Everyone has an accent.

Accent marks one’s native language and geographic region, among other things.  A wide range of  research has shown that your accent affects how others perceive you, and may even judge you on issues unrelated to accent.  Still other research has shown that adults view and respond more positively toward speakers with an intelligible rather than an unintelligible foreign accent.

While it is not necessarily desirable or even possible  to lose one’s accent completely, there are benefits to modifying one’s accent to be more understandable. In the workplace, it makes for greater productivity, better customer service and less miscommunication. Knowing you are understandable can also increase confidence in speaking situations.

Here are some ways both native and non-native speakers can make accents less of a barrier to communication in the workplace.

If you are a non-native speaker and want to speak more clearly:

  • Remember that in English,  the message and meaning are carried in the stress and intonation patterns. Listen actively for these patterns and focus on improving these areas first.
  • Predict frequent, upcoming, or difficult speaking situations and prepare for them. Practice for them by recording and listening to yourself.
  • Create list of problematic, important, or industry-specific words. Ask a native speaker how to pronounce them, or use an online  dictionary that includes recorded pronunciation. Practice these words in sentences (not just alone).

If you work with non-native speakers with accents:

  • Have empathy: Can you speak a second language fluently? Is your pronunciation perfect?
  • Don’t make assumptions or judgments about someone simply because they have an accent. Accent is not related to intelligence or ability.
  • Don’t close down with “I can’t understand this person!” Give them your full attention.
  • Clarify and paraphrase if you have trouble understanding information.