Russian Accent. Please Help...?

Question

So, I'm really into theatre and acting. I'm trying out new accents. I have new york down pretty good. And I'm trying to work on my russian accent. It sounds like it's coming along. But I was wondering if anybody has any tips for me. I know you're supposed to really emphasize the R's, have a hach kind of sound with the H's, replace W's with V's (like, "vater" instead of "water"), and I even heard that sometimes you can replace V's with W's (like "wodka instead of "vodka"), and the "ing" sound should sound hard or more like "ink". I'm trying that and I'm having a bit of difficulty. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Especially since I'm majoring in theatre.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Always pronounce "w" as "v". We do not have a sound for "w". So "what" would be "vhat".

However (and I don't know why), we also often pronounce words with "v" as a "w". So "vodka" becomes "wodka".

Sometimes "ing" is pronounced "ink" often, but also as "inguh" (basically a hard "g" pronounced like "guh" with a long g and short uh).

Pronounce your "d"s with your tongue located at the ridge between your upper teeth and upper gums. It's the same place your tongue is, on the "L", if you say "La" but pressed more to the roof of your mouth.

"Tap" your "r"s. If you can not tap your r's (many people say it is "rolling", which is a good approximation if you can pronounce a Spanish "r"). A good way to learn a tapped "r" is to put your tongue where it is located when you say the "d" in "idiom". It is much easier to do if the "r" is not the first letter.

Answer 2

You may hire a russian tutor. It's the best way to practice you russian accent.

Answer 3

im half russian but i was born and raised in the UK. my mum and her family speak good english, and its not true that they cant pronounce W.  

Answer 4

i think russian doesnt have the "w" sound, so it sounds like a v.

like instead of "what"

it may sound like "vhat"

and their "R' doesnt exactly sound like english "r"s, they are kinda slighty rolled like spanish.

people who speak spanish and are learning russian. usualy dont have probablems with the "r"

Answer 5

I'm a german really couldn't tell you. I would keep doing what your doing. Just practice practice practice.