Lindsay Lohan had people tongue-tied this week when she unveiled a bizarre new accent that sounded — in a manner of speaking — fake.
TheWrap reached out to Roslyn Burns, a socio-linguist at the University of California at Los Angeles, to find out if Lohan’s accent, and her explanation for it, are to be believed.
“It’s a mixture of most of the languages I can understand or am trying to learn,” the actress told the Daily Mail this week. “I’ve been learning different languages since I was a child. I’m fluent in English and French, can understand Russian, and am learning Turkish, Italian and Arabic.”
“From my work on language contact effects — which draws heavily on the field of language acquisition at the individual level — this is likely not the case unless she has actually been immersed 24/7,” Burns said.
Burns said that Lohan isn’t landing the “vowel characteristics” of the languages she cited.
“The languages that she claims to know/study — Arabic, French, Italian, Russian, Turkish — do not have the vowel characteristics that she has been putting on,” Burns said, after reviewing a video of the actress brandishing the accent. “I have lived in communities with expats who natively speak these languages, and what Lindsay’s doing doesn’t match, not even for the communities that learned British English instead of American English.”
Burns opined that Lohan’s newly adopted speaking voice is “really some modified version of British English,” and that she’s likely putting on the accent to fit in with a more international crowd.
“It’s more likely that she is doing something either consciously or subconsciously to mark herself as a member of a certain community, be that ‘global citizen,’ ‘non-American English speaker’ or what have you,” Burns said.
“She seems to be trying to show some sort of ‘European identity': She’s talking about ‘Greeks,’ ‘Italians’ and ‘Irish’ in this interview, and her fiance is Russian.” Burns said, adding that Lohan “might not consciously know that she is targeting this identity.”
Burns also called out Lohan’s pro-refugee comments in the interview, noting a disconnect between her British-leaning accent and her stance on the issue.
“The irony behind that is she is disavowing American close-mindedness by using a British accent, when the exact same stance about refugees in the UK helped fuel the Brexit vote,” Burns said.
Burns also noted that the actress is slowing her speech in the interview — another sign that Lohan’s accent doesn’t ring true.
“She is clearly speaking slowly because she hasn’t perfected what she is doing, which once again points to this not being a direct consequence of her studying other languages,” Burns concluded.
37 Hollywood Stars for Donald Trump in 2020 (Photos)
With time running out for the President to gain Joe Biden in the polls, here are 34 of Trump's celebrity fans rooting for the President to win a second term.
"I think Trump, no matter what anybody thinks of him, is doing a good job at trying to get these states — and all of the American people — what they need," Dennis Quaid told the Daily Beast in April 2020.
Comedian Roseanne Barr tweeted a picture of herself wearing a "Trump 2020" baseball cap with the caption, "2020 vision."
Former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Kristy Swanson in March tweeted, "An honor to meet you Mr. President."
Former NFL great Hershel Walker spoke at the RNC in August and tweeted, "TRUMP PENCE 2020"
"Thank you for being the best President ever," tweeted Diamond and Silk.
Mariano Rivera, the Former Yankee pitcher who was awarded the Medal of Freedom from the President in 2019 said, "He's doing the best for the United States."
"Phenomenal President. Quite possibly the USA," tweeted UFC fighter Conor McGregor back in January. "Most certainly one of them anyway, as he sits atop the shoulders of many amazing giants that came before him."
"We're on the very front end of this right now, and I feel comfortable and confident that because of strong leadership," said Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View" in March supporting the President's coronavirus response.
Former "Entertainment Tonight" anchor Mary Hart hosted the President's controversial July 4th celebration at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota back in July.
"He is literally going to go down in history as one of our greatest Presidents," said "Pawn Stars" Rick Harrison at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.
NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie sported a "Trump 2020" on his car at NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, back in July.
UFC fighter Colby Covington recently supported the President on his Instagram saying, "Had a tremendous time yesterday with @erictrump & @carlos_e_gavidia at the MAGA Boat Parade in Miami!"
“All I gotta say is Trump 2020, bitch. Fuck I look like paying an extra 33 in taxes for Biden," rapper Lil Pump said on his Instagram story in October 2020.
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Golf legend Jack Nicklaus in a statement on his Twitter "strongly recommend(s) you consider Donald J. Trump for another four years. I certainly have and have already cast my vote for him!"
Lil Wayne shocked fans on Oct. 29 when he tweeted a photo of himself with President Trump. He captioned the pic by saying that "besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership."
NFL Legend Brett Favre tweeted, "In this election, we have freedom of choice, which all should respect. For me & these principles, my Vote is for @RealDonaldTrump."
With the election underway, here are the stars who will be voting for President Donald Trump’s second term in 2020
With time running out for the President to gain Joe Biden in the polls, here are 34 of Trump's celebrity fans rooting for the President to win a second term.