You're Judged On How You Speak
Linda Nelson
Your Speech & Clarity Coach: Helping advanced ESL & introverted speakers shatter hesitation, own their voices & shine. Turn your accent into an asset & your words into a legacy of impact. Be Unforgettable!
Communication is a beautiful tapestry of words, emotions, and connections, yet often marred by biases and judgments we might not even realize we hold. Even though there's no link between accents and one's achievements or education, the way we speak can, unfortunately, lead to unfounded judgments. People may inadvertently judge others based on their accents, speech patterns, and vocabulary.
The simplistic Sender-Receiver communication model, which consists of a speaker(sender) and a listener(receiver), needs to account for the myriad of complex factors that influence our understanding of a message. Environmental factors, body language, and personal experiences all contribute to interpreting the information we receive.
Imagine a complex communication scenario where the speaker has a distinctive accent. The listener, with their unique background and life experiences, may unwittingly make assumptions about the speaker. This can lead to misinterpretations, miscommunications, and the speaker being unfairly judged by their accent alone.
Research has shown that certain accents can give the impression of intelligence and education, while others may be associated with lesser education. But, as we've been told repeatedly, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
At @BeUnderstood we're dedicated to helping our clients break through these accent-based barriers. By actively working on speech intonation, our clients can speak clearly, lead confidently, and be truly understood.
This brings us to a crucial question:
If your accent can influence how you're perceived in the business world, what else might be unconsciously overlooked? It's a question that invites reflection and an opportunity for us to reassess our personal biases and judgments in the pursuit of better communication.
Digital Marketer
1 年Linda Nelson I love that Be Understood emphasizes the importance of intonation over perfect pronunciation when communicating effectively. It's because our accents are a reflection of our diverse backgrounds and should be celebrated. However, it is important to understand certain aspects of American speech to effectively communicate with standard American listeners. For example, in my native language, I never learned about the schwa vowel or the reduction and linking technique in school. These techniques that I learned from you/Be Understood definitely made my speech flow better and made me a more confident speaker. ??
Helping foreigners around the world to understand American culture and socialise happily!
1 年Interesting!