Russian
Qualities of Russian dialect:
Linguistic History: Slavic language.
Geography: Largest country in the world. Sweeping plains that are steppe to the south and forested to the north. Mountains are along the south.
Common jobs: Loggers. Miners. Oil refining.
Stereotypes: Mobsters. Heavy drinkers. Gold-diggers. Always serious. Communists.
Images: (COMING SOON!)
Dialect qualities:
Substitute a soft "KH" for initial "h" (there is no h in Russian)
Substitute "v" for "w" or pronounce "w" correctly (your choice)
For "TH/th" substitute "d/t" or "v/f"
"r" is frontally trilled (one flap)
Helpful hints: For placement: lips are slightly parted and the tongue is often forward and up towards the upper or hard palate (the roof of the mouth)
In a declarative sentence, there is a rising intonation pattern until the end of the sentence, which ends on a falling tone.
Practice phrases: I want to speak Russian.
What do you want from me?
Why do you always go around dressed in black?
The party was lasting all night; I had a wonderful time!
Excuse me, can you move? We want to sit down.
There were a lot of things that happened in those years that we don't like to talk about.
You can say what you like, but it's not going to happen... of course not.
Practice/Example links:
Robert Blumenfeld Recordings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FplGgT6FdIo
Pavel Chekhov (Star Trek): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSQWO5REZbU
"I Will Survive" cover (because why not): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSONwwW5DjE
Uldus Bakhtiozina: Photographer TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxEqV8WtfOo
Foundations of Russian Accent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87GErKAhQSc
Plays
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov (basically anything by Chekhov)
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Television
Pavel Chekhov in Star Trek