“Say that again?!”
American Dialect and Accent Adjustment
Professionals who have relocated to America often find themselves challenged at the workplace despite having conversed in English all their lives. One might often encoun
ter the request – “Say that again?!”, leading to confusion and doubt.
So what’s wrong? Well, nothing… and something! While the education around the English language is primarily the same (barring the regional colloquialisms), the mouth movement of those brought up with an American English accent differs from those brought up in other cultures. This creates different phonetics and leads to lack of clear pronunciation from an American perspective.
This can, in turn, impact individuals from reaching their maximum potential, and achieving success.
Clear speech is essential for success in today’s global workforce. Clear communication is invaluable. Clients hire organizations whose employees communicate with clarity, confidence, and ease.
For both the speaker and the listener, the fear of misunderstandings can halt the flow of information and create serious barriers to productivity
Maybe you feel discouraged by the constant need to repeat yourself. Perhaps you avoid giving your input during team meetings because you anticipate being misunderstood.
At the Seattle Voice Institute, we teach workshops and private coaching to help you learn the mouth posture, sound shifts, stress patterns, rhythm, and intonation patterns of American English. If you want to work one-on-one, please send us a message or book an appointment.
Or if you want to work in a small group, please sign up for one our upcoming workshops.
Upcoming classes:
American Dialect Adjustment (Indian Dialect to American Dialect)
Date TBD
Accents and dialects deal with areas beyond basic sound substitutions; they are deeply rooted in geography, class, culture, religion, politics, and gender. Because of these deep and delicate roots, this material requires a high degree of sensitivity and respect. In this workshop, we will focus on the whole body and mind, appreciating the shifts in awareness as we progress. Expecting immediate perfection will not serve the student’s ability to learn as much as a willingness to explore and find new ways of thinking.