5 ms·

My and other's regional accents have been the source of consternation at work. Speakers with regional accents have been encouraged to modify them for the benefi

My and other's regional accents have been the source of consternation at work. Speakers with regional accents have been encouraged to modify them for the benefit of non native English speakers by the DEI group. I find that ironic.

DaiPlusPlus 5y ago
> I find that ironic. Whyso? At work you're expected to function as a team, and part of being a team necessarily means needing to make personal compromises for the team's sake. In this situation, non-native English speakers are going through the monumental effort of both learning English and having to put their skills to the test every day instead of them working and communicating in their fluent language. While people with accents such that they're harder for non-native speakers to understand are being asked to have clearer enunciation - for the sake of the team. You're not being asked to change your accent, just to have clearer enunciation (if your org's DEI team said "accent" instead of "enunciation" then their wording is unhelpfully vague or demonstrably open to misinterpretation) - and not for the benefit of people who aren't themselves doing anything for their own situation (it's not like the non-native English speakers in your workplace are insisting everyone speak their language, after all). Everyone is making a compromise for everyone's sake. There's nothing ironic about it at all - just unfortunate messaging from the DEI people.
- eliasmacpherson 5y ago
  Well they said accent. They also mentioned the speed at which people with such accents talked. So both were asked to be modified. The irony is the reduction in diversity of speaking is requested to improve the equity and inclusivity of comprehension.
- dahfizz 5y ago
  Do you think a DEI team would ever ask a non-native speaker to modify their accent to make it easier for the rest of the team to understand them?
dekhn 5y ago
Did you get that request on paper? Share it with wider groups, it should be interesting if people learn DEI groups are asking americans with regional accents to change them.
- eliasmacpherson 5y ago
  No, electronically. I am more inclined to charitably view it as a minor inconsiderate overstep, an internal matter not for public consumption. Perhaps if it was phrased as 'enunciation' it would not have garnered any reaction. There is no way to do what you suggest without risking a mob.
  - dekhn 5y ago
    I mean, you can make a hardcopy with the DEI team's name attached to the statement? You should risk the mob. It's not ok for a DEI team to ask people to tailor their regional accents for foreigners who don't speak english well. You can also release this anonymously (it's hard for people to deny written exchanges because the results are in many inboxes).
    - eliasmacpherson 5y ago
      Thanks for your advice, but I don't believe in mob 'justice'. I'd rather take it up with the DEI team than the internet! Also on a point of misunderstanding it's not an Americans vs. Foreigners situation.
      - dekhn 5y ago
        You will find that the DEI team feels empowered to ignore you. I'm not saying to take advantage of mob justice, just shine a larger light on the facts.

DaiPlusPlus 5y ago

> I find that ironic. Whyso? At work you're expected to function as a team, and part of being a team necessarily means needing to make personal compromises for the team's sake. In this situation, non-native English speakers are going through the monumental effort of both learning English and having to put their skills to the test every day instead of them working and communicating in their fluent language. While people with accents such that they're harder for non-native speakers to understand are being asked to have clearer enunciation - for the sake of the team. You're not being asked to change your accent, just to have clearer enunciation (if your org's DEI team said "accent" instead of "enunciation" then their wording is unhelpfully vague or demonstrably open to misinterpretation) - and not for the benefit of people who aren't themselves doing anything for their own situation (it's not like the non-native English speakers in your workplace are insisting everyone speak their language, after all). Everyone is making a compromise for everyone's sake. There's nothing ironic about it at all - just unfortunate messaging from the DEI people.

eliasmacpherson 5y ago
Well they said accent. They also mentioned the speed at which people with such accents talked. So both were asked to be modified. The irony is the reduction in diversity of speaking is requested to improve the equity and inclusivity of comprehension.
dahfizz 5y ago
Do you think a DEI team would ever ask a non-native speaker to modify their accent to make it easier for the rest of the team to understand them?

dekhn 5y ago

Did you get that request on paper? Share it with wider groups, it should be interesting if people learn DEI groups are asking americans with regional accents to change them.

eliasmacpherson 5y ago
No, electronically. I am more inclined to charitably view it as a minor inconsiderate overstep, an internal matter not for public consumption. Perhaps if it was phrased as 'enunciation' it would not have garnered any reaction. There is no way to do what you suggest without risking a mob.
- dekhn 5y ago
  I mean, you can make a hardcopy with the DEI team's name attached to the statement? You should risk the mob. It's not ok for a DEI team to ask people to tailor their regional accents for foreigners who don't speak english well. You can also release this anonymously (it's hard for people to deny written exchanges because the results are in many inboxes).
  - eliasmacpherson 5y ago
    Thanks for your advice, but I don't believe in mob 'justice'. I'd rather take it up with the DEI team than the internet! Also on a point of misunderstanding it's not an Americans vs. Foreigners situation.
    - dekhn 5y ago
      You will find that the DEI team feels empowered to ignore you. I'm not saying to take advantage of mob justice, just shine a larger light on the facts.