Is it possible to change your accent? I have been in Australia for quite some time now and I love the place. I have picked up a lot of the local speaking but I just cannot change my accent.
I feel a lot of it is to do with the surroundings as I do have to talk in other languages daily to some of my folks. I have no problem in speaking english fluently but its my accent that I have the issue with as sometimes.
I will appreciate any advise on how I could change my accent to proper english.
2007-05-12 18:56:07 · 8 answers · asked by yquestion 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
amethyst_1_fire - Sorry I should have been clear. I dont have an Aussie accent. I am trying to get it :-)
2007-05-12 19:03:37 · update #1
Wow!! Thanks for all the details. I hate to choose a best answer as there are a lot of very helpful answers here.
I understand that the each persons accent is unique. But when it comes to job opportunities, you need to be very fluent and confident in speaking proper English if you want higher positions. I understand and can reply in English very fluently. But some of the major mistakes I do that have been pointed out are like I pronounce "V" as "W" and I have tried listening to myself and cannot spot where i go wrong!!
2007-05-13 11:27:54 · update #2
Why change your accent? People find accents endearing, it sends off this message of class, take advantage of the fact you're not like anyone else.
But if you're dead set on it, there are acting speaking, and speech classes to help you.
2007-05-12 19:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by beat b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, there is no proper English. There are many different accents, none are specifically correct.
As for the issue of changing your accent, a lot of it depends on your age. Little children learning English will pick up an accent within a few weeks, while someone who is 18 might take several years.
Older people may never learn how to pronounce something properly, or they will sometimes have trouble hearing if they are saying it properly or not.
Changing accent then will take a lot of work. But if you want to improve your English some accent issues can be important. Having a strong accent can limit your job opportunities.
Firstly, look at the big mistakes you are making and look at fixing those, depending on where you are from, maybe you will have problems with V and W, S and Th, E and I, R and L. These are fairly serious issues that you can attempt to deal with using pronunciation software and a speaking coach.
The smaller problems once again can be dealt with by practing your pronunciation, though don't expect immediate results.
I would like to point out, that Meryll Streep, a famous actor who was known for ability to master accents, failed to master the Australian accent, and in fact I have not met anyone who can do the Australian accent except Aussies.
2007-05-13 02:12:50 · answer #2 · answered by flingebunt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you continue staying in Australia your accent will change on it's own. Especially if you are under the age of 18.
If you're just wanting to learn how to immitate it then you need to practice saying things after you hear somone else say it. Ask them if it's okay first, as some people get annoyed with that very easily.
However, why are you wanting to do this? If you're not Austrailian and you live there, it's cooler to have a different accent. It makes you more interesting. Why bother trying to chang when it's not the real you?
2007-05-13 02:02:23 · answer #3 · answered by Talamascaa 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Turn on the tv, make sure the program is Australian. The news is good, especially if you have cable and can get a 24 hour news channel that repeats everything constantly.
Don't listen to the stories, but listen to the voices. Try and pick up the sounds they make for common words. Aussies chew their words a bit, we don't pronounce some sounds clearly at all.
Next, get yourself some good friends who will tell you the truth about your progress. Sit down with them and read them a magazine article or something simple. Tell them to help you pronounce clearly the words and make sure they don't hold back.
2007-05-13 02:04:13 · answer #4 · answered by chicgirl639 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I LOVE the aussie accent! Why would you want to get rid of it?
2007-05-13 02:01:32 · answer #5 · answered by julie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its going to be hard but in order for u to do it u are going to have be around persons who speak proper english daily
2007-05-13 02:02:14 · answer #6 · answered by brambram87 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who cares accents are cool
2007-05-13 02:16:22 · answer #7 · answered by keight_beight 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are classes for this.
2007-05-13 01:58:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋