Accent reduction techniques help make regional accents less noticeable for better communication in a global community. Business people, actors, and non-native English speakers can benefit from elocution training. A speech pathologist can assess and devise a program to modify consonants, vowels, speech rhythm, and intonation. The correct approach can maintain spontaneity in conversation and benefit customer service representatives.
Accent reduction in speech are strategies for making regional accents less noticeable. A shrinking global community means that people from many different countries are likely to interact in a professional or even personal setting at one time or another. Deciphering spoken communication in so many different accents can be a challenge. Elocution, or speech modification, makes it easier for people to understand each other.
Business people who are sensitive about how they speak and how they are understood by others can undertake accent reduction. Actors who wish to mask their own or learn a new speech pattern for a role also use these techniques. American actress Meryl Streep is best known for her varied and authentic accents. Non-native English speakers can seek elocution training so that communication in their new language will be clearer and they will have more career opportunities.
The first step is to find a qualified speech pathologist (SLP) or training program. Organizations such as the American Speech Language Hearing Association can recommend certified professionals. A speech therapist will provide an in-depth assessment by listening to the phonology of the accent in question and devise a program to change it. The one-on-one approach can be expensive, but payment plans can be discussed before any accent reduction training begins. You can find lessons both online and in person, along with software and recordings.
One of the things any accent reduction trainer or class will do is teach the speaker to modify the way consonants and vowels are pronounced. This is accomplished by changing the way the tongue, mouth and lips are used to pronounce sounds. Exercises and practice are usually the best way to get the results you want. Additional characteristics of accents are speech rhythm and intonation, along with stress points. These will also need to be changed to accommodate the new accent.
The correct approach to accent reduction can be key to maintaining spontaneity in conversation. While actors can learn to deliver their lines with a British accent, for example, it’s much more difficult to speak naturally that way. Training can be geared towards speaking skills or reading written lines. The latter can benefit technical support or customer service representatives who typically stick to a set question-and-answer series when helping customers. Those looking to alter their accent when conversing with people in a more informal setting or business meeting should approach an accent reduction training program with this in mind.
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