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I don’t think it’s unreasonable to remind people that a “default” accent does not exist, and that AI-editing an accent out starts to feel a bit like dystopian i

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to remind people that a “default” accent does not exist, and that AI-editing an accent out starts to feel a bit like dystopian identity erasure and homogenization. Even if we scope ourselves to Americans speaking English as a first language, there are dozens of diverse accents across the country.

ChuckMcM 3y ago
I think this is one of those times when my Mom, understanding my desire to be understood and to ask questions about motives and related understanding, would observe the, oblivious to me, effect of inflaming the conversation and say, "Charles, this is not the time." :-)
- archagon 3y ago
  I don’t like seeing a comment that’s relatively reasonable get greyed out just because it grinds somebody’s gears. Alas, I only have one counter-downvote to give, so I feel obliged to comment.
stevenicr 3y ago
My original statement was wanting a translator device, hardware or software, so I could understand and learn better. There was not desire for identity erasure or homogenization, leave whoever's voice the way it is online, give me an option to translate it. I added more about my issue downthread. Diverse accents across the country. - absolutely! which is why I said 'no accent am-english.' (for me, as I can't learn well outside that) - and assuming if this tech exists it could help me, and perhaps be tweaked to change to other accents for other people.. also mentioned in downthread reply.
- emmelaich 3y ago
  When I see the phrase "heavily-accented English" I think of Scottish and Geordie speakers. Extremely few of the Indian/Nepalese/Bengali/Pakistani speakers I have known have such a strong accent that it makes it difficult to understand. At least the younger ones.
freedomben 3y ago
Did you actually read the comment, or the part that I quoted? It was just a reminder that a "default" accent does not exist. That would have been fine. It was a full throated condemnation of a person without evidence. That's quite a bit more than just a reminder about defautl accents.

ChuckMcM 3y ago

I think this is one of those times when my Mom, understanding my desire to be understood and to ask questions about motives and related understanding, would observe the, oblivious to me, effect of inflaming the conversation and say, "Charles, this is not the time." :-)

archagon 3y ago
I don’t like seeing a comment that’s relatively reasonable get greyed out just because it grinds somebody’s gears. Alas, I only have one counter-downvote to give, so I feel obliged to comment.

stevenicr 3y ago

My original statement was wanting a translator device, hardware or software, so I could understand and learn better. There was not desire for identity erasure or homogenization, leave whoever's voice the way it is online, give me an option to translate it. I added more about my issue downthread. Diverse accents across the country. - absolutely! which is why I said 'no accent am-english.' (for me, as I can't learn well outside that) - and assuming if this tech exists it could help me, and perhaps be tweaked to change to other accents for other people.. also mentioned in downthread reply.

emmelaich 3y ago
When I see the phrase "heavily-accented English" I think of Scottish and Geordie speakers. Extremely few of the Indian/Nepalese/Bengali/Pakistani speakers I have known have such a strong accent that it makes it difficult to understand. At least the younger ones.

freedomben 3y ago

Did you actually read the comment, or the part that I quoted? It was just a reminder that a "default" accent does not exist. That would have been fine. It was a full throated condemnation of a person without evidence. That's quite a bit more than just a reminder about defautl accents.