As a local English speaker who has labored in worldwide environments and who began studying French as an grownup, I’m very accustomed to accents — each my very own and people of others. I’ve seen an assumption that’s as irritating as it’s widespread: Folks usually assume that somebody’s accent is a mirrored image of their total potential in a language. Spoiler: It’s not. Let’s discuss this.
Photograph by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
I’ve at all times been fascinated by accents… international, regional, no matter. I really like them. I not solely discover the way in which individuals converse however how others react to them — each good and dangerous.
Then after I moved to France and have become the one with the international accent, as I navigated each day life in small-town France, one factor turned painfully clear: Folks have a whole lot of opinions about accents.
Now for the file, I’ve — and can at all times have — a international accent in French. Am I completely comprehensible? Sure. Do I sound French? Completely not. I don’t converse French with native stage fluency like Tom, however I’m fluent (two various things).
I truly assume having a international accent in French is an effective factor and is certainly NOT a defect in any means, form, or type. I’ve written a ton about international accents through the years however by no means about what I’m going to debate right here particularly.
Now to get into the subject of in the present day’s submit, accent and fluency are two completely completely different metrics, and conflating the 2 can result in dangerous assumptions—particularly for non-native audio system who already face sufficient stress.
Let me provide you with an instance of what I imply concerning the “heaviness” of 1’s accent vs. fluency:
I used to be in Florida visiting household after I was speaking to a neighbor a few man who was doing a little landscaping work on their property. The neighbor stated he does nice work though he speaks “damaged English” and may be very onerous to know.
The following day, I noticed the man out working of their yard and stated hey simply to be pleasant. I used to be shocked that he struck up a dialog since I used to be anticipating “damaged English.” However we went on to have a dialog about vegetation and the shortage of rain, and different small discuss.
Whereas this man had a fairly heavy non-native accent in English, he understood every part I stated, spoke utterly naturally, had a superb vocabulary and didn’t miss a beat. His English was close to good and it was clear his English was removed from being damaged. He spoke with near-native fluency, regardless of having a heavy accent.
Distinction that with somebody who might have a really gentle, easy-to-understand international accent in English however searches for phrases, makes a ton of errors, speaks very slowly, doesn’t perceive every part you say, and doesn’t sound very pure.
Then there’s an enormous spectrum between these two extremes. Like me… I’ve a average accent in French and am fluent however undoubtedly not native stage.
Accent ≠ Fluency
Let’s clear one thing up immediately, which is what I described above:
You might be extremely fluent—even near-native—in a second language and nonetheless have a robust accent.
You too can have a light-weight accent and be nice at pronunciation and nonetheless wrestle to string collectively sentences or observe a primary dialog.
It’s completely potential (and quite common!) to fulfill:
* An individual with a heavy accent, however whose vocabulary, grammar, idiomatic utilization, and listening comprehension are extremely robust. (Search for George Eddy, an American sports activities presenter and former basketball participant right here in France who I really like) My French trainer on the Alliance Française had a HEAVY accent in English, a lot in order that I assumed it was pretend at first, however her English, each written and spoken, was impeccable and would put most native audio system to disgrace.
* An individual with a gentle accent, who speaks tentatively, searches for phrases continually, or misunderstands half of what’s stated, in the event that they perceive in any respect. However might learn a line of textual content simply and be understood by just about everybody. My former SIL knew a dozen of phrases in English however couldn’t converse it, but when I requested her to repeat some sentences in English after me, she might mimic my accent scarily properly.
The distinction? One has robust linguistic competence. They’ve put within the time. The opposite has practiced phonetic mimicry—which, whereas spectacular, isn’t the identical as being fluent. A few of that is simply simpler for some than others.
Why this occurs
Accent is generally a motor ability. It includes muscle tissues, mouth positioning, rhythm, and sound manufacturing which might be usually deeply ingrained from early childhood.
If somebody begins studying a language after puberty (and many people do), it’s far much less possible they’ll lose their native accent completely—even when their fluency in that language turns into exceptionally robust.
Against this, somebody is perhaps good at imitating sounds, particularly in the event that they’re musically inclined or have publicity to native accents, however they might not but have the vocabulary, grammar basis, or listening potential to really use the language properly.
The hurt in misjudging individuals by their accent
There’s one thing deeply unfair—and admittedly, ignorant—about routinely equating a robust accent with “damaged” language abilities. When individuals say issues out of frustration like:
“Ugh, their English is so damaged. I can barely perceive them.”
That’s a you downside! Possibly it’s time to regulate your ears? Particularly because you most likely don’t converse their native language they usually’ve put within the time to study yours.
It’s one factor to politely say, “I’m not used to your accent. Might you please say that once more for me?” and one other factor completely to rudely say their English is damaged and be all bent out of practice about it.
Feedback like this are often reacting to an unfamiliar accent and NOT an absence of grammar or vocabulary.
I discover this angle to be the case with individuals who haven’t traveled a lot or encountered all kinds of accents. Even if you’re from a small city and don’t journey a lot, with in the present day’s entry to international TV reveals and YT, I really feel prefer it’s straightforward to show your self to quite a lot of accents.
But when not, there’s a form method to make clear what’s being stated. A method will make the particular person really feel horrible and the opposite is extra respectful. “Your English is so damaged. I can’t perceive you!” versus “I’m undecided I understood. Might you please say that once more a little bit slower please?”
And yet another factor, for the love of all issues holy, whenever you discover now we have an accent, do NOT squint your eyes at us like that’s going that can assist you perceive.
However anyway, one thing else I’ve seen is that folks like my dad’s neighbor are monolingual and undoubtedly haven’t ever studied one other language themselves.
They don’t understand how onerous it’s to grasp a brand new sound system. Or how a lot braveness it takes to talk a second language in any respect, not to mention begin a enterprise—particularly when somebody is perhaps silently judging your accent.
FYI, I’ll by no means sound French however my pronunciation is right so individuals perceive me and I’m not often requested to repeat myself. I’m fortunate that I’ve run into ignorant individuals very, very not often with regard to my accent.
However I’m triggered after I hear individuals talking English with heavy non-native accents who’re then handled badly by ignorant individuals.
I get defensive on different individuals’s behalves and you may rely on the truth that I set the neighbor straight the subsequent time I noticed her. Hahha, me.
Anyway, it simply takes time to get used to somebody’s accent and means of talking and there’s by no means any justification for rudeness.
Now if the accent is getting in the way in which of comprehension and it’s not an accent however extra of a mispronunciation problem, then it’s completely one thing for the particular person to work on. However a international accent in and of itself isn’t one thing to be ashamed of or choose another person for. Neither is it one thing to be nasty about.
Let’s flip the angle
Should you’ve ever studied a international language — let’s use French for my examples — take into consideration this:
* Would you need somebody to imagine your French was horrible simply since you nonetheless say “rue” with an American “R”?
* Would you admire being corrected in your pronunciation at work whilst you’re explaining an advanced thought—in good French grammar in entrance of an enormous group?
* Would you be okay with somebody calling your speech “damaged” although you learn French newspapers, work in French, and socialize in French each day?
That’s precisely the expertise many immigrants and non-native audio system face overseas, each single day.
What we must always actually be listening for
As a substitute of specializing in how somebody sounds, we must be asking:
* Can they specific themselves clearly?
* Do they perceive nuance and context?
* Can they navigate complicated matters or real-life conditions within the language?
These are the actual markers of fluency—not whether or not somebody sounds precisely such as you do.
Remaining ideas
Having an accent doesn’t imply somebody is much less clever, much less succesful, or much less fluent. It additionally doesn’t imply their speech is damaged. It usually simply means they discovered your language later in life.
So subsequent time you hear somebody talking with a robust accent, pause earlier than making assumptions. You is perhaps listening to somebody who’s fluent in a number of languages, has overcome immense challenges, and thinks in methods you’ve by no means thought-about.
Folks need to be heard for what they are saying—not simply how they are saying it.
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Have you ever skilled this type of factor—both as a language learner or a local speaker? Drop your ideas within the feedback.
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