Fashion icon and actor Robert Pattinson has been in the news a lot recently, from his split from FKA Twigs to his involvement with the royal family. But what accent does he have? Is he from the country, the city, or somewhere in between? We decided to find out.
Broadcast Accent Analysis
The first step to understanding Robert Pattinson is understanding his broadcast accent. As with many iconic British actors, he presents with a broad English accent, but it is certainly not flawless. Some of his speech patterns put him slightly outside of the ‘typical’ English speaker group, which makes him easier to recognize and pin down for a Hollywood accent. Additionally, while many American actors’ speech tends toward being monotonous and dull, Pattinson’s dialogue is quite vivid and packed with energy, which makes it more engaging and entertaining to watch.
There are a few instances where he uses ‘yobbo’, a word only used in very specific contexts in England and Scotland. For example, a mother might say her son has a ‘yobbo habit’ if he is constantly stealing snacks from her purse. But in general, if you hear an English accent used in a Scottish setting, it is almost certainly going to be Robert Pattinson. So, while we cannot certify that he has a 100 percent accurate accent, we can certainly say he is one of the greatest Englishmen who ever lived.
Hollywood Accent Analysis
We cannot leave the topic of accents without discussing Hollywood. While many in the public may assume that all Englishmen sound like Patrick Stewart, things are not that simple. For instance, we know Daniel Radcliffe does not have a British accent, but that does not mean his character Harry Potter is not supposed to sound like one. In the same way, Robert Pattinson does not sound like he is constantly wearing a Scottish kilt, however you may perceive his character to be living in Scotland.
Hollywood actors have a very different accent, one that is all their own. While it might be easy to label Harrison Ford as ‘Hollywood,’ he actually originated from Birmingham, in England. One of the most recognizable American accents is that of Humphrey Bogart, usually associated with his portrayal of private detective Sam Spade. While Bogart did deliver some of the most iconic lines in film noir and Casablanca, his overall accent is much more difficult to place. It was mostly made up of the words of his native Texan accent combined with German and some French words he learned while studying in university. And it was this unique amalgamation that made Bogart one of the most interesting and well-rounded characters in cinematic history.
More recently, some of the greatest American television directors have been making the transition to the big screen. The best example is J. J. Abrams, who is responsible for shows like Sex and the City, The West Wing, and Alias. If you put him in a desert, a cowboy hat, and some boots, you will have Jack Abramsen, the creator of Lost and Forever Never, which premiered last year. The film is an ode to classic Westerns and the golden era of television, with an overall accent that is half German, half English. If you watch and listen closely, you may hear some words and phrases that sound like they could have come from a long-lost episode of Bonanza. But it is a complete invention that brings to life the spirit of the American West.
The way we see movies and TV shows changing now is that in the future, we will hear more accents like these. Hollywood is open to everyone, and there are no longer any barriers to acting or directing. If you can dream it, you can do it.
The Accent Breakfast
To end this review on a more festive note, let’s not forget about the accent fry-up. Many newspapers have a food section these days, and they usually have a review of a restaurant’s weekend breakfast specials. Let’s call these the ‘Saturday Evening Post’ type of reviews. Usually, the best way to learn about these types of places is by reading them, but sometimes you can get lucky and they will give you an insight as to what the place is like. You know the type of place – the type of place where you would wear an apron and shout “welcome” as you walk in the door? Well, it might be a little different than that now, but it is the spirit that counts.
So, if you are ever in London, whether it is for a wedding or an award ceremony, and you want to know what kind of restaurants are worth going to and what kind are a waste of time, read the ‘Saturday Evening Post’ type of review and you will know exactly what we mean.
Or, if you are ever in Scotland and want to know what kind of restaurants are worth going to and what kind are a waste of time, read the ‘Sunday Post’ type of review and you will know exactly what we mean.
Either way, you will have an accent to take home with you.