We ALL speak with an accent, and at times it’s easy to believe that we must ‘lose’ our accent to be accepted. Today, Mark and Darren have a frank conversation with speech and accent expert Dr. Leslie Gordon, as she gives advice on using your accent as an asset. 

 

SNIPPETS:

• Honor the skill of owning more than one sound

 

• Treat the world as a playground for your eyes and ears

 

• The way we speak creates a picture of who we are

 

• Your accent is a tool in your toolkit

 

• Your accent can create a connection

 

• Your accent is a layer of your story

 

• We all have more than one accent

 

• Focus on being understood and prioritize clarity

                                           

• Language can be a social and political tool, causing some to feel ‘othered’

 

• Move away from self-judgment

 

• Code-Switching requires great skill and is governed by rules

 

• Don’t think ‘accent reduction;’ think ‘accent acquisition’

                                           

• Your accent can feel like home