2 ms·
English is not my first language, so when I speak, people don’t always understand me. Sometimes I have to repeat words more slowly, or replace words with synony
by theamk 6y ago
English is not my first language, so when I speak, people don’t always understand me. Sometimes I have to repeat words more slowly, or replace words with synonyms. This happens because I do not pronounce the words in the way people around me expect to hear.
The explanation above is somewhat long, so I would like to shorten this. I have been saying “I have an accent” instead.
Is “accent” the right word to use in this case? If not, which word is?
- jgwil2 6y agoAccent is the correct word. > I do not pronounce the words in the way people around me expect to hear. This is an interesting way of putting it - an accent is a collection of linguistic tendencies that together can clue a listener in on your social class, geographical origin, or other biographical information. However, I think it is possible to make a distinction between "having an accent" and simply mispronouncing words. Stressing the wrong syllable is an example of the latter. Both having an accent and mispronouncing words can lead to misunderstandings, but one is easily correctible and the other is not.
- Tainnor 6y ago"I have an accent" as a kind of shorthand for "I have a non-standard accent" is in theory fine, since most people know what you mean. The reason I pointed it out, though, is because the reverse direction - "you have an accent, which is why I don't understand you" - especially when directed at actual native speakers implies (even if not intended) some sort of deficiency on the part of the interlocutor.