need help on accent?

Question

I am an indian working in a customer service centre based in new york..I do speak english fluently and correctly without any major gramatical errors...but when i speak with an american, they say that they really have a hard time understanding me and following me...I do watch a lot of english movies to learn american accent, but i am not getting that perfection in me...If i try to implement wat i learnt from the movies on my cutomers...I get to listen "SAY WAT NOW " or "EXCUSE ME" from them, by which i really feel embarassed and ashamed...Some times i really go thru mental depression because of this and land up screwing my performance in the organsation where i am working...can anybody please help me on this and i wud appreciate any valuable inputs as to how to learn american accent..I do know that there is nothing called as american accent as people from different state in america have different accent...I want a learn a neutral accent and i want people to stop telling EXCUSE ME ..

Answer 1

I've seen special programs (CDs/Computer/etc.) to help non-native English speakers reduce their accent that are made specifically for a particular native speaking group (mandarin native speakers, vietnamese native speakers, spanish native speakers, etc). They are good because it targets the specific difficulties that each group has in their English pronunciation. I imagine these programs exist for the native speakers of the Indian languages too. Good luck.

If nothing else, just speak slower and concentrate on pronouncing the sounds of each word completely. Most Indians I know speak English almost perfectly when they speak slowly, but they can be harder to understand when they speak fast.

Answer 2

Listening to radio talk show hosts would be helpful. Personally, I find the accented English language of East Indians pleasant. Remember there are a lot of jerks out there on the other end of the phone. Keep listening and practicing. Good luck.

Answer 3

wow

California is known to have a neutral accent.

People in the entertainment industry (actors) who have foreign accents usually hire people to help them practice...Mel Gibson, Katherine Zeta Jones, etc.

If you don't practice your speaking skills everyday and ignore the "excuse me"s...you won't pick it up.
You'll have to hire "outside help".

I work with Germans that either hire help...or simply refuse to be around other germans and speak nothing but english all day.

oh...small hint...speaking english with your Indian friends is NOT the way to learn to lose the accent.

In the meantime...what I do to avoid people asking me to repeat myself (when I speak Italian, German, or Spanish) is I understand that they aren't trying to be rude...they truly are trying to understand...so I slow down and I speak clearly - without raising my voice.

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Hi mate,

I am very good in taking accents, any language, French English etc..

Im an Armenian and our language sounds allow us to immitate any language's acccents...but still I wokred a lot.

I will just tell you one way i improved my accent.

Listen to a cassette and repeat the words...have you tried this?

david

Answer 5

Hi there without sounding contracending, you should try elocution lessons. Im sure this will help greatly with your accentt troubles. Here is a site for info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elocutio

Also hang out with local people more. Ok?

Answer 6

Try speaking slowly.Every nationality has their own unique accent. It's your own identity.No need to bother about this unless you are a newscaster.