Understanding accents and their role in language learning

Charlotte Guest
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Reading time: 4 minutes

Accents are a fascinating aspect of language that can reveal a lot about a person's background and experiences. For language learners, accents often become a central focus, sometimes to the detriment of more important language skills. In this post, we¡¯ll explore what accents are, why people have them, and why intelligibility is more important than mastering an accent.

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What are accents?

An accent is a distinctive way of pronouncing words that is characteristic of a particular region, social group, or native language. It involves variations in phonetics, intonation and rhythm. For example, a person from London might speak English with a different accent compared to someone from Edinburgh.

Accents are natural and inevitable; everyone has one. They are influenced by various factors, including geography, culture and exposure to other languages. When you learn a new language, your native language influences your pronunciation.

Depending on your accent, you may pronounce some sounds in certain ways that aren't reflected in another language, or perhaps certain sounds or words don't even exist in your first language. For example in Japanese, there is no /L/ sound, so a native Japanese speaker might struggle to pronounce the word "love" with an accurate /L/ sound.

Another example is . They often use clicks in their language, which is not found in many other languages, making it difficult for non-native speakers to imitate and learn. For anyone who has to make a sound they aren't used to, it can be initially difficult as the mouth has to move in a way unfamiliar to the speaker.

There is even a discussion on whether physical aspects affect accent, such as the shape of your teeth, tongue and oral posture (the way your teeth rest together and tongue sits in your mouth). There are also many other physical factors that are under debate on whether they impact voice/accent.

Why do people have accents?

People have accents for several reasons:

  1. Geographical influence: The region where a person grows up significantly affects their accent. Even within the same country, accents can vary widely from one city or town to another.
  2. Cultural factors: Cultural background plays a role in shaping how people speak. For instance, social norms and traditions can influence speech patterns and pronunciations.
  3. Native language impact: Your first language has a profound impact on how you pronounce sounds in a new language. Certain sounds may not exist in your native language, making them harder to replicate accurately in another.
  4. Exposure and practice: The amount of exposure and practice you have with a new language can affect your accent. Regular interaction with fluent speakers can help you adopt more native-like pronunciations. If you spend a lot of time around foreign media you may start picking up accents from there.

Have you ever spoken to someone and you feel like they're mimicking your accent? or that you're subconsciously mimicking theirs? This can be due to the ', when a person adopts and mimics things such as gestures or voice of the person they are in conversation with. This is seen as a subconscious way to build rapport and connection with others.

Why do accents matter?

Accents matter because they are a core part of our identity and how we relate to the world. For language learners, accents can be a source of pride or frustration.

However, it¡¯s essential to understand that having a foreign accent is perfectly normal and not a barrier to effective communication. In fact, accents add diversity and richness to language and should be embraced.

Why intelligibility is more important than mastering an accent

In the context of language learning, intelligibility¡ªbeing understood by others¡ªshould be your primary goal rather than eliminating or changing your accent. Here¡¯s why:

  1. Effective communication: The main aim of learning a new language is to communicate effectively. If others can understand you clearly, your accent becomes less important.
  2. Reduced pressure: Focusing on intelligibility rather than perfecting an accent reduces stress and makes the learning process more enjoyable. You can concentrate on expanding your vocabulary and improving grammar instead.
  3. Cultural acceptance: Many native speakers are accustomed to hearing various accents and can understand them without difficulty. They appreciate the effort you put into learning their language, regardless of your accent.
  4. Retaining your identity: Trying to eliminate your accent may mean losing part of your cultural identity. Embracing your accent shows others that you are proud of where you come from and can open the door to meaningful conversations about culture and diversity.
  5. Practical progress: Concentrating on intelligibility allows you to make practical progress in real-world situations, such as ordering food, asking for directions, or participating in conversations.

Tips for improving intelligibility

  • Listen and mimic: Spend time listening to fluent speakers and try to mimic their intonation and rhythm.
  • Practice pronunciation: Focus on pronouncing key sounds correctly.
  • Record yourself: Recording your speech and comparing it to fluent speakers can help you identify areas for improvement.
  • Seek Feedback: Don¡¯t hesitate to ask fluent speakers for feedback on your pronunciation and clarity. It's the best way to determine your intelligibility.

Be proud of your accent

Accents are a natural part of language and identity. While they can influence how we are perceived, they should not be a major concern for language learners. Instead, focus on being understood and enjoying the process of learning a new language. Remember, an accent is not a flaw; it¡¯s your blueprint.

Read out blog posts 'What does it mean to be fluent in English?' and 'Understanding dialects in the English language'

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    11 ways you can avoid English jargon at work

    By Steffanie Zazulak

    From ¡°blue-sky thinking¡± to ¡°lots of moving parts¡±, there are many phrases used in the office that sometimes seem to make little sense in a work environment. These phrases are known as ¡®work jargon¡¯ ¨C or you might hear it referred to as ¡®corporate jargon¡¯, ¡®business jargon¡¯ or ¡®management speak¡¯. It¡¯s a type of language generally used by a profession or group in the workplace, and has been created and evolved over time. And whether people use this work jargon to sound impressive or to disguise the fact that they are unsure about the subject they are talking about, it¡¯s much simpler and clearer to use plain English. This will mean that more people understand what they are saying ¨C?both fluent and second-language English speakers.

    The preference for?plain English?stems from the desire for communication to be clear and concise. This not only helps fluent English speakers to understand things better, but it also means that those learning English pick up a clearer vocabulary. This is particularly?important in business, where it¡¯s important that all colleagues feel included as part of the team and can understand what is being said. This, in turn, helps every colleague feel equipped with the information they need to do their jobs better, in the language they choose to use.

    Here, we explore some of the most common examples of English jargon at work that you might hear and suggest alternatives you can use¡­

    Blue-sky thinking

    This refers to ideas that are not limited by current thinking or beliefs. It¡¯s used to encourage people to be more creative with their thinking. The phrase could be confusing as co-workers may wonder why you¡¯re discussing the sky in a business environment.

    Instead of:?¡°This is a new client, so we want to see some blue-sky thinking.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This is a new client, so don¡¯t limit your creativity.¡±

    Helicopter view

    This phrase is often used to mean a broad overview of the business. It comes from the idea of being a passenger in a helicopter and being able to see a bigger view of a city or landscape than if you were simply viewing it from the ground.?Second-language English speakers might take the phrase literally, and be puzzled as to why someone in the office is talking about taking a helicopter ride.

    Instead of:?¡°Here¡¯s a helicopter view of the business.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This is a broad view of the business.¡±

    Get all your ducks in a row

    This is nothing to do with actual ducks; it simply means to be organized. While we don¡¯t exactly know the origin of this phrase, it probably stems from actual ducklings that walk in a neat row behind their parents.

    Instead of:?¡°This is a busy time for the company, so make sure you get all your ducks in a row.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This is a busy time for the company, so make sure you¡¯re as organized as possible.¡±

    Thinking outside the box

    Often used to encourage people to use novel or creative thinking. The phrase is commonly used when solving problems or thinking of a new concept. The idea is that, if you¡¯re inside a box, you can only see those walls and that might block you from coming up with the best solution.

    Instead of:?¡°The client is looking for something extra special, so try thinking outside the box.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°The client is looking for something extra special, so try thinking of something a bit different to the usual work we do for them.¡±

    IGUs (Income Generating Units)

    A college principal alerted us to this one ¨C it refers to his students. This is a classic example of jargon when many more words are used than necessary.

    Instead of:?¡°This year, we have 300 new IGUs.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This year, we have 300 new students.¡±

    Run it up the flagpole

    Often followed by ¡°¡­and see if it flies¡± or ¡°¡­and see if anyone salutes it¡±, this phrase is a way of asking someone to suggest an idea and see what the reaction is.

    Instead of:?¡°I love your idea, run it up the flagpole and see if it flies.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°I love your idea, see what the others think about it.¡±

    Swim lane

    A visual element ¨C a bit like a flow chart ¨C? that distinguishes a specific responsibility in a business organization. The name for a?swim lane?diagram comes from the fact that the information is broken up into different sections ¨C or ¡°lanes¡± ¨C a bit like in our picture above.

    Instead of:?¡°Refer to the swim lanes to find out what your responsibilities are.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°Refer to the diagram/chart to find out what your responsibilities are.¡±

    Bleeding edge

    A way to describe something that is innovative or cutting edge. It tends to imply an even greater advancement of technology that is almost so clever that it is unbelievable in its current state.

    Instead of:?¡°The new technology we have purchased is bleeding edge.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°The new technology we have purchased is innovative.¡±

    Tiger team

    A tiger team is a group of experts brought together for a single project or event. They¡¯re often assembled to assure management that everything is under control, and the term suggests strength.

    Instead of:?¡°The tiger team will solve the problem.¡±?

    Try saying:?¡°The experts will solve the problem.¡±?

    Lots of moving parts

    When a project is complicated, this phrase is sometimes used to indicate lots is going on.

    Instead of:?¡°This project will run for several months and there are lots of moving parts to it.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This project will run for several months and it will be complicated.¡±

    A paradigm shift

    Technically, this is a valid way to describe changing how you do something and the model you use. The word ¡°paradigm¡± (pronounced ¡°para-dime¡±) is an accepted way or pattern of doing something. So the ¡°shift¡± part means that a possible new way has been discovered. Second-language English speakers however, might not be familiar with the meaning and might be confused about what it actually means.

    Instead of:?¡°To solve this problem, we need a paradigm shift.¡±

    Try saying:?To solve this problem; we need to think differently.¡±