Accent Modification

The Way We Speak

Everyone sounds a little different when they talk - even when they speak the same language. Some of those differences come from where a person grew up or what language they first learned. The differences in how we sound are called accents.

What Is an Accent?

An accent is the noticeable way someone pronounces words, and the rhythm and tone of their speech. Accents are a natural part of language, and everyone has one.

Your accent is shaped by many things, like where you grew up and what languages you speak. It stays with you even when you move to new places and meet new people. The most common types of accents are:

Regional Accents

• These come from different parts of the country. For example, someone from Texas may sound different than someone from New York.

Accents from Another Language or Country

• People who learn another language later in life often have accents. For instance, someone who learned English in France may sound different than someone who learned English in the United States.

Accents are a natural part of spoken languages. Accents are not speech or language disorders.

Accents and Communication

Your accent expresses and celebrates who you are and where you come from. But some people might want to change the way they speak with accent modification. The goal of accent modification is not to erase your accent or to distance you from your community. Some possible reasons for accent modification can include:

• wanting to be understood more easily by others
• being frustrated with attention or discrimination about how you speak
• learning a new accent for a theater or movie production
• wanting to learn how sounds are pronounced in a language

An SLP will work with you to figure out what your communication goals are.

What Is It Like to Work on Accent Modification With an SLP?

Your SLP will start by learning how you speak. They may listen to:

• how you say different sounds
• the rhythm and stress of your speech
• how you talk in everyday conversations

The SLP will use this information to help you learn to use a new accent. You and your SLP will talk about your challenges, goals, and what matters most to you. You may work with the SLP alone or in a small group.

Because an accent is not a speech or language disorder, insurance doesn’t cover accent modification services. Talk with your SLP about the cost and your options.

Listener Training

Accent modification focuses on how a person speaks, but the listener also plays an important role. SLPs sometimes offer listener training to companies that ask for accent training for their employees. This training helps people understand how their own thoughts and behaviors can affect communication. For example, listeners might accidentally:

• ignore someone who speaks with a different accent from their own
• avoid asking questions when they’re confused
• assume the speaker isn’t smart or doesn't know the language well
• get frustrated more quickly with the speaker

These reactions get in the way of successful communication. That’s why some SLPs now focus on training both the speaker and the listener. Helpful activities can include:

• role-playing conversations
• service learning, like students helping in shelters for immigrants
• team problem-solving with people who speak differently

To find an SLP near you, visit ProFind.