Aug 1, 2024
We ALL speak with an accent, and at times it’s easy to believe that we must ‘lose’ our accent to be accepted. Today, Mark and Darren have a frank conversation with speech and accent expert Dr. Leslie Gordon, as she gives advice on using your accent as an asset.
SNIPPETS:
• Honor the skill of owning more than one sound
• Treat the world as a playground for your eyes and ears
• The way we speak creates a picture of who we are
• Your accent is a tool in your toolkit
• Your accent can create a connection
• Your accent is a layer of your story
• We all have more than one accent
• Focus on being understood and prioritize clarity
• Language can be a social and political tool, causing some to feel ‘othered’
• Move away from self-judgment
• Code-Switching requires great skill and is governed by rules
• Don’t think ‘accent reduction;’ think ‘accent acquisition’
• Your accent can feel like home