Accent Tropes

6 Following

Related to Language Tropes, these are tropes and useful notes that deal with the way in which characters from a certain region and their actors pronounce words, and the character traits these pronunciations imply.

Tropes

• Accent Adaptation
  When a translator substitutes a dialect in their own language for a comparable one in the original work's language.
• Accent Depundent
  When a pun used in a work works better (or not at all) with a certain accent.
• Accent Interest
  When a character's accent draws interest or attention from other characters.
• Accent Relapse
  A character who has been speaking a certain language (usually English) perfectly is revealed to be a spy for a foreign country, and immediately begins speaking with a heavy accent.
• Accents Aren't Hereditary
  Family members have different accents when they logically shouldn't.
• Accent Slip-Up
  A character who speaks with an acquired accent suddenly slips into their natural accent, especially in times of excitement.
• Aliens of London
  When aliens have especially familiar accents.
• Alter Kocker
  A senior citizen with a Yiddish accent.
• Animal Species Accent
  An animal who speaks in an animal-esque manner, whether they talk in Animal Talk or actually talk.
• Anime Accent Absence
  In anime, a foreign character will normally speak Japanese flawlessly, unless the plot depends on a language barrier.
• Arab Beoble Talk
  Arabs try to speak English.
• As Long as It Sounds Foreign
  Where creators don't bother getting a foreign language right when they feature it in their work.
• Brave Scot
  A character with a Scottish accent in medieval or fantasy stories is likely to be a warrior.
• Brief Accent Imitation
  When someone briefly imitates another accent, usually for comedic effect.
• Everything Sounds Sexier in French
  Where the same sentence said in different language can give over different impressions (sexy, funny, charming, grating, etc.)
• Fake Nationality
  When an actor plays a native of a nationality or area other than their own.
  • Fake American
  • Fake Australian
  • Fake Brit
  • Fake Irish
  • Fake Russian
  • Fake Scot
• Fang Thpeak
  Mispronouncing [s] as [θ]. In fiction, this is common with vampires or other fanged characters.
• Fictional Accent
  An accent made up by the writers for a Funny Foreigner.
• Funetik Aksent
  Dialogue spelled phonetically, so that it looks the way the character sounds to someone with another accent.
• How's Your British Accent?
  An actor plays a character with a different accent from their own. Then the character has to pretend to have the actor's own accent.
• International Pop Song English
  An artificial accent used by singers all around the world.
• Invented Linguistic Distinction
  Fictional accents or regional language variants.
• Japanese Ranguage
  Rahn tsu supeeku Engurishu... zah Japaniizu way.
• Just a Stupid Accent
  Where characters who are not English-speakers are portrayed as speaking English, but with a heavy accent, to remind viewers that they're foreign.
• The Kids Are American
  The adults have foreign accents, but the children don't.
• Major Character, Mainstream Accent
  The main character speaks in a widely known (and widely comprehensible) accent, even when the remaining cast doesn't.
• Maurice Chevalier Accent
  A Stock Parody accent for all French characters in fiction, based on Maurice Chevalier.
• Misplaced Accent
  When a character has an accent that does not fit their origin.
• Mock Cousteau
  Whenever a scene takes place underwater, a French accent will be used, in reference to Jacques Cousteau.
• Not Even Bothering with the Accent
  When an actor decides not to bother putting on an accent appropriate to their character's background, often because it'll sound too silly.
• Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping
  Where an actor slips into their natural accent while acting the part of someone with a different one.
• Professional Voice Dissonance
  A character uses a different accent for a job instead of their natural accent in order to sound more professional.
• Rich Language, Poor Language
  Characters' manner of speech indicates their socioeconomic status.
• Shocking Voice Identity Reveal
  Where a character's accent or voice reveals who they are.
• Simpleton Voice
  Where you can tell a dumb character is dumb just from the sound of their voice.
• Singing Voice Dissonance
  While not the only example of the trope, most singers drop their (or use another) accent while performing.
• Sssnake Talk
  A snake or snake-like character or creature who has an accent that overemphasizes the “s” sounds.
• Stereotypical South Asian English
  The stereotypical accent of Desis in Western media.
• Surprisingly Good Accent
  YMMV; an actor is able to mimic a specific accent perfectly as a character (or their slip-ups are unnoticeable to the average viewer).
• Unexplained Accent
  When a character speaks with an accent which is neither justified by the plot nor the actor's own accent.
• Unintelligible Accent
  An accent so thick, no one can understand them.
• Vampire Vords
  Ze Classical Movie Vampire vahnts to sakh yo blahd.
• Vot Ocksent?
  A character is oblivious to their own accent, leading to some funny misunderstandings.
• What the Hell Is That Accent?
  When a character is given an accent to emphasize their foreigness, or the actor speaks in their natural accent, but the audience cannot identify it.

Useful Notes and related Tropes

• American Accents
  Yeah, so, like, there's not just one of 'em, huh?
  • American Accent Influences
    About the technical details of American Accents.
• Australian Accent
  G'day mate!
  • Awesome Aussie
    Australians accents typically signal someone being toughened up by the wilderness.
• British Accents
  Pip pip, old chap!
  • Evil Brit
    Any character with a British accent, particularly an upper class English one, is likely to turn out to be a villain.
  • I Am Very British
    Where all or most British characters speak with posh accents.
  • The Queen's Latin
    People in historical dramas are given British accents, even though they aren't British or in Britain or even speaking English.
  • Smart People Speak the Queen's English
    Brainy characters have posh English accents, even if they aren't English.
• Canadian Accents
  We know what we're talking aboot, eh?
  • Canadian Accent Influences
    About the technical details of Canadian Accents.
• Chinese Dialects and Accents
  Of course the most-used language in the world has its own accents ... wait, is it actually another language?
• German Dialects
  Presentink ze many different wariants of ze German Language, ya?
• Irish Accents
  Your guide to Irish accents.
• Japanese Dialects
  A guide for Japanese accents and dialects in media.
• Spanish Accents and Dialects