Audiobook Narrator Matt Haynes TEXAS ACCENT

Audiobook narrator Matt Haynes gives five starter tips on the Texas accent, then uses his favorite practice technique of applying accents to song lyrics. This one will be done to "Pale Blue Eyes" by The Velvet Underground. NOTE: This video is solely for the purposes of entertainment and inspiration...and perhaps the promotion of MATT HAYNES: AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR! It is unrecommended and potentially dangerous to rely on this video as a singular means of claiming accent mastery, any cultural insights therein and any ability to convincingly "blend" like in the Mission Impossible movies. For any such goals, you should always consult your dialect coach and/or make friends with locals.

[@AnthonyFelixCano]

I'm from dallas, I never realized I had an accent until now.

[@JDMx214]

Anthony Cano my nigga we don't have this kind of accent tho so you on some

[@joannlancon5210]

I’m by the border and they say I got an accent when I go to Houston

[@dirusgray2968]

we all have accents,and most if us dont think we do.

[@izukumidoriya-jinminshippe8227]

Tony Texas same tho 0-0

[@mamaoma408]

Dallas too

[@sprinkles512]

The texan accent is usually more subtle and you cant really tell between the "middle american" accent and a texan accent but just get a texan to drink and it sort of comes out

[@princedeasturias]

Lol no

[@4586658]

100% true. That was so noticeable when I lived in Cali.

[@eatingshelf6135]

Yeah, it’s like that with my step dad and aunt actually they both have light accents

[@mediamannaman]

I'm a 64-year-old Texan. I'd say your accent is spot on for how we sounded back in the 50's, 60's and 70's (understanding some differences between regions), but it is a bit more subtle now as we have been influenced by radio, television, and people moving into the state. I'm just starting in audiobook narration and I'm very impressed with your skill! Are you still narrating? Do you use accents regularly? So many books ask for a British accent and I've practiced various British accents, but don't feel the confidence yet to audition with such an accent.

[@trentonbennettVO]

As a Texan, I can say you did a good job. You're right though--where you are in Texas is going to be a big driver of what your accent will sound like, and some folk have it more, some have it less.

[@skidude747]

You sound like a robot...which makes you a great narrator.

[@esthernelson8669]

lol

[@_LEONKING_]

I learned English in Texas and... this is disturbingly accurate😅 I didn't even know I was doing all that extra work while talking

[@narratormatt]

Thank you kindly, but I'm surprised... I usually think of the Western and Southern accents to be the most relaxed ones in the USA. Where does the idea of extra work come from?

[@miraclay]

I've lived in Texas all of my life and you sounded like Texans I've heard, usually insurance salesmen or store managers.

[@larag4646]

Born and raised in Texas. The mistake people make is they try to generalize a Texas accent. You've got to pick a region and go with it then it sounds real. A generalized Texas accent never works. There's north Texas, central Texas, east Texas, south Texas, southeast Texas, and west Texas. They're all different. There was a lot of focus on vowel sounds but not so much on consonants. More focus on the R's. Generally we do a hard R. Also a lot of g's and t's at the end of words get dropped. "Fixing" becomes "fixin'", "running" becomes "runnin'", etc. Too much "uh" and you sound more deep south than Texan. Then there's classic phrases that if you don't use then you stick out like a sore thumb. "Fixin-ta" or "might could", "ain't", "y'all", "all y'all", etc.

[@narratormatt]

Ha! I'll keep those expressions in mind if needing to blend in. What Texas accents do you think contrast each other the most? For example, Northern England contrasts big time with Cockney. Texas equivalent?

[@camerontribe]

Dude I've been surfing Texas accent instruction KZbin's for two days - you win by miles. The instruction + lyric stream is a winner. Understanding and a practice tool. Five stars🙌🙌

[@narratormatt]

Why thank you. Very curious (in a positive way) now: What drew you to this video, as clearly, you don't need my "schooling"?

[@kentbrashear]

Matt, you done purty good on that recitation, Boy. Read to the end for all of my thoughts. I'm a 73-year-old sixth generation Texan; college degree, career air force officer, father of three and grandfather of eight. Your only problems include: your Texas Talk doesn't go with your age, apparent education/ socioeconomic group as best I can tell. I talk slow, my kids speak fast, and my grandkids even faster. Then there are differences among farm/ranch dwellers, rural small towns, small and large city folks. Texas has 254 counties and probably at least half that many dialects/accents. First step: say all single syllable words with two syllables. And this doesn't count the Mexican and Black talk.

[@NateK9official]

Love this comment

[@winonaowen479]

Matt you are amazing!! From one audiobook narrator to another, I absolutely loved watching and listening to you. You have become my inspiration for a Texan male character that is in a book series I am currently narrating. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@LectureFalcomata]

Given my experience living in Texas for the last 5 years, I'd say this is spot on...

[@laurarichcreekvoiceactor]

I'm working on a "gentle Texan accent" for an audiobook I'm soon-to-narrate, so, thanks! I'll be studying this one, among others! I also like your goal of learning 52 accents. I realize you were doing this two years ago, but you've inspired me to consider some creative goals to improve my skills!

[@narratormatt]

Fantastic. How the project going?

[@ZDson3112]

As a 4th gen Texan, I can say this is a pretty good technical breakdown of our accent.

[@squishyeclipse7884]

Hahahaha I live in Texas. You sound like my pastor! xD (when you do the accent)

[@squishyeclipse7884]

Your accent is a little over exaggerated but still pretty good!

[@lgmcbizzle7505]

OMG! What a fabulous Texas accent and Pale Blue Eyes interpretation! I'm hit'n Follow rih now! Rock n' Roll, BAY-bee!

[@bobbiesepeda3182]

I am from Dallas too and you got it!

[@4kjm]

excellent! thank you!

[@natrochelle]

You are so talented!

[@emilyvanessag]

This was actually helpful

[@zhiyarali557]

Thanks alot. really amazing accent

[@britishslang5335]

I’m a Texan but I don’t have an accent, so I’m watching this video to see I can learn one

[@narratormatt]

How is it going?

[@thejasonbischoff]

So glad I found this! I have an audio/video audition for "cowboy" on Monday! I've been in Austin for over twenty years and still sound like a "Yankee."

[@roxannecoyne2744]

Hey, Matt. I came across this video as I was doing a bit of dialect research for a book narration. I've spent about 4 years in Central Texas, where the most significant vocal idiosyncrasy I've noticed is vocal placement. If the vocal placement is correct, the rest just seems to follow. It seems to me that if I just place my voice way in the back and at the top of my palate, my speech sounds Texan. At least to me it does. I visualize myself doing an impression of George Bush and bam. There it is. And Texans also speak a bit slower than those crazy folks from the coasts. Again, that's what I have noticed. And again, my ear has really been focusing on Central Texas. Austin, the Hill Country.... That's pretty different than the more nuanced sound of East Texas. Thank you for your wonderful video. I'll be back here when I need to refine those regional differences!

[@dorothyjordan4355]

great video.

[@cheekymouse4]

I'm from the UK but I try audiobook work and love doing Southern America, but didn't even know Texas is different. I just listen to Billy Bob Thornton hahaha x

[@spencerd3696]

I kinda explain it as adding a syllable to every word. That definitely is a big part of it

[@oldenmcgroen]

These are average southern accents not just Texas. You sound more like Alabama than Texas in your depiction, but Texans do sound like that in places like East Texas. I’ve lived in both states for many years. Although being from Texas and the south, I noticed a distinct difference in the linguistics from each state. I imagine it’s similar to all regions of the country that are similar but different. To western America, most of the northeast sounds the same although there are distinct differences. Midwestern states are similar but different and so on.

[@TurkistanSeneti]

oldenmcgroen we sound like this in some parts of west Texas as well.

[@juanguentenguea.gonzalez737]

Thank You for the tutorial you are straightforward to understand

[@narratormatt]

Why thank you! I'm so glad to read that.

[@samypons3185]

@@narratormatt yeah thanks for the tutorial !

[@narratormatt]

@@samypons3185 you are most welcome. Are you working on a project right now and how did you come upon my channel?

[@samypons3185]

@@narratormatt Yes I'm trying to get the Texas accent but it's looking a little bit hard lol , so I searched some videos and I found yours, which is particularly useful..

[@narratormatt]

@@samypons3185 I'm so glad. Also be sure to check the comments for additional tips!

[@MsJulia-wr4qk]

Wow, nice work with the cards and vowel signs.

[@narratormatt]

I'm cautiously hopeful that this isn't sarcasm. I *did* inherit my dad's crude handwriting.

[@MsJulia-wr4qk]

@@narratormatt I meant it sincerely! I'm an elementary school teacher so I'm teaching phonics and word study every day, so I can appreciate phoneme work.

[@narratormatt]

@@MsJulia-wr4qk Oh, well goodness. I'm glad I asked. What a lovely affirmation.

[@mauroantoniomontalto9028]

thanks!

[@narratormatt]

You're most welcome.

[@mallick376]

This mortally wounded me as it triggered flashbacks in the back of my forehead. Really helpful. To be honest.

[@narratormatt]

You get the grand prize for "Matt never thought he would get that kind of feedback."

[@patricksrecipes]

hey Matt... so helpful. ty... i just listened to another youtube coach and she had a code embedded in her video to get a little donation. I was happy to oblige. I don't know if there's a lot of money to be made, but you should be paid for your work too! best...

[@narratormatt]

Oh! Goodness! I've always thought "If I had a nickel for every..." Thank you! Remind me how you came upon this vid. What are you working on?

[@jacob_sieger]

I’m from Houston and I just now figured out that I do that mouth bouncing thing

[@sabercruiser.7053]

thnx man

[@narratormatt]

You are most welcome.

[@DrKaii]

Loving the vids, great series, subbed! If I could give one constructive criticism, I'd advise to not stare unblinkingly at the camera non-stop, it can be a bit disconcerting.

[@TurkistanSeneti]

I’m from Lubbock area, many of us sound like this hahha

[@Sky-xk7pg]

I think y'all all awesome Catch a later

[@ceratosaurid8883]

I’m in Houston I didn’t know I had a accent

[@largerooster587]

Texas is huge. There are different accents all throughout it, people

[@sophielove1grifaldo75]

My sister went to Boston and we are from Houston they said that she had a accent i don’t think we can’t hear it it sounds normally to us 🙂

[@grillinnchillin4009]

Yeah, iirc, I had a family member move up from Houston to up north for college, and I figured we both had pretty 'normal' American accents (Midwest), but apparently when he was up there people would ask if he was from Texas or something lol.

[@stevenserna910]

He kinda sorta reminds me of the way Matthew McConnaghey sounds. All unnaturally forced to sound sugary sweet. If you wanna sound Texas, it can't be forced. Go stub your little toe against a wall corner and scream, "Deep in the heart of Texas". You'll either get it, or you won't.

[@stevenserna910]

BTW...if your scream don't sound like, "dee pinnaharda texsis" you ain't doin it right, go stub your toe again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

[@texasbeast2542]

My great great grand fathers name was Sam Houston Williams Jr. no idea how far back my blood goes. You didn’t do bad. For a non native it sounded Texan but still an imitation. You wouldn’t order dinner or hold a conversation with a native Texan like that without them asking what your doin. But I appreciate you effort to learn our accent. Never realized how hard it is for folks that didn’t grow up talking like us. My mom is from Vidor and dads from Pineland. Both are east Texas close to Beaumont but I was raised in central Texas small town. Some influence from Dallas. My accent is thick enough to float an egg. Good job tho better then the generic tv souther accent, god that make us mad to hear that “ yeehaw” Hollywood bullshit

[@narratormatt]

Why thank you. "Thick enough to float an egg." I love that!

[@sherronyarborough6462]

Good job, from a 6th generation Texan, lil ol lady. Red State, Texas my Texas.

[@sirpsychosexy]

Sounds like Bill Clinton lol

[@chonddak]

Wow! Really good East Texas accent!

[@narratormatt]

Thank you kindly. Are you a native?

[@chonddak]

No. I moved to East Texas from New Jersey 5 and a half years ago, and I am somewhat of a linguist, so I have a good ear for distinguishing accents.

[@aira5327]

Can anyone please recommend an audiobook that sounds like this please!

[@MrWadifida]

I think people of Texas are good and friendly

[@Youngboyadept]

Ha. False.

[@metaart1295]

Yeah with a shotgun in the hand.

[@zenithskull]

They are the friendliest in America

[@screamyourselftodeath3459]

of all the states i have visit i agree 🖤

[@OutlawCaliber13]

Well, you certainly ain't gonna fit in, but you got the basics. A lot of Texans have a real subtle accent. It only comes out in pronouncing certain words. There's also two different accents that vary by part. We call it the twang, and the drawl. The drawl is probably the larger, and you find it more in rural areas. Again, that said, the accent will have slight variances depending on the part. It's a huge state, with a lot of influences in what makes us.

[@narratormatt]

What would you say are the two most distinct accents within Texas? Examples of Texan voices representing these?

[@OutlawCaliber13]

@@narratormatt Let me see what I can find for you, and I'll throw it up here. I've never really thought about the way I talk, even though I've moved to Canada, and get comments on it a lot. I natively speak the drawl. It's softer, more forward in the mouth. There's a slur in our sentences, in many cases. Like whachoo knuh. "What you know?" The twang, as I think about it, is sharper, more nasal, and you speak more from the back of your palate. Both have that tilt, the lean on vowels. It's hard to explain, as I've never really traied to explain it. I guess the twang, the cotton is middle back of your tongue, the drawl it's more middle front--referring to folks saying it sounds like we are talking with a wad of cotton in our mouths.

[@OutlawCaliber13]

@@narratormatt kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2OaeZuAatutoMU&ab_channel=KUTAustin

[@OutlawCaliber13]

@@narratormatt This guy has more of the drawl, though it ain't heavy--he ain't from Texas, but we'll give him that. lol He's lived in Texas a good bit. Another thing that was pointed out to me is there's a slight lisp on the S. Like street sounds slightly like shtreet, the h is very light though. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4unq32ElLqXqKc&ab_channel=ChadPrather

[@OutlawCaliber13]

@@narratormatt One more, for the drawl. A lot of the pronunciations are front of the tongue, but loose. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWSkpqSbfppko7s&ab_channel=ShawnVlogs

[@NoamStJohn]

He ain't wrong

[@projectkj7643]

I like East TX accents. I live in Houston and most people here aren’t from TX so I don’t hear many TX accents anymore. I hope America’s regional accents don’t completely disappear. 😉

[@debradavis3466]

....linger onnnnnn pale blue eyes

[@addfruitsandveggies]

I thought the lesson was pretty accurate. There are definitely some people in Texas who talk like that. For the lyrics, I recommend slowing it down.

[@thejollyskunk]

Just stumbled on this; did you learn them after all? It’s 2021

[@narratormatt]

Yep! And there are now more :)

[@damitraduncan7723]

Did you do Texas Panhandle accent?

[@narratormatt]

Why no! Are you asking about a separate vid I could make or are you commenting on what you're hearing in this one?

[@samuelsherman2511]

This video should be called the Dr. Phil accent.

[@Ramesess_II]

Chicago accent how they pronounce short vowels and long vowels

[@vusalmammadov1161]

dude u look like young Kevin Spacey

[@davidbarnett5777]

Pretty good. Actually you’d make an excellent Southern televangelist.

[@narratormatt]

Ha! I'll keep that in mind for future books!

[@narratormatt]

Maybe even share that with my students.

[@davidbarnett5777]

For “pure”…try a flat, single syllable “pyuur ” instead of “Pyu-wer”….It more an “er” sound rather than “oo”. ….”Pyuur”

[@narratormatt]

So a bit like the verb for what a cat does when happy?

[@damnyankeebeard9255]

Well alright alright alright

[@heribertovizcarra8257]

Did you learn all those accents? It's October 2016 now.

[@thepulpstage8248]

Yup! There's a montage video out now called the 52 Accent Challenge :)

[@sacredsiren]

Texas is massive and has different accents across the state, so it is really hard to generalize an accent for this state. There are some areas where you hardly get any accent at all, and other areas where you get a super strong accent. East Texas is different than Western Texas, for example west Texans smooth all their price vowels and east Texans do some and not others. We also have the pin/pen merger so we generally pronounce those vowel sounds mostly the same so for example the word "fence" comes out more like fince". The accent you're doing wouldn't be very accurate in the area of Texas I am from, we don't do nearly all that vowel rounding and we don't turn every vowel into a diphthong like that... but it isn't the worst attempt at a Texas accent I've heard.

[@TurkistanSeneti]

sacredsiren I’m from Lubbock area, we kinda sound like this

[@sacredsiren]

East Texas here

[@Bootmahoy88]

Nice. I'm actually tired of people always doing the Hee yawwww type of Texan accent. I bet that kind of extreme accent does exist somewhere in Texas, but I've never actually heard it except on TV shows like Smokey and The Bandit, for one. Have you? I'm really curious.

[@narratormatt]

Well, I think that extreme lies in the ears of the listener. What sounds like a stark difference from a general American accent might sound subtle to a native Texan. Have you done any traveling in the older and more rural parts of your state?

[@lukehoman_7]

im from round real southern texas. what bout yall

[@a3r0m3]

Honestly more of an Oakie accent but not to bad

[@becbusman7721]

If you would like , I can help you learn a little bit of the accent by coaching you , I was born and raised in Lufkin Texas Deep EastTexas , Let me know if I can help you

[@narratormatt]

Good for now but thank you for being a resource.

[@hwy27west]

Sounds more East Texas, like the piney woods / big thicket area. Certainly not West Texas!

[@narratormatt]

Huge state... what do you think the distinguishers are for west?

[@texasturner2313]

Close, but no cigar.

[@peluco_2816]

I was born and raised in Texas. And this is not how we talk.

[@raphaelh8852]

tina everytime someone is trying to sum up an accent into one Video its just going to fail anyways. i am from Germany but i am going to do a year abroad in texas i hope my accent does become realistic.

[@rorymcdonnell8790]

Sounds like South Carolina

[@unoriginalraccoonobby1310]

Rory McDonnell *Yup*

[@andie22311]

peluco_281 Nope. That’s not Texan

[@encampentertainment5128]

I'm looking for a 2 minute voice recording. Do you have contact info ? Email

[@narratormatt]

You're welcome to shoot me a message through my facebook page: facebook.com/haynesnarration/

[@tiffanydavis1028]

Ahhh, aliens ahhhhhhhh.

[@narratormatt]

Tiffany. I desperately want to empathize. Tell me more.

[@tiffanydavis1028]

@@narratormatt Ahhh, aliens ahhhhhhhh

[@xec9555]

at ver

[@MrMiles-gi1hl]

Just run all of your words together as conjunctions.

[@ezj8262]

contractions :)

[@Jeeker17]

PAINIS cupcake POOTISpenser here..

[@AuburnTigers111]

Most words have vowels? Not if you're speaking Polish they don't.

[@caseyclemens8687]

Just a critique, this sounds alittle more like the aristocrat plantation owner in the south east Texas, I'm from north west rural Texas just south of the panhandle.

[@narratormatt]

Do you think that maybe a bit less enunciation would improve it?

[@caseyclemens8687]

Yup we tend to let our words lean on each other think like domino's falling in slow motion

[@caseyclemens8687]

, it's pretty tough to say exactly how my accent sounds I don't really hear it but when I'm out of state I get comments and looks

[@narratormatt]

@@caseyclemens8687 I wonder what someone from outside the US would think of my own accent. Is it obvious what part of the US I'm from?

[@caseyclemens8687]

@@narratormatt never crossed my mind, do all Americans sound the same?

[@camerontribe]

Lenga aan yo payel bloo ahhzz

[@warning623]

How to speak like Forest Gump 101

[@wessanders4566]

I've been in Texas my whole life we have different slang and that was the worst accent I've heard so far

[@rockysquid1094]

Wes Sanders agreed

[@mckgogs3786]

lol no it's really not that off. there are different dialects and accents throughout this huge state, but it isn't that far off

[@TurkistanSeneti]

You're probably one of those who have never left their lil town in their life.

[@leslieharris2536]

Not bad. Not just right though.

[@marccasteel5480]

I've been all over Texas maybe 8% ppl talk like that the rest don't this is so inaccurate.

[@Matt-kr9bo]

Marc Casteel: Way more than 8%, but okay. I’m assuming you live in a city or a surrounding suburb. Or maybe you live in central Texas?

[@andie22311]

Marc Casteel you’re right. I really don’t like his attempt at a Texas accent. He sounds southern

[@Kimgottanewgroove]

I'm sorry but that isn't Texan. You have muddled Georgia and Virginia accents together. Good luck with your studies.

[@riley5501]

I've lived in Texas my whole life, and this isn't really a good accent. Your interpretation more like an over exaggerated older man.

[@andie22311]

riley exactly what I thought. Sounded like an actor trying to sound Texan but irritates us by sounding “southern.”

[@TCAustin1881]

Glad you think Texans sound like Forrest Gump. You sound like Alabama

[@extra2357]

I disagree that they sound like that.

[@narratormatt]

Fair enough. Do you have any clips you can refer us to that seem more accurate?

[@lindas5200]

Not a bad try, but..... you sound just like Bill Clinton! Lol!

[@narratormatt]

Huh. I take that to mean I sound more southern that Texan, correct?

[@lindas5200]

@@narratormatt Correct... It's a southern accent.. it just doesn't sound like you're from Texas. Part of what makes a Texas accent isn't always about how twangy someone sounds... a lot of times it's the fact that we don't always pronounce the entire word.... morning become mornin, fixing become fixin , barbed wire become bob wire and so on and so forth.

[@narratormatt]

@@lindas5200 Yes. I'm finding that ing to in' and the I to ah are keys.

[@-________-9267]

Omg his normal voice is so annoying tho

[@btk1873]

ROFL You have no clue! If you are not Texan you will never know! LMAO