Natural speech sample for dialect reference and study
Jemaine Clement
This video is timestamped with ad-free playback
Background & Context:
Jemaine Clement is a New Zealand actor and comedian from Wellington. His speech reflects characteristic New Zealand English shaped by Wellington urban influence, Māori/Pasifika contact varieties, and his dry comedic delivery.
Overall Speech Impression:
He speaks with a distinct New Zealand cadence—relaxed, rounded, and understated. His vowels display the hallmark NZ shifts, especially in the DRESS and KIT words, and his phrasing carries a calm, dry sense of timing.
Key Phonetic Features:
• NZ DRESS vowel shifts upward toward KIT
(“dress” → “driss,” “men” → “min,” “best” → “bist”)
• NZ KIT vowel centralizes toward a schwa-like sound
(“kit” → “kət,” “fish and chips” → “fush and chups”)
• Rounded NZ GOAT vowel (“goat” → “goe-ut”)
• Backed TRAP vowel (“trap” → closer to “trep”)
• Soft consonant articulation with light aspiration
• Smooth, steady pacing with understated intonation
How Actors Can Use This Example:
Ideal for portraying New Zealand characters, especially urban Wellington or North Island roles. A strong reference for authentic, recognizable New Zealand English without exaggeration.
