Posted on 20 November 2014

The Globe and Mail:

“In his blog entry, the linguist David Crystal explains that key identifying features of a regional accent tend to disappear when singing: the intonation (as a melody replaces it), vowel length (for many syllables are elongated) and the vocal cadence. Crystal goes on to say that vowel quality is also often affected, “especially in classical singing, where vowels are articulated with greater openness than in everyday speech.”

I’ve often wondered this. Glad to finally get an answer (there’s more to it than what’s above, click through for the full thing). On another note, I’m enjoying the Globe’s Canada Q&A series.

Filed under: links, music