Question about english accents?

Question

I've been able to speak English and communicate with it since I was 8 years old thanks to the many hours I've spent in front of the tv.
When saying something in English to someone who's an Arab, it's common sense to speak in an Arabic accent or else you'd sound like an idiot (at least to the others).

Now although I almost have an American accent I don't really think it's perfect or that much good really although I've learned English by watching TV.
I don't want to have an Arabic accent because I believe a language MUST be spoken as it is. But if I for example alter my accent into an English one, would I appear as an imitator or phony? Just because I don't want to speak Engarabic or semi American.

Also, other than watching British movies and talking to British people, are there any free ways to enhance my accent into a British one?

Thanks.

bluebudgie21: Kill yourself.

Answer 1

movies and talking to british people is probably the best way....
of course you could get a dictonary and look up every word for the correct phonetic pronunciation, but that would be pretty iimpossible and tiring and just plain stupid

Answer 2

Hi there,

I understand your concern, since some (mostly British though) people still deduce from your accent what class / society you're from. Not too many any more, though, I should say. But I'd also say you're right to think that an imitated (and imperfect) accent betrays you even more than your natural accent.

From what I've heard here in Europe, most people acquire some sort of accent-mix due to the influence of different teachers, media, etc.

And that's fine. THe main aim of communication is to make oneself understood, not to appear to be something one is not. I don't have a problem with Indian, Arabic or Italian accents in English. The French can be pretty hard to understand though if they do not make an effort to pronounce English the way it should be. But then: we Americans are often hopeless at pronouncing French, too. So what? With a little bit of good will, we may all learn to listen and talk to each other.

Anyway, I think it is wonderful that you managed to learn a foreign language all by yourself and through the media, too. I'm trying to do that with Italian, but am sometimes desperate... Thank you for wanting to speak English. It means a lot of people here on yahoo can communicate with you, people who have not made the effort to learn Arabic!

Congratulations and all the best
from
Anna

PS If it is really that important to you to imitate a certain kind of accent: There are training CDs on the market for actors, try amazon.co.uk They are not cheap, but are supposed to be good.
Good luck

Answer 3

Well, learning American English from watching American movies is OK but you would more than likely pick up a few bad terms and phrases that just make the everyday man's teeth itch. Most other English speakers speak and write in Brit English, then pick up some distinctly American slangs or phrases or note the key differences in spelling (e.g. program (American) and programme (Brit)). I'm good at morphing accents and the way I learned that is simply by watching films from the place, listening to their music and new reports and listening to how THEY speak English.

If you spoke with an American accent but were clearly Arabic looking most Americans would assume you either learnt English in America or were raised there so you won't seem phony.

Just so you know, if you are coming to the States, having an accent is way sexy and equals cool points! You might want to keep yours. I'm glad I kept mine.

Oh, by the way, the English accent (not cockney although that's fun to imitate) is slightly nasal, enunciated and close-mouthed so you tend to speak "snobbishly" whereas the American accent is laid back sounding and your mouth is loose and almost "lazy".

Answer 4

You know, a lot of people try to lose their accent when they're speaking another language. There's nothing wrong with it. Most people won't see you as an imitator or anything like that, they'll just take note that you're making a conscious effort. And if they comment, give them your reason-- you're not trying to be phony or any nonsense like that, you're just trying to speak the language as it is. As for a British accent, it may be a bit more difficult to pull that one off. In my experience, it's easier to blend an accent into the American style of speech than it is British. I may be wrong.
But on the other hand, don't feel that you have to hide your accent. (: It's not a bad thing at all.

Answer 5

Bharat is a nation where many a languages are spoken.The
basic language was sanskrit.Sanskrit was superior in all the
aspects,like its script,grammer,phonetic values,literature on
arts,science,economics,philosophy and what not!It was in
practice,from north to south & east to west,in various forms
before the British entered this nation.Mother tongue is of prime value to every human being.But a common language
for a nation is a must.The British for their selfish purposes did
away with sanskrit and introduced English in 1876 in the
educational stream.This has definitely helped the nation
materially at the cost of their national pride.The states in Bharat are reorganised with linguistic basis.The national
language is not as yet finalised.English,a foreign language
to Bharat,may be the future national language.Average
Bharatiya speaks better English,is because of their basic
language-sanskrit.So my dear friend,if you learn sanskrit
you will be perfact speaker of all languages.
With best regards,
Shyam Bale.

Answer 6

I would just speak English with my own accent. I know some Arabs who learned English in Great Britain and they try to imitate the English accent and they sound sooo silly. But when they speak from their own voice in English you can understand them better. If you work at it, you could lose your Arab accent, but why not be yourself instead of an imitator?

Answer 7

I think the aim when speaking any language is to speak it as well as possible. That means pronouncing the words the way the native speakers do. Or as close to it as you can get. It doesn't sound "funny" to try to speak a language correctly. It sounds perfectly normal.

Answer 8

speak with your accent and don t be bother at all

Answer 9

yes ;o)