Even when speaking the same language, everyone has a different accent. An accent is part of an individual’s identity. However, have you ever thought about the age you developed that unique accent? Does it occur immediately after birth, or is it affected by various environmental factors? Let’s look at what age an accent becomes difficult to shake.
How Does One Develop an Accent?
Accents are developed when people who speak the same language are isolated and unwittingly decide to use new words and pronunciations. Plenty of the changes can result in a dialect that strangers may not easily understand. These accents start developing in an individual’s brain when they are as young as six months old.
The young one begins to create a map of familiar sounds, which continue to develop as these sounds are used frequently. Eventually, the developed accent becomes almost ineradicable, and one may be unable to make certain changes at some point. Since adopting an accent is a habitual process and the human brain is highly adaptable, it can be easy to train and develop a new accent with concentration and ample practice.
Can You Lose an Accent Completely?
By the time one is 12 years of age, they have a defined way of pronouncing different words. It is easy for a child below 12 years to learn a foreign language and pronounce words like a native speaker. Luckily, with a gradual change in pronunciation patterns and general speech, individuals above 12 years can lose their accents completely.
If you enrol on accent reduction classes, you will notice a change in your accent within 3-4 weeks. There will be a significant change in speech and clarity in approximately six months. You will sound different in a few years when you take that path.
The good news is that you can learn to change pronunciations and speech patterns through accent modification. Accent reduction requires consistency, hard work and concentration. The best way to adopt a new accent is by enrolling on an accent reduction class guided by a language and speech pathologist.
Who Benefits from Accent Reduction?
Accent modification can be beneficial to several people, including:
- Individuals who intend to reduce or get rid of their regional accents
- Individuals learning a second language
- People who want to enhance their pronunciation or articulation skills
- Artists who want to prepare for acting roles that require a native speaker accent
Become a Fluent Speaker Today
If you a non-native English speaker seeking to eliminate or reduce an accent? Pronunciation School has some of the best resources to help you speak more effectively and clearly at work or school. With our accent modification and accent reduction classes, your listeners won’t have to ask you to repeat yourself often. Apply now to get a free accent assessment and discover more about how we can help you work on your accent.