How long does it take until you lose your accent after moving to another country?.?

Question

I know some one who came here from China in 1950, but she still has a very thick Chinese accent. Its not a big deal but I'm just curious.

Man, I should have checked the grammer on that one!

How long does it take a person to lose their accent after moving to another country?

Answer 1

It really depends. If it's a child and they moved to another country they would eventually lose their accent. But adults usually retain their accents even if they've been in that country for many years.

Answer 2

I think linguists say that unless a langauge is natively learned by age 11, you will never develop a 'native' accent. However, an accent has nothing to do with effective communication and fluency.

Answer 3

It depends on how old you were when you moved. Younger people learn quickly since they go to school here and pick up the accent. Older people were accustomed to their original language that it becomes so hard to loose the accent.

Answer 4

She won't lose her accent. It's too ingrained in her speech. I moved to a Northern state for awhile after living in Oklahoma all of my life. I NEVER got rid of the twang in my voice the whole time I lived in the North, causing many to joke around by saying "Give me that Southern Pageant wave, sweetheart!"

Accents are learned, and if you move somewhere after you've hit puberty, your accent is there to stay.

Answer 5

Most linguists say after early puberty your accent is pretty much set. You can lessen it but there will always be certain words that you can't say.

Answer 6

Haha darn Boston accent :-)

Answer 7

It depends on the individual.

Answer 8

Never