Do you ever worry that your accent is too strong?
Is it holding you back from joining in English conversations?
Today, linguist and author Valerie Fridland joins Aubrey to share why your accent is actually something to be proud of.
She shares tips about how to be clearly understood in English no matter what your accent is like.
Who is Valerie Fridland?
Aubrey first introduces the guest for today’s episode, Valerie Fridland.
Valerie is a professor of linguistics in the English department at the University of Nevada, Reno.
She writes a popular language blog on Psychology Today called Language in the Wild and is also a professor in The Great Courses series.
Her first appearance on All Ears English was all about filler words like “like” and why they aren’t always a bad thing.
This time, she’s back to talk about her new book: Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents.
Why do we have accents?
Before diving into the tips, Valerie explains the science behind why we have accents.
When you’re a child, your brain and mouth are automatically programmed to absorb the sounds and structures of the language around you.
By around age 12, that system locks in.
When you learn a second language after that, your first language will always filter and influence the way you speak, including your accent.
This isn’t a flaw. It’s just how humans are wired.
That’s why the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate your accent.
The goal should be clear, confident communication.
3 tips for clear speech with an accent
Aubrey asks Valerie for tips about clear speech in English even if a person has an accent.
Listen in and learn how you can still be confident when speaking English.
These tips are perfect for both daily conversations and in the business setting.
#1: Embrace your accent
Trying to sound like a native speaker is an extremely difficult goal.
For most people, it’s simply not realistic.
According to Valerie, accepting your accent actually frees you up to focus on what really matters.
What matters is becoming a clearer, more confident communicator.
Your accent is shaped by your first language and your background.
It tells a story about who you are.
You should embrace it rather than fighting it.
#2: A heavy accent shouldn’t hold you back
Research shows that accent heaviness and intelligibility are two very separate things.
A native speaker might perceive your accent as heavy, but that doesn’t automatically mean they can’t understand you.
What causes confusion is specific sounds rather than the overall heaviness of your accent.
For example, substituting a /d/ for the /th/ sound (saying “dese” instead of “these”) rarely causes misunderstandings.
But swapping an /r/ for an /l/ (saying “rip” instead of “lip”) can create real confusion because both are actual words.
Instead of stressing over how heavy your accent sounds, focus on identifying the specific sounds that may be causing problems.
#3: Stress and intonation patterns
Pronunciation gets a lot of attention, but Valerie points out that stress and intonation are just as important, and are often overlooked.
There are two key things to focus on here.
- Syllable and word stress: putting emphasis on the right part of a word or sentence
- Intonation: the rise and fall of your voice that signals meaning (i.e. whether you’re asking a question or making a statement)
Even if your accent is heavy, having native-like stress and intonation makes your speech feel much more natural and easy to follow.
Practice to Improve
Valerie recommends two main strategies.
First, identify the high-frequency words in your personal or professional life that people often mishear.
Drill those specific words over and over.
Second, use shadowing for intonation.
Find a native speaker online, listen to how they speak, and repeat it back as closely as you can.
If you ever have a Zoom call with a native speaker, record it and revisit it for practice.
Repetition is everything.
As Valerie puts it, nobody runs a marathon without running many 20-milers first.
Takeaway
Your accent is not something to be ashamed of or eliminated.
It’s a beautiful part of who you are and where you come from.
The real goal is intelligibility and making sure people can understand you.
As Valerie says, you should aim for proficiency, not perfection.
Check out Valerie’s new book Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents.
It’s also available in audio format.
What’s the one sound in English that you find the hardest to pronounce?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
