Diction & Projection

*Diction is a very important part of an Actors job. This tongue twister can be said to help with diction.

~You should say it slowly at first, making sure you enunciate every part clearly. After you are familiar with it you can speed it up. Speeding it up is the second level of diction "training", making sure you can speak CLEARLY and at a good speed!

I had a Hippopotamus
I kept him in a shed
I fed him up on vitamins (said like vih-tah-mins)
And vegetable bread (said like veg-ah-tah-bull)
Lest he should be affected
By depression or the dumps
By Hippopotameasles
Or Hippopotamumps!


*Projection is also a very important part of an Actors job. You should practice projecting - when and where it will not bother others, PROJECTING IS NOT YELLING. Use your diaphragm the way you would if you were singing. You can use this tongue twister, or your lines. Perhaps you practice in a large room in your house, with someone listening to you on the opposite side of the room, making sure they can hear everything you say - and that it is said clearly.

Remember when you are performing, you want everyone in that very large auditorium to be able to hear you!!!

:o)