remuneration. Why, it carries it. Remuneration! I will never buy and sell out using this word.
Pray you sir, how much carnation ribbon may a man buy for a remuneration?
Marry, sir, halfpenny farthing.
I thank your worship: God be wi’ you.
When would you have it done, sir?
Well, I will do it, sir. Fare you well.
I shall know, sir, when I have done it.
I will come to your worship tomorrow morning.
Gardon. O sweet gardon! better than remuneration, a’leven-pence farthing better: most sweet gardon! I will do it sir, in print. Gardon! Remuneration!
God dig-you-den all! Pray you , which is the head lady?
Which is the greatest lady, the highest?
I have a letter from Monsieur Biron to one Lady Rosaline.
I told you; my lord.
From my lord to my lady.
From my lord Biron, a good master of mine, to a lady of France that he call’d Rosaline.
Have with thee, my girl.
Some certain treason.
Nay, it makes nothing, sir.
Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio!
Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.
O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of words, for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus. thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.
An I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it to buy gingerbread: hold, there is the very remuneration I had of thy master, thou halfpenny purse wit, thou pigeon-egg of discretion. O, an the heavens were so pleased that thou wert but my bastard, what a joyful father wouldst thou make me! Go to. Thou hast it ad dunghill, at the fingers’ ends, as they say.
O Lord, sir, they would know whether the three Worthies shall come in or no.
We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care.
I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the Big--
It is ‘Great’ sir. Pompey surnamed the Great. That oft in field with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat. And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance, and lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France, if your ladyship would say “Thanks Pompey”, I had done.
Tis not so much worth; but I hope I was perfect. I made a little fault in ‘Great’.
Your servant, and Costard.
O sir, you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this. Your lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a close-stool, will be given to Ajax. He will be the ninth Worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak? Run away for shame, Alisander. There an’t shall please you; a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed. He is a marvellous good neighbour, faith and a very good bowler: but for Alisander, -- alas, you see how ‘tis a little o’erparted. But there are Worthies a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort.
The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone. She is two months on her way.
Faith, unless you play the honest Trojan, the poor wench is cast away. She’s quick. The child brags in her belly already. Tis yours.
Then shall Hector be whipped for Jaquenetta, that is quick by him and hanged for Pompey that is dead by him.
I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man. I’ll slash. I’ll do it by the sword. I bepray you, let me borrow my arms again.
I’ll do it in my shirt.
If you are looking to run lines or get them "translated" phonetically, especially for this much dialog and not just a line, what you want is a dialect coach. (You have to pay them hourly; they're experts, they're not gonna do this for free over ask metafilter!)
The problem with asking strangers who aren't pros is "phoenetic" means different things to different people. I can imitate a Southie accent (it's my dad's accent.) But as I have a slight NH accent, I wouldn't be able to notate everything I'm doing. Due to my own accent, and because I haven't studied this, I won't see where my idea of "standard" diffahs from the nahm.
posted by kapers at 8:15 PM on March 15, 2015 [6 favorites]
The problem with asking strangers who aren't pros is "phoenetic" means different things to different people. I can imitate a Southie accent (it's my dad's accent.) But as I have a slight NH accent, I wouldn't be able to notate everything I'm doing. Due to my own accent, and because I haven't studied this, I won't see where my idea of "standard" diffahs from the nahm.
posted by kapers at 8:15 PM on March 15, 2015 [6 favorites]
Listen. No one in hell from Southie is going to read this and give you the accent. You want to go with North Shore. Because North Shore is more intelligent, see? Besides, we got the bettah grindahs (grinder is a sub sandwich).
The mattah is. See? The mattah is, we got it all going on here. Oh my gawd. The mattah is the pahty is gawn. I will not fight the pole, because the mattah is gawn. It's like Scottish, only not.
Your servant? Your sarhvant. I'll do it in my shart.
You are not a Northern man, you are a Nawthern man. The Hectah will be whipped. For Jaaaahquine.
I have a lettah.
You have to ditch the r's, see? I can't be bothered to go thru the whole thing, but you have to ditch the r's, first off. Try a North Shore accent, ditch the Southy thing.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:22 PM on March 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
The mattah is. See? The mattah is, we got it all going on here. Oh my gawd. The mattah is the pahty is gawn. I will not fight the pole, because the mattah is gawn. It's like Scottish, only not.
Your servant? Your sarhvant. I'll do it in my shart.
You are not a Northern man, you are a Nawthern man. The Hectah will be whipped. For Jaaaahquine.
I have a lettah.
You have to ditch the r's, see? I can't be bothered to go thru the whole thing, but you have to ditch the r's, first off. Try a North Shore accent, ditch the Southy thing.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:22 PM on March 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
My tip? Remove all 'r's from your words: Pawk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd.
And put "r"s after "a"s: I'm going to eat that salser (salsa) with my friend Rhonder (Rhonda)
posted by Toddles at 8:41 PM on March 15, 2015
And put "r"s after "a"s: I'm going to eat that salser (salsa) with my friend Rhonder (Rhonda)
posted by Toddles at 8:41 PM on March 15, 2015
Go to Youtube and listen to speeches by the late Boston mayor Tom Menino or the current one, Marty Walsh, whose accent often sounds like it comes from central casting.
posted by TwoStride at 8:48 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by TwoStride at 8:48 PM on March 15, 2015
More that might be interesting/helpful in this article about Walsh's accent.
posted by TwoStride at 8:50 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by TwoStride at 8:50 PM on March 15, 2015
Mod note: Just as a note: I'm fine leaving this up for the more general request for advice and pointers to resources angle, which is fine and hopefully folks can help out there, but to be clear it is not appropriate to use Ask to request someone volunteer a lengthy transcription or recital of a piece of work.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:51 PM on March 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:51 PM on March 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker has posted a few videos with his dad who has a wicked strong Southie accent. One has his dad trying to lose the accent, so if you can imagine reverse engineering it, you can get a good handle on the Southie accent.
posted by kinetic at 2:50 AM on March 16, 2015
posted by kinetic at 2:50 AM on March 16, 2015
a couple of tips:
Sir = suh
don't get too hung up on dropping the R's- the key to the Boston accent is to broaden your As. Costard = Costaaahd. Don't put W's in, that's an NY accent, not Boston.
For the love of Gaad, if you can't do a Southie accent properly, don't even attempt one. Not all townies have a wicked thick accent and a bad fake one sounds like fuckin gaahbage.
posted by emd3737 at 4:51 AM on March 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sir = suh
don't get too hung up on dropping the R's- the key to the Boston accent is to broaden your As. Costard = Costaaahd. Don't put W's in, that's an NY accent, not Boston.
For the love of Gaad, if you can't do a Southie accent properly, don't even attempt one. Not all townies have a wicked thick accent and a bad fake one sounds like fuckin gaahbage.
posted by emd3737 at 4:51 AM on March 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
You didn't say where you're located and where the performance will be. Personally, and I say this as a performer, I would be extremely hesitant to go into a performance attempting a Southie accent (in a Shakespeare role, no less!) without the advice of a dialect coach who knows that particular dialect. Multiply that by 100 if you're going to be performing in front of people who have any idea what the various stripes of Boston accent (and there are many) sound like. Even the advice to "take out all the 'Rs' and put in extra ones where they don't belong" is dicey at best. For example, there are contexts and accents where "sir" would be pronounced "suh" and other contexts and accents where it might sound more like "sruh." Similarly, I would render "Costard" more like "Cawstid" than "Costaaahd." The article linked by TwoStride above gives an idea as to the complexity of getting these dialectical habits correct and some of the reasons it often sounds so awful, even to non-native ears, when people attempt it. So, hie thee to a dialect coach.
posted by slkinsey at 7:34 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by slkinsey at 7:34 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Agreeing with other posters that the Boston accent is way more complex than most people realize. There is a lot of vowel shifting and weird subtle stuff going on that distinguishes it from various New York dialects.
It's pretty impossible to transliterate without using the International Phonetic Alphabet, and even with better notation there is a strong possibility that the accent includes vowel variants that you might not have in your own dialect.
I'll give a shot at some of this, though. First of all, there isn't always R-dropping. One thing I find interesting about the accent is that single-syllable words get pronounced with multiple syllables. For example, "God" might get said something like "Gaw-id" but without a gap between the "aw" and "ih" sounds. It's like a diphthong. The word "Sir" might be pronounced a bit like "Sör," with something closer to a "oo-ur" sound. "Man" might be sort of like "Mee-en." "Damsel" might become "Dee-em-sel."
Words with the prototypical Boston R-dropping, like "marken," both drop the R and change the vowel. That would sound more like "Maa-kin," where the "a" sound is a long but flat "ahh" like "Baa, Baa, black sheep."
"Morning" becomes "moh-a-ning," with the oh-a as one continuous sound.
posted by overeducated_alligator at 11:48 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's pretty impossible to transliterate without using the International Phonetic Alphabet, and even with better notation there is a strong possibility that the accent includes vowel variants that you might not have in your own dialect.
I'll give a shot at some of this, though. First of all, there isn't always R-dropping. One thing I find interesting about the accent is that single-syllable words get pronounced with multiple syllables. For example, "God" might get said something like "Gaw-id" but without a gap between the "aw" and "ih" sounds. It's like a diphthong. The word "Sir" might be pronounced a bit like "Sör," with something closer to a "oo-ur" sound. "Man" might be sort of like "Mee-en." "Damsel" might become "Dee-em-sel."
Words with the prototypical Boston R-dropping, like "marken," both drop the R and change the vowel. That would sound more like "Maa-kin," where the "a" sound is a long but flat "ahh" like "Baa, Baa, black sheep."
"Morning" becomes "moh-a-ning," with the oh-a as one continuous sound.
posted by overeducated_alligator at 11:48 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I get that I should really be working with a dialect coach if I'm gonna make this really work. Right now I'm trying to get a sense as to whether or not I'll be able to pull it off at all. This accent seems to be done poorly... a lot.
Cortex, I realize I shouldn't really be asking for a transcription. Sorry. Thought I'd put it out there. The rest of discussion is quite helpful.
I'm mostly struggling with how to say the words that don't have 'r's in them. Please keep the suggestions coming.
I forgot to mention in the original posting, but this website from this post has been helpful.
posted by consummate dilettante at 12:08 PM on March 16, 2015
Cortex, I realize I shouldn't really be asking for a transcription. Sorry. Thought I'd put it out there. The rest of discussion is quite helpful.
I'm mostly struggling with how to say the words that don't have 'r's in them. Please keep the suggestions coming.
I forgot to mention in the original posting, but this website from this post has been helpful.
posted by consummate dilettante at 12:08 PM on March 16, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by stray at 8:04 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]