Can you lose your accent?

Though it's challenging to lose your accent entirely, it is possible to change it. To improve your pronunciation skills, you'll need to exercise both your mouth and ears. There's actually a whole field of language coaching dedicated to this called accent reduction

accent reduction

Accent reduction, also known as accent modification or accent neutralization, is a systematic approach for learning or adopting a new speech accent. It is the process of learning the sound system (or phonology) and melodic intonation of a language so the non-native speaker can communicate with clarity.

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Accent reduction - Wikipedia

or modification.

Is it possible to completely lose your accent?

In summary, it's possible but very challenging to completely lose an accent as an adult. It requires a very high level of skills and commitment. The great news is that reducing an accent and improving pronunciation skills for clear English is easily achievable.

How long does it take to lose your accent?

Different people need differing amounts of time for effective accent reduction. Generally speaking though, most people report noticing a difference in their English pronunciation after 3-4 weeks daily practise. After 6 months practise, there is a huge difference in their speech clarity and accent reduction.

Can you get your accent back?

Research shows that if you start learning a language later in life (after the age of seven or later as an adult), you might become fluent but you won't be able to change your accent. You'll have more chance of changing your native accent in your native language, but even that will be difficult.

How hard is it to lose an accent?

Overcoming an accent is difficult, even for people who have lived in a foreign country most of their lives, or actors who have spent years training themselves to sound authentic in a second language. And studies have shown that accents can often be a burden.

On Losing Your Accent

Are accents permanent?

Research has shown that accents become permanent around the age of 12 years old. That being said, it is possible for accents to change over time or for adults to develop a subtle accent after living in a foreign country for an extended period of time.

How do I fix my accent?

Can you forget a language?

Studies on international adoptees have found that even nine-year-olds can almost completely forget their first language when they are removed from their country of birth. But in adults, the first language is unlikely to disappear entirely except in extreme circumstances.

How do I get rid of my thick accent?

Read out loud and practice saying the last sound of each word. English grammar depends heavily on how words end, which sets it apart from many other languages. Make sure your intonation goes down before a comma or a period as you're practicing reading aloud. This signals to the listener the end of a sentence.

Why do I randomly talk in accents?

Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) happens when you suddenly start to speak with a different accent. It's most common after a head injury, stroke, or some other type of damage to the brain. Although it's extremely rare, it's a real condition.

Can you lose your American accent?

This vibrates the auditory nerve from your ear to the brain more directly making the signal more effective. You can lose your accent entirely. You can neutralise your accent. Or you can keep some of your accent and just speak more clearly and be understood better when you speak English.

Can you improve your accent?

Listen, Listen, Listen!

As mentioned in point two, the internet gives you access to plenty of audio material that can help you improve your pronunciation. Listen as much and as regularly as possible! Instead of always focusing on grammar and vocabulary, dedicate some time to the phonetic aspects of the language.

Are accents genetic?

Unlike perfect pitch, accents are not influenced by a person's genetics. Generally speaking, the way we pronounce words can be molded by regular interaction with people in our environment.

Can your accent change at 20?

Briefly though, yes, your accent will change, though it's unlikely to be a categorical shift from British to American. You may find your vowels shifting a bit, and you'll certainly pick up some new vocabulary.

Will my accent change if I move?

Probably. If you speak a lot with non-native speakers, you'll find yourself enunciating more clearly and using different word choices. If its an English-speaking country, you'll pick up on some of the local lingo and pronunciation.

Why does my accent change depending on who I talk to?

According to a 2010 study by a research group at the University of California, Riverside, people subconsciously mimic other accents due to a phenomenon called "the chameleon effect". The chameleon effect describes our human instinct to “empathise and affiliate” with other people.

What is a strong accent?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English strong accent the way that someone pronounces words that shows clearly that they come from a particular area or country a strong German accent → strongExamples from the Corpusstrong accent• Not merely that, I was putting my strongest accent on the syllable that wasn't!

What is the hardest language to learn?

1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons.

What is the easiest language to learn?

Can you have 2 first languages?

One can have two or more native languages, thus being a native bilingual or indeed multilingual. The order in which these languages are learned is not necessarily the order of proficiency.

Which English accent is best?

British accent has been rated as the most attractive English accent in the world, according to a new survey by the CEOWORLD magazine. The results were revealed in a global study, which questioned 96,398 people across 32 countries worldwide to list “most attractive English accents” other than their own.

How do I lose my southern accent?

Why do I switch accents?

The chameleon effect doesn't just make us easier to understand — it also appears to make us bond more. A 2010 study from the University of California found that imitating an accent subconsciously often comes from a desire to feel empathy with a person, or to feel a strong connection with them.