How important is it to speak English with the right accent?

How important is it to speak English with the right accent?

Not only will a good accent impact the way other people view you, it can also positively influence your perception of language learning. If people don’t understand you because of your pronunciation, even if you are saying a perfectly correct sentence, you might get discouraged or even start to resent the language.

Can you be fluent in a language with an accent?

Some bilinguals even have an accent in all of their languages. Finally, although having an accent does not normally impede communication, when it is very strong, it may do so, even though the person may be fluent in the language being spoken.

How do you understand people with accents better?

1. Don’t Pretend to Understand. It is perfectly correct to gently explain you’re having a little difficulty understanding them.
2. Don’t RUSH. Rushing threatens customers.
3. Don’t Shout. Those with a foreign accent are NOT hard of hearing.
4. Don’t Be Rude. No one really thinks they’re rude.
5. Consider a Job Aid at Your Desk.

How does accent affect language?

However, having an accent may cause some difficulties in communicating with other native English speakers, both at work and in social situations. For example, when a person speaks a second or third language it is natural for them to do so using the rules of their native language.

Can accent be neutralized?

Accent neutralization is the process of understanding subtle regional differences in the way a language is spoken, and trimming the edges to make one’s speech sound more neutral. Accent neutralization is not about adopting a new accent, and speaking like someone a person is not.

Is it okay to have an accent?

The short answer is: It doesn’t matter. The “quality” of your English does not depend on the origin of your accent. There’s no such thing as a “good” or “bad” accent. But an understanding of clarity in English, and how your pronunciation can affect communication, does matter, and that’s something you can improve.

Can you hear your own accent?

We can’t hear our own accents, or even the way our voices sound to others, because we can only hear ourselves speak within the resonance chamber called our skulls. You can only hear your voice as it really is by recording it and listening to it.

Why can’t native English speakers understand me?

Reason #5: You speak English with less confidence than you do in your native language. The last reason that native English speakers might not understand you is because you speak English with less confidence than you do in your native language. We’ve all been there!

Do you have an accent if it’s not your native language?

As a native English speaker (UK English) I hear a lot of people speaking my native language with an accent. 99\% of the time I have no problem with it at all. Of course people have an accent if it’s not their native language: I’m incredibly impressed if they don’t, rather than the other way around.

Should you work on your accent?

Because you and your life circumstances are unique, the decision of whether to work on your accent is personal. If you mostly interact with other non-native English speakers or native speakers who live in your home country or region, then you may be perfectly fine speaking global English.

How can I reduce my accent when speaking English?

Speak often // When you speak a new language, you’re training the muscles in your mouth. You need to learn to produce new sounds and new combinations of sounds, and the only way to get better at this is with practice. So if you’re goal is to reduce your accent, speak often!