Interesting point to think about
Hi folks! What do you think about this article?
Top Ways to Improve Your American Accent
Does it sounds like a superiority complex or something interesting? Why would someone be 'more American' to be hired on US? Interesting point to think about!
Regards,
vmota.
Re: Interesting point to think about
¡Hola a todos!
El tema de la localización está muy de moda actualmente, porque la competencia hace que las empresas del exterior deseen captar más mercados para sus productos. Y cuando uno piensa en captar un mercado, lógicamente tiene que conocerlo bien.
Sobre este mismo tema de la localización, les dejo el enlace a otro artículo sobre el mercado neozelandés:
Un lenguaje único
¡Espero que lo disfruten!
Re: Interesting point to think about
Obviously, it is important to a business to employ persons who have a command of the language of the country they're working in, whether it be Americans speaking English or Argentinians speaking Spanish. It is difficult to understand persons with heavy accents no matter what country. If an American was hired in Argentina to represent a company they would surely want somebody who spoke as much like a native Argentinian as possible, I would think.
If you've ever tried to get tech support by telephone for your computer and talked to a tecnician in India who speaks very good English but with a very heavy accent, you will understand. There is something about their English, which is spoken with an Indian accent, that makes it nearly impossible to understand some of them
There is nothing wrong with an accent if the person can still speak the language well and be clearly understood. Some accents are actually charming.
vicente
Re: Interesting point to think about
Hi all! vicente, I think you are right in some sense, but it doesn't apply generally. For example, a person from England going to work on US. He/she speaks totally 'natural', English is his/her mother language, no accent, but is still seen as a 'regular' spokenperson, it sounds to me.
Regards,
vmota.
Re: Interesting point to think about
I agree with vicente. It is true that you will want to employ persons that speak the language of the country they are working in and it is true when you call these tech support lines you will have some person speaking to you from a totally different country and with their accents it makes them nearly if not completely impossible to understand. I think accents are charming myself, but as long as you're able to speak the language correctly and clearly. I also think that accents give people their character and accents are a part of you. A part of where you came from, etc.
Re: Interesting point to think about
Hi vmota.Originally Posted by vmota
It does not matter what country you are from. If the job is one in which speech is important, a person from England who speaks good, clear English would have absolutely no problem in the US; however, a person from England with a strong Cockney accent would NOT be a desirable employee, even though that is "natural" to him/her. We have native-born people from certain regions in the US who speak totally "natural" English but have accents that make it difficult for persons outside their region to understand them. These people would be less desirable than the person from England. Furthermore, I have known persons whose native language is not even English, but say Spanish, who speak better English than many native-born Americans. Sometimes these people are MORE desirable that a clear speaking American. Personally, I love listening to an educated woman speaking English with a Spanish accent
.
vicente
Re: Interesting point to think about
¡Hola a todos!
Coincido totalmente con Vicente.
El acento perjudica el perfil laboral de un empleado en la medida en que DIFICULTA la comunicación. Ergo, en un caso hipotético extremo, podría ser más conveniente para el empleador contratar a un extranjero (en el ejemplo, un británico con un acento "neutro") que a un compatriota (en el ejemplo, un estadounidense con un marcado acento regional).
Si volvemos al caso de la asistencia técnica que debería (pocas veces resulta útil) brindarse telefónicamente, el cliente, ya de por sí nervioso o angustiado por su problema técnico, necesita una solución fácil (se la tienen que explicar por teléfono, con las limitaciones propias del medio) y rápida (para que "quepa" dentro de los pocos minutos que estos telefonistas tienen asignados para cada llamada entrante). Claramente no es el momento para que el cliente haga un "esfuerzo extra" para entender lo que el telefonista le está diciendo. El acento afecta la fluidez de la comunicación.
Para el caso de que el acento fuera importante para un trabajo, calculo que la solución para los acentos regionales sería el entrenamiento que hacen los actores de Hollywood o los locutores de radio, que aprenden a articular cada letra con claridad, a marcar las pausas, a pronunciar todas y cada una de las letras necesarias fonéticamente y a entonar cada oración. Los resultados los vemos a diario con los premios a excelentes películas que incluyen a actores de distintos países, y también escuchamos los resultados por radio, con locutores de distintas regiones y países que incluyen todas las radios.
Para deleitarnos sobre este tema, les propongo volver a ver la extraordinaria película "My Fair Lady", en la que un profesor de fonética hace pasar por una dama de la alta sociedad a una chica muy humilde que no habla el inglés ni con las palabras adecuadas ni con una pronunciación inteligible.
¡Que disfruten esta peli!
Re: Interesting point to think about
Learning to master the American accent is an ongoing lesson. It isn't something that can be done with a few brief lessons, but needs time and consistency. And it definitely help your business.
Re: Interesting point to think about
I agree with bethworthy. It takes time. I've been trying to master my Spanish accent for years, unsuccessfully I'm afraid. I believe to be able to master any accent one must be immersed in the language, speaking with native speakers as much as possible. The only way to be sure of your progress would be to ask a native how your American accent sounds. There are many, many non-natives in America who speak English flawlessly but still have a "foreign" accent. That's not a bad thing. As for it helping your business, I'm not too sure why one would necessarily need an "American" accent if they speak clear, understandable, fluent English. The U.S. is made up of many diverse cultures and nationalities and it is very common to encounter business people with foreign or non-American accents.
vicente
Re: Interesting point to think about
I don't believe one needs to rid themselves of their accent. As long as they are able to speak English fluently and well that should not be a problem. Here in Miami you encounter wide variety of accents. It becomes frustrating when you can't understand what they are trying to say, therefore when considering someone for a business it is important I believe that you have someone that speaks clearly, fluently, and proper English. The accent shouldn't matter at all.
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