If you want to reduce your accent, you can learn accent reduction techniques. Here are some useful ones.
- Rhythm and Pacing of Speech Changes – Speak slower often, or try to remember to speak slowly. This is the most important thing you can do to reduce your accent in speech; we all want perfect diction and pronunciation, but don’t let speed overshadow our need for clear communication. If it’s a choice between fast and slow, choose slow.
- Articulation: Watch Your ‘Rs’ and Don’t Drop The ‘Gs’ – The letter “R” when used correctly in American English, can be one of the hardest sounds for speakers with an accent to produce clearly. For many people who have not mastered this sound quickly enough in their own language, switching it out for a “W” sound is easy, so at first, you might hear “wet” instead of “red.” At this point, it becomes an issue of pronunciation rather than accent. This is where some practice can come in handy.
- Replace ‘Th’ With ‘D.’ – Another common issue for new speakers is surrounding the letters “th.” An American English speaker may not realize that while they are saying “this” and “that,” a speaker with an accent may be saying “dis” and “dat.” It’s important to make sure the words are clear by positioning your tongue correctly when pronouncing all sounds. When you must use these sounds, say them slowly and clearly until you get the hang of it.
- Practice Vowel Sounds and Pronunciation – The first step to correcting pronunciation difficulties is figuring out exactly where the problem lies and what sound needs to be adjusted. While it is easy for native speakers to assume that all people speak with perfect fluency, this just isn’t true. Some words must be sounded out more slowly until you get them right; this is perfectly normal, and everyone should make a habit of doing so with such sounds as “th” or “r.” Other sounds like “oo” might need practice as well because it can sometimes come out sounding more like an “e.”
- Take A Speech Class – If you truly want to reduce your accent in speech, it’s best to take a speech class that specifically addresses the issues of accent reduction. Even if you’re not very concerned about your accent, classes can provide practice in speaking with good rhythm and clear pronunciation.
- Break The Word Down – Another thing you can do is break difficult words down into syllables, so there are only sounds you know how to pronounce. This way, when speaking slowly, you won’t stumble over new sounds because they don’t exist in what you’ve memorized as individual parts of the word. It’s also helpful to begin sentences with easier words before moving on to more difficult ones; this gives everyone involved time to adjust their tongues properly before setting out for dictation at full speed.
In conclusion, if you want to reduce your accent, use these six excellent accent reduction techniques. They will help you learn how to speak with better pronunciation and diction.