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The importance of a good accent

 Language Learning Forum : General discussion Post Reply
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Teango
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 Message 17 of 255
10 December 2010 at 8:43pm | IP Logged 
I think it all depends on which language you're learning and how well accustomed native speakers are to hearing their language spoken differently and with differing levels of fluency.

For example, I've noticed how some of my Russian friends find it particularly challenging to understand what other non-natives are saying, whereas by comparison, I'm quite used to hearing English spoken in a variety of ways and at all sorts of levels. So be it listening to Jamaican patois or laughing along to Rab C Nesbitt on the tele, it all just comes quite naturally really.

However I accept that this may not always be the case with other languages, or at least not to the same extent. This is why I'd say that a good accent is always a bonus and something good to aim for, but it's probably much more important in countries where variation in pronunciation is less common.
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mick33
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 Message 18 of 255
10 December 2010 at 8:43pm | IP Logged 
Solfrid Cristin wrote:
How important is a good accent for your perception of language skills? I ask because again the Nobel Peace Price seremony is tomorrow, which means that the entire Norwegian poulation cringes in anticipation of the whole world listening to the head of the Nobel Commitee, Thorbjørn Jagland's hideous English accent. His English as such, is actually not bad. He has a very broad vocabulary, but his pronunciation is B A D.
Interesting, because I don't think Thorbjørn Jagland's English pronunciation is bad at all, but I'm not usually critical of other people's English pronunciation. If I understand you, then your accent is fine.

Solfrid Cristin wrote:
so what comes across as most fluent to you? Someone with a great vocabulary but a terrible accent, or someone with a limited vocabulary and a flawless accent.
Well, I would say that someone with a great vocabulary and an intelligible accent (which could still be thick) can come across as fluent to me. Other things I would listen for, if I wanted to decide whether someone else is fluent, are word order and how much colloquial or academic language is being used.

Solfrid Cristin wrote:
Personally I admit that I tend to be taken in by a good accent. I have difficulties perceiving someone as really good at a language if they have a very bad accent.
I can also be taken in by a good accent, but not for long. Some people can sound like they are native or near-native when they say a few simple greetings and short sentences, but if they keep talking the limited speaking ability could be more noticable.

EDIT: I had to correct a typo.

Edited by mick33 on 13 December 2010 at 6:49am

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justberta
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 Message 19 of 255
10 December 2010 at 9:29pm | IP Logged 
Someone with a limited vocabulary and a flawless accent is more fluent in my book. We
aren't talking about memorizing a few phrases from a phrasebook here, rather being on
an intermediate level with flawless pronunciation and accent.
Thorbjorn Jagland and that old Norwegian actress embarrassed me on TV today, our King
is worse though! Yet compared to Putin, Morales et al. the Norwegians are pretty good.

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ruskivyetr
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 Message 20 of 255
11 December 2010 at 12:52am | IP Logged 
In my opinion, a good accent is important. I've noticed that if you have an accent, people slow down their speech
and use simpler words as if accommodating a conversation with a child. Regardless of how well you understand the
language, or how well you speak it, a person will always act otherwise.
Obtaining an accent that people respect (as in they will speak to you like they normally speak) isn't hard. Most
people learning English/other school languages, just pronounce words without trying to have a better accent.
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Lucas
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 Message 21 of 255
11 December 2010 at 8:55am | IP Logged 
I'm surprised Selfrid (a language specialist) confuses accent and prononciation.
A foreign accent is often funny, pleasant or nice...a bad prononciation is never, because
it interfers with comprehension.
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Aineko
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 Message 22 of 255
11 December 2010 at 9:32am | IP Logged 
ruskivyetr wrote:
I've noticed that if you have an accent, people slow down their
speech
and use simpler words as if accommodating a conversation with a child.

I got the impression people on this topic have different concept of 'having an accent'. I
have an obvious accent (obvious even if I just say 'yes', since my 'yes' differs from
spiky, short and quick Kiwi girls' 'yes'). However, in four years no one ever has slowed
down their speech when talking to me. So, we must be talking about different 'kinds' of
accent.

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Solfrid Cristin
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 Message 23 of 255
11 December 2010 at 10:56pm | IP Logged 
Lucas wrote:
I'm surprised Selfrid (a language specialist) confuses accent and prononciation.
A foreign accent is often funny, pleasant or nice...a bad prononciation is never, because
it interfers with comprehension.


If you are referring to me (Solfrid not Selfrid :-) I am not sure I would go as far as calling myself a language specialist in the present company.

An accent can be light, cute, or it can be heavy to the point of being incomprehensible. In my book that is a sliding slope, not two different alternatives. But please tell me where I am confused. I am always willing to learn :-)
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microsnout
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 Message 24 of 255
12 December 2010 at 1:07am | IP Logged 
There is certainly a distinction between accents and correct pronunciation yet they are obviously related. Different
L1 native accents like British, Scottish and Canadian English are all considered correct pronunciation by virtue of
being shared by millions of people.   Less desired are the crossover L2 accents but some of these are pleasing as
well - for example I like a French Canadian accent in spoken English if the underlying grammar is correct.

The worst to my ear is what I would call a "language student" accent caused by spending too much time practicing
with other students of the same level. Sometimes in this situation you need to repeat something in a LESS authentic
way for them to understand - the exact opposite of what is needed with native speakers. That is you repeat in the
more anglicised way that they are used to. I guess this is just bad pronunciation.

As mentioned above it is clear that people judge your fluency by your pronunciation and this can be a problem if
your listening comprehension is not up to par as you can receive a torrent of high speed native content in return if
you say something too well. It is unfortunate however to need to dial back your authenticity a bit to prevent this.


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