Lindsay Forauer '25

Linguistics and Theater

Newington, Connecticut

What drew you to this field of study?

As silly as it seems, I was drawn to dialect coaching [through] a YouTube video of a dialect coach performing accents from all the states in the U.S., and I became obsessed with it. I’ve done theater for a long time, and whenever I had a role that needed an accent, I always enjoyed doing my own research. I came to UMass as a linguistics major because I was most interested in phonetics and phonology (the linguistic studies of speech sounds) and how sounds could help me uncover more about accents and language. I added the theater major in my second semester of freshman year, and I was paired with my advisor, Elisa Gonzales (assistant professor of voice and acting), who is an experienced professional voice and dialect coach. The marriage of linguistics and theater has made so much sense in becoming a dialect coach.  

How do you conduct your research?

For dialect coaching, I mainly use the Knight-Thompson Speechwork (KTS) method, which uses sounds from native speakers of accents. I research the cultural context of the people who speak with that accent and the place they’re from, prosody of speech (musicality, pitch, tempo, vocal quality), oral posture (how the mouth moves to create the sounds of the accent), and specific pronunciation of vowels and consonants. I use audio and video recordings of people speaking the accent—including speakers of different ages and genders—and, when possible, interview people myself. I observe what these people do with their mouths when they speak and what idiosyncratic sounds they share. This research is presented as a resource for learning and practicing on a website that I created for the actors I coach.  

As a research assistant, I listen to and observe interviews that my advisor and her colleagues have conducted with people who are speakers of several Spanish diasporic accents. I compile notes on their prosody and oral posture, help create graphics for vowel space, find and analyze exemplary audio clips, and annotate waveforms of their speech.  

What do you see as the impact—or potential impact—of your work?

In theater, authenticity and inclusivity are highly valued, and the involvement of dialect coaches is so important to upholding these values. Professor Gonzales’s advice, “Imagine the person with that accent is in the room with you,” has helped me to get others to focus on not creating a caricature out of their character. There are almost always real people with these accents and their performance should be led with respect and as much information as possible. I aim to be specific in the accent we’re targeting and to not have the accent be the butt of any joke. This may sometimes be the case in a directorial take, but maintaining specificity is important throughout that. It’s rewarding as a coach and as a performer when people put in the work to create a genuine voice and accent for their character. That work can truly have a greater impact on presenting genuine stories through theater.

How does your faculty mentor support your research?

I owe so much to Professor Gonzales. She is a certified teacher of KTS and Fitzmaurice Voicework, which are both methods that I would love to be certified in as well. She saw something in me and has offered me so many opportunities. I have been an assistant or associate dialect coach alongside her on theater department productions. Thanks to her, I studied abroad in London through California State to learn accents of the British Isles with other KTS-certified teachers and one of the directors of KTS herself. I never would have found that experience on my own, and it was one of the most valuable things I’ve ever done. She has recommended me to local professional theater companies and a local high school for jobs as a dialect coach. In my role as her research assistant, she is always willing to help me further my abilities and challenge myself.

What do you find most exciting about your research?

I find it so exciting to share my research with others and see them grow. Working in accent can be super vulnerable because people are usually hyperaware of being respectful or doing the “right thing.” It’s so rewarding once that barrier is broken and people start to feel an accent coming naturally. I’ve seen that recognition happen in high schoolers and in professionals who have been teaching acting for years. The research I do prior to presenting information to actors is important in allowing them to apply it to the real world. This is where the work pays off.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud to inspire excitement for dialect in other people. This field is all about people and the voices they bring to life. Hearing someone find a new voice within themself and knowing I helped get them there brings me so much pride, as I hope it does for them. The work is important, but the connection with others is so valuable as well. Working with high schoolers is so fun because they show so much growth in a short amount of time. They can start from a place of such insecurity and reach a level of comfort that they can take pride in.

How has your research enhanced your overall educational experience at UMass?

My research has helped guide me to classes, both in linguistics and theater, that will advance my skills to become a good dialect coach. In addition, being in rehearsals and coaching actors in shows is so enriching to my overall experience. Getting to work with actors, creative teams, and directors helps me broaden my network and make connections with people who will continue to support and encourage me.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to work in theater and dialect coaching as much as possible, pursue certification in different voice and accent methods, and eventually go to grad school for voice and dialect. I’m not sure yet where these plans will take me, but I’m excited to graduate and start that journey!

Why would you recommend UMass to a friend?

There are so many opportunities at UMass. There is such a wide range of majors, but you can find your niche anywhere. Connecting with a mentor or a group of people that you click with and who challenge you will help you grow educationally and as a person. You can take on multiple majors and minors to feed multiple passions, or use them in conjunction to feed a single passion. UMass may seem so big at first, but everyone is able to find their group or interest that makes it feel like just the right fit.

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