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DUTCH ACCENT: Sarah Hoogenraad

2019

LANGUAGES: The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. Almost the entire
population speaks Dutch as their first language. It is also the official language of
Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten. English is widely known as a
second language for most Dutch people, but mostly as a means of communication.
Other languages spoken in Holland include Frisian and Papiamento, and common
dialects include Dutch Low Saxon, and Limburgish.

PLACEMENT: The placement of this accent is dependent on the position of the

mouth. The lips are forward in an oval shape. This brings a lot of the sounds,
particularly consonants, forward. The R-Coloring, however, is quite hard, and sends the
sound backward. Because of this, the sound shifts back and forth in the mouth.

Try saying:
1: He said to ban her.
2: Robert took a doll.
3: God forgot he could judge you.
4: Tuesdays are for the cat.

Does it feel weird? It should! It should feel like the sound is jumping back and forth in
your mouth. Don’t be afraid to move your mouth and get comfortable with it.

MELODY/INFLECTION: The Dutch tend to stay on a pretty standard rhythm that all
their words are said at a ordinary pace. They tend to slide up in pitch in the middle of
sentences. If they are more confused about what they’re saying the sentence usually
ends on an upward inflection. If they are more sure, it ends with a sustained inflection.
Theses give them a confused quality that (in my opinion) might be what gives them a
reputation for not speaking great English, which is often supported by self-deprecating
jokes about their English not being perfect.

Try saying with an upward inflection:

1: I don’t get it.
2: Have you heard?

Try ending with a sustained reflection:

3: I think therefore I am.
4: (As my grandmother finishes phone calls) Love you, Oma.
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R-COLORING: In this accent, r-coloring is harder than Standard American, and they
use the “retroflected r.” The tongue pulls back in the mouth, in a similar way to Irish.

1: [ ]→[ ] deer weird mere beer here

2: [ ]→[ ] fern bird her fur burn
3: [ ]→[ ] star bar far car dart
4: [ ]→[ ] bear care fair lair dare

a: The deer went to the fair.

b: Birds do not have fur.
c: The weird guy stole the car and burned it.
d: I heard that Chandler drank a beer.

VOWEL SUBSTITUTIONS:

1: [ ] as in “God” → [ ] as in “claw” ([ ] as in “claw” stays the same.)

hot want stop lot watch wander

It’s hot as I want! I watch the clock tick and tock.

Paul bought a doll for his daughter

2: [ ] as in “bat” → [ ] as in “pet” (in most cases)

cat ladder fan mat jam had

Susanne had an ugly cat. I can go back.

He sat on the ladder.

3: [ ] as in “path” → [ ] as in “father” when followed by [ ][ ][ ][ ]

ask raft pass bath gather laugh

He asked to pass the math. They gathered baths to lather.

The mask was a great laugh.
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4: [ ] as in “hook” → [ ] as in “boot”

could book foot put woman stood

The woman stood on her foot. She shook and took a book.
The book was good for cooks who could cook.

5: [ ] as in “cup” → [ ] as in “hook”

up judge young sun butter Sunday

The judge was young and fun. Sundays are better with butter.
“‘Sup?” said the man with the truck.

6: [ ] as in “June” → [ ] as in “you” (Liquid U)

moon stupid students duty Tuesday

On Tuesday he has duty. You are part of the crew.

The stupid students mooned the moon.

CONSONANT SUBSTITUTIONS - consonants are very exaggerated in this accent.

1: [ ] as in “hand” → [ ] as in “pant” (only medial or end positions)

made bad blended killed danced band

The band was bad. They danced and blended.

They made a mate in Nate.

2: [ ] as in “very” → [ ] as in “fairy”

vicious nerve venom viper vivacious live

The vivacious vixen lived in an oven. Venom from vipers killed his wives.
The vicious caveman was very lively.
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3: [ ] as in “thick” → [ ] as in “Sarah”
[ ] as in “this” → [ ] as in “Sarah” (only medial and end positions)
[ ] as in “zoo” → [ ] as in “Sarah” (only medial and end positions)

think amaze weather wisdom bath breathe

They gathered baths to lather. The breezy weather was loathsome.

His math was not amazing or smooth.

4: [ ] as in “the” → [ ] as in “dare” (only beginning position)

there the this that they then

They had their cake. Then they ate it.

The cake was not that good.

5: [ ] as in “Bob” → [ ] as in “Pop” (only medial and end positions)

baby grabbed babble boob knob hobble

He hobbled because his knee was knobby. She grabbed her boob.
The baby was sobbing until he saw the bubble.

6: [ ] as in “city” → [ ] as in “Peter” (Intervocalic, “Peter T”)

duty butter absolutely better pity brightly

The butter was better, what a pity. He is absolutely named Peter.

Protecting the city was his duty.

7: [ ]→[ ] (Dark L, similar to Russian)

hill hell all bell Paul pool

Paul rang the bell for the pool. Ashes, ashes we all fall down!
It hurt like hell when he fell down the hill.


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COMMON DUTCH EXCLAMATIONS

Ja! (Pronounced: Ya) (means: yes)

Nee! (Pronounced: Nay) (means: no)

Mijn God! (Pronounced: Min Ghoht!) (means: oh my god!)

In hemelsnaam! (Pronounced: En hay-mel-snahm) (means: in heaven’s name!)

Jakkes! (Pronounced: Ya-kess) (means: yuck!)

A Dutch Children’s Song, in Dutch and English

De koster is geschrokken The churchwarden was frightened
bim bam bom ding ding dong
door 't luiden van de klokken by the chiming of the church bells
bim bam bom. ding ding dong.

Want de klokken van de toren 'Cause the church bells in the tower
bim bam bom ding ding dong
die kun je heel ver horen are heared at a great distance
bim bam bom. ding ding dong.
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Mini-Monologue: A Voicemail from my Grandmother

Hey Sarah, um I can’t get your music on my, from my phone onto my car anymore.

I don’t get it. I can call you but when I hit the thing for the music thing it will say

Sarah’s playlist and Cole’s playlist and when I tap on my phone on that nothing comes

through my car. So how do I do that? Sorry to call you about it but I would like to

know cause I’ve been trying and can’t get it. Thanks! Bye.

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References

What Languages Are Spoken in the Netherlands?:

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-the-

netherlands.html

Kathy Maes: A Formal Analysis of English Spoken with a Dutch Accent

https://www.heardutchhere.net/DutchAccentAnalysisKathy.html

Dutch Accent for the Stage: A Few Pointers

https://www.heardutchhere.net/DutchAccentForStage.html

English Voice Recordings with Dutch Accent:

https://www.matinee.co.uk/voice-over-agency/accent-of-the-netherlands/

DutchPod101: Dutch Accents:

https://www.dutchpod101.com/dutch-accents/

Dutch Vlogger Crystal Lindy Accent Tag:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA2sJn49HS8&t=35s

Dutch Children’s Songs with Music and English Translation:

https://www.dutchsongs.overtuin.net/dutch-childrens-songs-ac.html