Daphne's Accent - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

andress_jade · 04-05-2012, 06:48 PM

Do you think Daphne's accent changed from the beginning of the show until the end? I think it stayed pretty accurate, especially since Jane wasn't actually from Manchester but East London. I thought Jane did a really good job trying to sound Mancunian.
The only reason I'm asking this is because a lot of people have said that her accent changed quite a bit from season 1. I don't really think it did. I did notice that sometimes Jane would let her real accent slip out from time to time but for the most part still sounded like "Daphne." Let me know what you think.

Leigh Ann · 04-07-2012, 10:48 AM

I do think it changed as the series went on, especially in the later seasons. Jane probably got tired of having to be Mancunian all the time. Not that I'm complaining, I could listen to her voice all day long (if that's not too weird)!

Marvo301 · 04-07-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leigh Ann

I do think it changed as the series went on, especially in the later seasons. Jane probably got tired of having to be Mancunian all the time. Not that I'm complaining, I could listen to her voice all day long (if that's not too weird)!

Well I think it would be very difficult to maintain an accent for 11 seasons without changing! So all things considered I think Jane Leeves did an excellent job!

bingbangbaby · 04-07-2012, 07:12 PM

I think it changed too, actually I think it changed quite a bit from the earlier episodes...it was much thicker in the early seasons... but I also feel like that contributes to the reality of the show. It's only natural that the longer one lives in a place outside of where they grew up, the more likely it is that their speech patterns will change. I wouldn't think she'd ever completely lose her British accent, but it does make sense to me that it would soften up quite a bit after being out of the UK for 11 years.

I had family members who were born and raised in the midwest then moved to Atlanta when the kids were in their teens. We didn't see them for a few years but the next time we did, the whole family had a pretty prominent southern accent that none of them had before. Then one of them moved back to the midwest for awhile (where they were raised) and the accent really toned back down, where you could only hear traces of it.

So I think if Daphne were to go back to Manchester for any amount of time her accent would probably thicken back up to the way it was before. But as long as she's in the US, it seems only natural to me that her accent tones down. Just my opinion though. But if you look at it that way, then Jane Leeves did a better job making the character realistic than most give her credit for.

andress_jade · 04-07-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingbangbaby

I think it changed too, actually I think it changed quite a bit from the earlier episodes...it was much thicker in the early seasons... but I also feel like that contributes to the reality of the show. It's only natural that the longer one lives in a place outside of where they grew up, the more likely it is that their speech patterns will change. I wouldn't think she'd ever completely lose her British accent, but it does make sense to me that it would soften up quite a bit after being out of the UK for 11 years.

I agree! What helped even more that Jane was British and still had her real accent. There is nothing worse than having an American actor talk British. Awful. I do agree that it was toned down a bit because she was really from East London but still sounded somewhat Mancunian, at least to me.

Quote:

But if you look at it that way, then Jane Leeves did a better job making the character realistic than most give her credit for.

I agree with this as well. People were always so critical of Jane and it really made me mad. She was as British as British could be! She is a wonderful actress and I still think to this day she doesn't get the credit she deserves. Especially in Rooms With a View, she was amazing in that episode.

Schmoopie · 04-08-2012, 04:04 AM

I agree that it was thicker in the beginning but it was pretty consistent throughout the series. I loved when she'd do an American accent. Of course I didn't know there "was" an American accent! LOL

Leigh Ann · 04-08-2012, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I agree that it was thicker in the beginning but it was pretty consistent throughout the series. I loved when she'd do an American accent. Of course I didn't know there "was" an American accent! LOL

I looove when she does American too!

bingbangbaby · 04-08-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leigh Ann

I looove when she does American too!

And that time when she's practicing her "American" and Niles hears her and is absolutely appalled and says "well stop it!"

I can't remember at the moment what episode that is but it always makes me laugh.

andress_jade · 04-08-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingbangbaby

And that time when she's practicing her "American" and Niles hears her and is absolutely appalled and says "well stop it!"

I can't remember at the moment what episode that is but it always makes me laugh.

It's Three Dates and a Breakup. I watched it on my DVD's recently. I love that episode! I love it when Niles says: "Have you tried a saucy French chambermaid?" LOL. Too funny!

04-05-2012, 06:48 PM	#1
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	Daphne's Accent Do you think Daphne's accent changed from the beginning of the show until the end? I think it stayed pretty accurate, especially since Jane wasn't actually from Manchester but East London. I thought Jane did a really good job trying to sound Mancunian. The only reason I'm asking this is because a lot of people have said that her accent changed quite a bit from season 1. I don't really think it did. I did notice that sometimes Jane would let her real accent slip out from time to time but for the most part still sounded like "Daphne." Let me know what you think.
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04-07-2012, 07:12 PM	#4
bingbangbaby I see you!! Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,070	I think it changed too, actually I think it changed quite a bit from the earlier episodes...it was much thicker in the early seasons... but I also feel like that contributes to the reality of the show. It's only natural that the longer one lives in a place outside of where they grew up, the more likely it is that their speech patterns will change. I wouldn't think she'd ever completely lose her British accent, but it does make sense to me that it would soften up quite a bit after being out of the UK for 11 years. I had family members who were born and raised in the midwest then moved to Atlanta when the kids were in their teens. We didn't see them for a few years but the next time we did, the whole family had a pretty prominent southern accent that none of them had before. Then one of them moved back to the midwest for awhile (where they were raised) and the accent really toned back down, where you could only hear traces of it. So I think if Daphne were to go back to Manchester for any amount of time her accent would probably thicken back up to the way it was before. But as long as she's in the US, it seems only natural to me that her accent tones down. Just my opinion though. But if you look at it that way, then Jane Leeves did a better job making the character realistic than most give her credit for.
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04-08-2012, 04:04 AM	#6
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I agree that it was thicker in the beginning but it was pretty consistent throughout the series. I loved when she'd do an American accent. Of course I didn't know there "was" an American accent! LOL
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04-07-2012, 10:48 AM	#2
Leigh Ann Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 2,189	I do think it changed as the series went on, especially in the later seasons. Jane probably got tired of having to be Mancunian all the time. Not that I'm complaining, I could listen to her voice all day long (if that's not too weird)!