Accent Pros, LLC

Top ten reasons to speak American English with an American Accent

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:41:34 +0000

Why would someone want to change their accent when speaking American English?

1. Improves your intelligibility
2. Improves your intelligibility with your elders
3. Promotes friendships
4. Expands dating potential
5. Provides a perception that you are well educated or a polished professional
6. Builds trust and credibility for you with new acquaintances
7. Reduces prejudice for you with some Americans
8. Advances your career
9. Dominates the world as the international language
10. Presents a remarkable image considered total packaging

1. Stop repeating yourself. If you speak with a heavy accent, chances are you are asked to repeat yourself multiple times each day. Many Americans only speak English; therefore, they are not accustom to hearing and comprehending other languages, intonation patterns, and accents. Increasing your intelligibility with your friends, co-workers, clients, and/or patients should be your number one priority when making the decision to change your accent when speaking American English.

2. As individuals age, they typically tend to begin losing some hearing acuity. These individuals mean well, but are at a great disadvantage when expected to hear and comprehend all sounds including speech. When you speak with any individual who has a hearing loss, young or old, they will have a much more difficult time understanding you if you utilize different prosody or accent than they are used to hearing in American English.

3. It will be easier to make friends if you can accomplish accent neutralization. First impressions count in all societies and the United States is no different. When you meet someone for the first time, they will be making decisions immediately to determine if you are the type of individual whom they would like to be associated. Unfortunately, individuals who speak American English with an accent other than a Northern Midwest accent may be associated with many negative stereotypes. This is even true for Americans who speak using other “American accents.” If you work towards eliminating your accent you’ll have one less obstacle to deal with when meeting others.

4. Going out on a date could be easier with a reduced accent. Instead of being preoccupied with how your date will perceive your accent, you can spend the time being yourself and are more likely to be perceived well by your date. In an environment where everything you say has the possibility of being analyzed for hours or days afterward, you want to make sure that your full intentions come across and that nothing is misinterpreted due to your accent.

5. Speaking with a Northern Midwest American Accent is widely accepted as the preferred norm for Americans who are well educated. Developing the skill to speak with this particular American accent may provide you the competitive edge you desire in your specific profession.

6. In general, we as human beings trust other individuals based solely on how similar we are to each other. Beginning and developing personal or professional relationships with others is always heavily rooted on trust. When other individuals identify with you, one aspect they will consider is your language and accent. The key to your credibility may be expressed in the manner by which you project yourself as a speaker. Utilizing an American accent when speaking English with individuals, patients, or clients who only speak American English may build credibility. They may not know that you speak other languages and will perceive you as more like themselves. Speaking American English with an accent other than standard American English may be a disadvantage.

7. Unfortunately, prejudice in all societies is still prevalent and the United States is no different. Individual prejudices vary depending on the region or city, but continue to be wide spread. Some American citizens believe all individuals who live in the United States should speak English with an “American accent.” Those same Americans make judgments regarding individuals who do not meet their own self created criteria for appropriate speech patterns. The only way to avoid this potential prejudice is to learn the skill of speaking American English with a Northern Midwest American accent.

8. Speaking American English can improve your career. Get higher paying jobs and achieve the career you have always wanted. Communication is a cornerstone of almost every profession in the United States and the world. If you are identified as a skilled communicator in addition to the remainder of your admirable qualities, you will get chosen for promotions before all others who do not possess the same level of communicative prowess.

9. In the age of globalization where connecting to the outside world can be done with a slight touch of a finger, communicating with an American accent may be a great advantage. American English is still dominating the world as the international language of choice and will continue to be the mode of communication exchange all over the globe for a long time to come. Being able to speak and understand American English is indeed an added feature in one’s image and corporate agenda.

10. Many individuals believe that ninety percent of communication is non-verbal and only ten percent is verbal. With this idea in mind, one must consider every aspect of their personal appearance. The next and most crucial step for all individuals includes the language and manner in which that language is spoken. Of course, language and vocabulary are cornerstones of communication, but the accent in which you speak makes a surmountable difference in how you are perceived by others. Creating a remarkable image including all aspects of professional appearance and speaking pattern are part of total packaging for any individual.

Can I learn to speak with an American accent as an adult?

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:21:35 +0000

One should not believe the myth that after the age of twelve people are incapable of learning a new language. Children before the age of twelve appear to have an easier time learning new languages because the language centers in their brain are more attune to the rhythm and pronunciations found in a language. Children learn by repeating the words aloud as the first step in learning a new language, whereas an adult would be more inclined to try and read unfamiliar words before speaking them. Children are less self conscious about making mistakes. Adults who are learning a new language know that they could be easily stereotyped by someone they are interacting with should they make a mistake, so in order to avoid this possible embarrassment they communicate in their native language. For adults, learning a new language may be viewed as a necessary hurdle rather than a true learning experience for pleasure. Adults can learn a new language if they are willing to make the extra effort.

What does it mean to “speak American”?

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:18:12 +0000

There is a general American English Accent which can be found across the United States. As more people from specific regions have begun to migrate across the country in search of jobs and other opportunities, the accents that used to distinguish certain areas are slowly disappearing. Even Americans who grew up in the United States and speak only American English sometimes choose to work individually or with a speech-language pathologist to change their accent. Although this fact may seem surprising, the reality is true. A Northern Midwest American Accent is widely considered standard American English and is most often spoken by scholars and other well educated individuals including national television and radio commentators and hosts.

Will I change my identity if I lose my natural accent while speaking American English?

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:15:59 +0000

Reducing your natural accent has the potential to feel forced initially; therefore, individuals should change their accent at their own pace. A speech-language pathologist can help with this process. Regardless of how quickly you make the decision to change your accent, you must be comfortable with the changes above all else. This comfort level usually develops slowly, as some people acknowledge that changing their accent makes them feel like they are losing a part of their identity.

Can I learn to speak with a Standard American Accent?

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:10:16 +0000

Even though it may seem difficult at times, you have the ability to change your accent. One of the most important factors in accent reduction is gaining the ability to use an American Accent during typical everyday conversations and stressful situations. The first step towards that goal is to learn the differences between your current speech patterns, including accent, and standard American accent. After learning those differences, many individuals work to improve their accent by completing self-study or by working with a specially trained professional, typically a speech-language pathologist, to coach them through the process. Please do not hesitate to use the resources for a free accent reduction quiz and tutorial linked to this website at accentpros.com.

Do Americans who only speak English have an accent?

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:22:52 +0000

There are many different accents used by Americans who only speak one language, which is typically American English. The various accents can be heard regionally throughout the South, North, East, West, Northeast, Midwest, and upper Midwest across the United States. All of the various accents are considered forms of American speech. A speaker utilizing a Midwestern American accent would be considered to have an accent if he encountered a person who speaks with a Southern American English accent. Although Americans utilize a variety of different accents when speaking English, an upper Midwestern accent is considered to be standard American English and is widely regarded as the preferred accent utilized by scholars, news broadcasters, and other educated professionals across the entire United States. Upper Midwestern American English is commonly spoken in northern Illinois, northern Indiana, northern Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas.

What is an American accent?

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:56:31 +0000

An accent is commonly thought to be made up of the following aspects: the amount of stress added to specific words in a sentence, connections between words, and the pronunciation of the vowels and consonants in a language. An accent is a variation in the way these sounds are produced, which varies from region to region.

How do you talk with an American Accent?

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:24:16 +0000

If you would like to talk with an American accent, you’ve come to the right place. Try one of our free accent reduction tutorials or you can contact us directly to discuss our accent reduction services.