Why Don't You Hear Someone's Accent In A Song? by Matt Soniak

     Most of my favorite singers, including Marina and The Diamonds, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding, and Kate Nash, are British or from the UK. However, (excepting Kate Nash) their accents can sometimes be hard to pick up. I was wondering why this is, so I read Why Don't You Hear Someone's Accent in a Song? by Matt Soniak.
     "Accents are often defined by rhythms, intonation and vowel quality and length," says Soniak. Sometimes, these factors can push an accent to the point of disappearance. This is also true for the other way around- some songs sound rediculous if they're not sung in a British accent. For example, the pop singer Adele switches back and forth between accents. Try singing or speaking the song with the emphasis on the "Rs", "Os" and "Is", like General American english. "NeveR mind, I'll fInd SOmeOne lIke yOu," instead of how she sings it, which is more like "nevahmind ah'll fahnd sahmmane lahk you." It would sound rediculous and almost pirate-ish if sung in an American accent.
     Soniak says another reason some stars drop their accents is for social reasons. If a singer's social class was easily detected by his or her accent, they might want to change it if they weren't that well off.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

     I am currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is about a black housemaid in the 1960s named Abilene, and her friend Minny. Together, with Skeeter, a white woman, deal with racism in the deep South.

     I really liked this book for many reasons. I love how you can practically hear the accents and voices of the characters as you read the text. The characters, especially Minny and Celia Foote, are hilarious and I have laughed out loud many times while reading it. 

     I can relate this book to the movie. The movie version of the book is my favorite movie, and I can definitely see each scene in my head just as I see it in the movie. The author does an amazing job of describing each scene in full detail, and really capturing the essence and feel of the south. 

Life Of Pi by Yann Martel

     Last week, I finished "Life Of Pi" by Yann Martel. "Life Of Pi" is about a young boy, Pi, who, when his sink ships, is trapped on a small lifeboat with an adult Bengal tiger for seven months. Pi is very religious, and I don't think he would have survived without it. If religion is what kept him alive, if I were in that situation, I'm not sure I would have lived.
    Pi is Hindu, Christian, and Muslim, and he spends most of his days praying. He relies on God to live. He holds out hope that he will be saved and never once gives up hope. In fact, as the days move on, he seems to grow even more faithful.
    I have never been religious. I have always been athiest. My mother is agnostic, and my father is also athiest. However, the entirity of my extended family is highly reigious, while I have never gone to church. I think that if I were placed in a situation like Pi's, I would be frightened, but of course hope. I just don't think I would place all of my faith in a god.