Best way to tell an actor or person isn’t speaking in their natural tongue despite how it sounds to the ear

[sjoes006]

It’s usually in how they move their mouth or lips. The generic American Accent is easy to copy for most native English speakers as well as Dutch, German and Scandinavians.

The best dramas are filled with people speaking pretty spotless American accents of some kind. So what is their tell?

The way their mouth moves. English actors tend to not move their upper lip on words that Americans would very much move their mouth.

Other natives may have to hollow out their mouth to make to American English sound needed as it isn’t a sound present in their native tongue.

Honestly, I notice an actor on a show that I have watched for a while. But all of he sudden for a certain scene outside of his range and his mouth starts to move funny even if his voice doesn’t. Then, sure enough I google him and he’s from elsewhere.

Not a problen at all, I’m always amazed the accent is perfect even when the mouth isn’t moving as it would had he not been coached.

The same thing when when I speak French. I’ve been told even though I speak with a perfect Parisian accent my mouth gives me away.

I usually get mistaken for Italian even though I have red hair.

[coolbreeze]

That is interesting. I have to look at the mouths more to see. Some actor's speak great English even with heavy accents.

[sjoes006]

It’s mainly native English speakers speaking other Anglophile accents that get caught with the lips.

If I’m speaking French some sounds come from the back of my throat and it is hard to make the wrong facial movement. But because I wasn’t raised in France and around many different French speakers... Canadian, Maracon Swiss French, my Nanny was Dutch and spoke French to me.

I always get told I do a semi duck face sometimes when pronouncing a word I don’t use normally.

Basically in any language, other than Spanish, I have busy lips because Americans move their move a lot and I was raised in the states.

I can tone it down and act normal but once I get excited and speaking fast my lips go to town.

[coolbreeze]

That is cool you know how to speak french. I took french in middle school and it was fun to learn. I like the way how certain words sound. French flows nicely when speaking it. That is interesting when you speak french people look at the type of face you make and your lips. If your saying it write and talking it right then the face thing all comes together. It's funny how people pick up small details like that especially going to other countries. I notice a lot of British, england and Australian actor's and actresses do good with hiding their accent. Then when I hear them do interviews their real accents and voices come out. I be like I didn't know they have an accent.

[Anonymous]

Well I don't know what to do with this information but it was interesting anyway.

[Likes2drive]

Interesting, I never noticed this but I’ll be on the lookout now

[SketchForger]

This is incredibly interesting, nice myTake!

[Waffles731]

Intereting, this would be useful for spycraft

[Anonymous]

Nice tips here, thank u