For example, when a person speaks a second or third language it is natural for them to do so using the rules of their native language. However this can be quite different to English and may not sound right to native speakers of the language, making it difficult for them to understand.
This can cause frustration for the speaker as they are then asked to repeat what they have said or to find another way to explain themselves. Ineffective communication due to a strong accent can create barriers in business; it may also have negative effects on job performance, cause missed job opportunities, affect educational advancement and everyday life activities.
It may also affect your self-esteem. It is for these reasons that some people decide to modify an accent or learn how to change their accent to improve their English communication skills. Why are some accents often difficult to change? People often wonder why children are able to learn a language so easily.
The reason why is that at a young age the ability to learn a new language is at a peak and the process of language learning occurs more easily. As we get older however, learning a second language becomes a slow process, often needing years of study and practice.
Even after a long period of time of living in the country where the language is spoken, individuals may still not see any improvement in their pronunciation. Overcoming this will often require specialised accent training and practice. Example: Mrs L, a nurse from South Africa, had been living in Australia for ten years and always struggled to be understood. But after receive one-to-one accent training, she found she had much more confidence and patients could understand her more clearly.
Understanding accents: Effective communication is about more than simply pronunciation. Retrieved November 12, from www. Language Trade-Off? The findings suggest better assessment and education ScienceDaily shares links with sites in the TrendMD network and earns revenue from third-party advertisers, where indicated. Print Email Share. Boy or Girl? Just a Game?
Living Well. View all the latest top news in the environmental sciences, or browse the topics below:. Keyword: Search. This can come across as being angry or having a bad attitude, even though they are using the tone of voice and flow of speech customary in their native tongues.
It can also give off the image that you do not completely comprehend the English language. Even from within a company, speaking with a heavy accent can stunt your upward movement. Nguyen this afternoon. How are you going to pronounce his name? Quite often in work environments, ethnic groups tend to stick together. This is largely due to increased familiarity, and a certain degree of comfort attained when speaking and interacting with people of their own heritage.
Caucasian workers often cast jokes and stereotypes about minority groups, but minority groups also create their own jokes and stereotypes about Caucasians.
Although hilarious at times, stereotypes push preconceived notions upon us and are continual sources of hurt for a staggering number of people all over the world. Whether you have an accent or not, the goal should be to lessen the cultural and linguistic differences that separate us. You may also want to review best practices when dealing with those who speak ESL English as second language.
Simply having an ethnic sounding name can also hinder your image. The situation can also flip, and managers and directors with ethnic backgrounds may tend to avoid individuals with simple American names such as Hank Smith or Bob Jones.
Very common names can relay the image of simplicity and lack of depth in personality or expertise. The solution is to brand yourself wisely, control what is controllable, and be proactive in shaping the way others perceive you. In order to create diverse, inclusive, and productive work environments, we all need to work together and conquer our cultural differences.
Language and heritage are fundamental elements that make us different, but it is from leveraging our differences that we can gain broader perspectives and create better solutions. Effective communication is key, and immigrants and minority individuals should be proactive about broadening their English skills. The same goes for native English speakers, who should open themselves to a world full of amazing cultures, languages, and people. Learn how to publish your content on B2C.
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