Accent or no Accent?
Arrrite people, so I have a very serious question for you.
One thing I’ve noticed since I’ve been in foreign is my inability to speak in anything other than the Queen’s English when giving a presentation.
(you know, like Dominic Kalipersad on Panorama back in the day)
Whenever I have to speak in public, it’s like I’m back in front of a classroom, hands clasped at my chest like I’m reciting a poem, and English English English!
It’s the only way!
So here’s the thing…
I’m supposedly conducting an audio interview at the end of the month…
An audio interview that will be posted online from now until eternity…
What do I do?
Okay, so let me give you the full background.
Besides maybe having to control my presentation accent, which is not really the Queen’s English, but a Trini Queen’s English, and totally foreign sounding, which might be good if I were giving a state of the union address for one of the colonies but for an interview something more accessible might be more appropriate.
Yes, so besides that.
Besides that I kind of have the tendency to sound like a six-year old girl.
Like I answer the phone and the freaking telemarketer, in that sickeningly, sappy voice they reserve for kids, asks: “Is your mummy home?”
BAH.
Yes, I love to torture myself.
I actually really enjoy public speaking, although it makes me a nervous wreck.
My first real taste of public speaking was two jobs ago when I started doing training workshops. I was so proud and excited that I was chosen to teach these professionals in the field how to do their job!
Well hear this.
Talk about a step back into reality.
A couple days before the first workshop, my benevolent boss comes around with a NYT article (as he was often wont to do) specially selected for me.
The title?
Wait for it..
…
OH SNAP!
Well yeah I can laugh about it now but back then, I, the recent college grad who had not yet developed the tough shell necessary to advancement in the U.S. rat race, went home in a state of shock, which subsequently turned into hysterics. Once the shaking and hysterics subsided, I began to plot my exit strategy.
Anyway, whatevs. Every experience prepares you for the next one and the one thing I can say is that I now know how to stand up for myself and that’s probably one of the most valuable things you can learn in business.
And… back to the story.
Actually wait. Let me put a disclaimer. I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with my voice. I’ve definitely gotten more compliments on my voice than complaints. My students (yup, still tickles me to say it!) always gave me great marks and I truly enjoyed the experience. Who doesn’t love a stage? Yes, the voice is a bit high-pitched, but—in spite of never having read that wretched article (principle)—through sheer bloodymindedness I have learned to gain better control of my lower chords for a fuller, deeper tone.
Okay, now back to the story.
Well, the question.
What should I do?
Should I do what comes naturally? This stiff, Queen’s English, reciting the Constitution type of thing?
Start practicing rounding out my vowels and pronouncing my R’s so I don’t freak anyone out with my weird (to them) foreign sounding voice?
What do you all do?
Even if at no other time, do you try to minimize your accent when you talk in public?
Has your accent gotten you in trouble before?
Ack, I have the same problem. Sounding somewhat britishy. Not really British, but Britishy, especially to Americans. I can’t help it. I blame my high school teachers and my love for words and speaking (formally) and wanting to be understood Not to mention the being a lawyer thing, and surrounded by formal British-trained or traditioned orators in court.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:15 pmTrinis tend to speak fast, and our words leave out that r and the verb “to be” and so when around nonTrinis, I tend to just revert to slower, somewhat formal speak, which gets me into the Britishy sounding thing – or less strong Trini accent, as the Brits recognise it as West Indian.
I suppose I have no help for you; just empathy. I don’t actively try to minimise the accent, because I think I’d sound ridiculous deliberately trying to sound like something else, but I slow down and that’s what causes it. That and trying to pronounce Rs and opening up my vowels a bit, and remembering the verb to be and “proper” contractions, so that people don’t say “what?” and think I said woods, when I said woRds. For example. Some people are fine with that, but I like to be understood
So glad we’re in the same boat! See the thing is, after living 9 years in foreign, in my everyday speech I’ve learned to round out my vowels, pronounce my Rs, etc, so that’s what my colleagues are used to hearing. However, when it’s presentation time, I revert and there’s really no stopping me! I dont want to sound like I’m putting on “airs” (you know how it is) or trying to sound British when everyone is used to hearing me talk in a semi-Trini, semi-American hybrid kind of accent…
Also, compared to Miami, where almost everyone I worked with was from a different country and had the accent to show for it, I am in a much more, how do you say, uniform environment here in Cali. I’m not saying diversity is not encouraged, because that’s not true, it’s just not as outwardly expressed, perhaps, would be the way to say it..
I think I’m with you though. I think natural, whatever natural is, is the best way to go. It’s already a fraught situation so why go and burden myself with trying to sound like something I’m not?
British-y Trini English it is!!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:27 pmYou have a convent accent. Lose it.
Try for the American newsreporter accent, which is as close to no accent as you can probably get.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:53 pmeff that. they still have those awful “a” sounds (ehhhple instead of apple) and they never pronounce their t’s (fif-dy, for-dy). that’s crap.
May 11th, 2008 at 3:16 pm[...] this here blog, and managed to practically lose my Trini accent around non-Caribbean folks, (I feel ya, Danielle. I absolutely hate it when people ask me to “talk in your accent” for their amusement, [...]
June 9th, 2008 at 4:32 amMan this one hit home. Always wanted to make sure that i never lost the accent, and have complete anxiety about whether it’s too diluted.
The counterbalance though is that I HATE to repeat myself and to get those blank stares when people don’t understand what i’m saying. So in business settings do I want to get that no.
There’s some kinda balance out there, but you all are right, it’s “tricksy”
Chike
June 17th, 2008 at 5:46 pm[...] her bf, and some other Trinis and use my normal accent. Why don’t I use it all the time? How did I lose it? It’s ridiculous. At dinner one night I began talking in my regular voice and I was so much [...]
June 26th, 2008 at 10:02 pmAnd I thought I was just crazy.
I have the added horror of a foundation American accent since I lived in the US before we moved to Trinidad so my accent is a crazy meld and swings all over the place.
Trini pops in with Trini friends or when I am vex about something [what better to cuss in?] American sticks about with most of the day to day US action. Brit pops out when I am trying to explain something or talking to someone new or well, British. And of course there are random appearances of all or the muddled hybrid accent.
Then people always ask you where you are from and you have to explain CONVENT!
How did it go in the end?
August 8th, 2008 at 3:41 am[...] like an island girl, instead of this weird proper amalgamated Americanese that I speak. Like I Come From Foreign, I struggle with speaking in my Trini accent in American-only situations. I talk most like myself [...]
September 8th, 2008 at 7:05 pmThis is something I struggle with often. I have a Jamaican accent that I try to minimize in the corporate environment. It’s extremely annoying to be asked to repeat myself. I often feel that ppl. listen to my accent instead of what I say. I actually took accent reduction classes, didn’t work! Now I simple concentrate on my vowels, my “th” and my “ings” as you can imagine it’s trying at times.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pm