Why do I want to speak closer to native?

Thinking about improving their speaking skills, a lot people right away think about accent reduction. What exactly?is accent reduction??

The dictionary tells us that accent is a distinctive mode of pronunciation. It’s also tonality, which is harmony and the inter-relationship of sounds. It’s cadence, rhythm, measure, meter.

Accent is how we pronounce our words, delivering those words using the music of our language.

If we use our native language sounds to speak another language, we'll have an accent.

Accent reduction is an outcome of improved pronunciation that focuses on using the target language sounds instead of our native sounds. If you use the sounds of the target language, you stop using your native language sounds and so your accent is reduced. Ta-da!?

Of course we don’t go from using one set of sounds to another in the blink of an eye. It takes time and practice. This is the reduction part of accent reduction.

Accent reduction = mastering the target language sounds over a period of time.

Accent reduction is about intelligibility - about being easily understood. That’s the goal.?Well, the first, most immediate goal.

But really, it's more than that.

REDUCTION is not about reducing you. No one in my line of work who is passionate about language and culture wants to take your identity from you. And the other people you hear say they want accent reduction or want to learn to speak closer to native aren’t trying to be someone who they aren’t.?

They’re looking to be who they are.

It's common to feel not completely yourself while speaking another language. I’ve had clients tell me how they longed for the day when they felt English would be their language, too, for when they would find their voice.

I mentioned that the first, most immediate goal of accent reduction is intelligibility. But ???? finding our voice is the ULTIMATE GOAL ?? ???? And why? What are we really looking for when we say we want to get closer to native?

We're looking for CONNECTION.

Beyond being better understood, we want to comfortably connect with native speakers of the target language. We want to feel we belong. That’s the goal.?Improved pronunciation that puts both the speaker and the listener at ease helps us do this.?

I know how this feels. I found my voice in Portuguese. It took time. Like I said, it’s not in the blink of an eye. And that’s because a language is more than sound. It’s culture. Language is steeped in culture and culture is expressed in language.?I embraced Brazilian culture, its language, and sounds. I connect fluidly with Brazilians. I speak their language, I know their culture. I sound like them.

So if someone says they want to speak a language closer to native, they're not denying who they are. They want to remove obstacles that keep them from their goal to connect, to be a part of the culture that speaks that language. It's beautiful ?? Keep reaching out to connect

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??? I’m Tina, voice coach and business communications trainer for global professionals. I help you become an informed, effective, and connected?user of the English language.?