So what do you think? Should people change their accents? When learning another language, do you aim for native sounding or foreign sounding? Do you love your accent? Do you say it’s other people’s problem if they cannot understand you?
So what do you think? Should people change their accents? When learning another language, do you aim for native sounding or foreign sounding? Do you love your accent? Do you say it’s other people’s problem if they cannot understand you?
accentmodblog said
Your questions bring to mind an incident I saw years ago on an Amtrak train traveling north from New York City to Springfield. A man kept asking the conductor about the time frame of “hot food.” The conductor suggested the cafe car, but the man kept repeating the question. Finally, the conductor told him he could get off the train in New Haven, where there would be a short break and vending machines. The man did leave the train at New Haven, and did not return.
Noticing his absence, the conductor told his co-worker about the man, saying that he took too long to get his hot food.
The co-worker was aghast. “No!” he said, pointing to the man’s ticket receipt above the seat. “I think he wanted to go to Hartford!”
So yes, I do think that accents can affect understanding and, consequently, day to day lives.
Joanne Mason | Homepage | 04.15.08 – 12:01 pm |
accentmodblog said
I think if you’re involved in a profession (medical especially) where it’s highly important that people understand exactly what you’re saying then yes, you should work on developing an intelligible accent.
Kris | Homepage | 04.16.08 – 7:23 am | #
accentmodblog said
Joanne, your story points to the frustration all around of people with accents. The man was saying “Hartford” and if he had had the opportunity to write it, he would have been clear, but his accent really stood in his way. I hope he got to his destination!
Erica Walch | Homepage | 04.17.08 – 5:21 pm |
accentmodblog said
Having just returned from France, I am acutely aware of my American accent while speaking French, and I give myself a headache trying to remedy it. People definitely have trouble understanding me from time to time, and in addition, a heavy accent often makes them switch to English for my benefit all together, thus negating any practice I was getting.
Accents are great, but for some, like me, I think they can be a source of insecurity too. Modifying them seems like another step in the process of fluency, and as you’ve said, it’s an individual choice. It’s not someone else’s problem if they can’t understand you though – if I need the number 58 bus and it sounds like I said 158, it’s very much my problem!
Jaclyn Stevenson | Homepage | 04.18.08 – 3:41 pm | #