Carson Becketts accent?

[Crewman47]

I've been rewatching Atlantis and so far I'm up to season 3 and one of the things that I've been finding hard to take serious is Becketts Scottish accent. Now I realise that like James Doohan, Paul McGillon is Canadian playing a Scotsman but tbh, Doohan played 10x better. I just can't seem to figure out where the accent is supposed to be from and the way he pronounces certain words and letters, (for example the word certain where he says cairtin instead of certin) is not how I've heard many Scots talk.

I'm scottish myself so is this just a case of McGillons Canadian accent being more prominent than his fake Scottish accent?

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

Well, he's not actually Scottish so that's probably it. To be honest, I couldn't tell it was fake and didn't know until I heard an interview with him but I guess someone who's actually Scottish would be able to catch it.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Would someone who's Scottish know what a Scottish accent sounds like?

To them, a proper Scottish accent wouldn't sound like an accent.

 

[bullethead]

I've listened to the SGA S1 commentary tracks and Paul McGillion is actually Scottish, but lived in Canada for years, so his Scottish accent isn't as pronounced as someone who has actually lived in Scotland all their life.

 

[Dr. San Guinary]

There are several different Scottish accents, are there not?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Just as a counter-point, what do Scottish people think of Mike Myers' accent in both So I Married An Axe Murderer & the 2nd and 3rd Austin Powers movies?

Accurate? Over the top?

He's Canadian born & raised and just seems to have a fascination with Scottishness.

 

[Dr. San Guinary]

^ "If it's nae Scottish, it's CRAAAAAP!"

 

[Jax]

There are several different Scottish accents, are there not?

Most if not all countries have variations on their accents and Beckett sounded Scottish to me when I watched SG-A.

 

[RoJoHen]

He sounded Scottish enough to me. I honestly thought it was the actor's true accent until I learned otherwise.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

I've listened to the SGA S1 commentary tracks and Paul McGillion is actually Scottish, but lived in Canada for years, so his Scottish accent isn't as pronounced as someone who has actually lived in Scotland all their life.

I believe a similar criticism is leveled at comedian/talk show host Craig Ferguson, who has lived in the US since the mid 90s.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

^Really? But he actually sounds Scottish, Paul McGillion does not sound Scottish at all when he speaks normally. Hang on a second...I just looked it up, McGillion moved to Canada when he was 2 years old. So of course his Scottish accent isn't noticeable.

And how can that be a criticism? "How dare your accent not be as thick as it once was! You jerk!" Sheesh, I don't care what you sound like, that's silly.

 

[October Surprise]

Would someone who's Scottish know what a Scottish accent sounds like?

To them, a proper Scottish accent wouldn't sound like an accent.

You can hear your own accent, especially when its contrasted against other peoples, as in a show full of Americans. I can 'hear' the Home Counties accent now I'm more used to hearing West Country voices.

 

[Kpnuts]

Would someone who's Scottish know what a Scottish accent sounds like?

To them, a proper Scottish accent wouldn't sound like an accent.

That's a mind-numbingly ridiculous thing to say. No offence.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Other people from the same area as me don't have an "accent" .

 

[TJinLOCA]

McGillion says he's imitating his father when he does Beckett ... it's a Glasgow accent, apparently. I know a number of Scottish folks who find it pretty convincing.

It's infinitely better than either James Doohan's or Simon Pegg's, in any case.

 

[BenRoethig]

What he sounds like is a Scottish person who has been in North America for a considerable amount of time.

 

[Pauln6]

McGillion's is an accent I recognised - Doohan's certainly wasn't. I thought Pegg's accent was ok even if the portrayal was very poor. Myers' accents aren't too bad either. No doubt all of them trip up in ways a scotsman would notice.

All of them are 90% better than ANY Irish accent to appear on US tv EVER. Please stop.

 

[Dr. San Guinary]

McGillion's is an accent I recognised - Doohan's certainly wasn't. I thought Pegg's accent was ok even if the portrayal was very poor. Myers' accents aren't too bad either. No doubt all of them trip up in ways a scotsman would notice.

Simon Pegg's wife (who is Scottish) helped him with his accent.

 

[Kai Winn]

nykl's czech was pretty good, but i don't think many folks got that.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Would someone who's Scottish know what a Scottish accent sounds like?

To them, a proper Scottish accent wouldn't sound like an accent.

I can hear when non-American actors are butchering an American accent, like that guy from Avatar. So I'm sure others can do the same for their own native accents as well.

All of them are 90% better than ANY Irish accent to appear on US tv EVER. Please stop.

How about all the Northern Irish characters in the current season of Sons of Anarchy? They seem authentic, or at least incomprehensible enough that I'd assume they are.