Accent Reduction may not be enough

Do you know the difference?

Accent Reduction classes and Elocution lessons are in demand with more and more people wishing to speak English clearly.

Many people wishing to learn accent reduction or English elocution appear confused between the two different forms of speech production.

For those of you who may be confused between whether to take Accent Reduction lessons or Elocution classes, we will try to explain the differences as clearly as possible.

What is Accent Reduction?

Accent reduction focuses on the improved or modified English pronunciation of sounds by non-native speakers to increase intelligibility when speaking English.

Before the trend in Accent Reduction, the correct linguistic term for this form of learning to speak English was, and still is within linguistics, termed Language 1 interference into Language 2 abbreviated to L1/L2.  For example, Spanish accent sounds from a native Spanish speaker into and affecting the sounds produced in the target language, namely English.

Can native English speakers take Accent Reduction lessons?

Yes.

If a native English speaker believes that they have an intrusive regional accent and wishes to improve or modify the pronunciation sounds which he or she is making, then accent reduction training may soften or reduce their regional accent.

What is Elocution?

Elocution focuses on the art or style of expressive speech delivery.  In addition, it is accompanied by the fluency, fluidity and powerful usage of English.  For example, if we compare the richness of English spoken by Shakespearian actors and poets to non-standard English ‘gonna’, ‘wanna’ etc.

Can a non-native English speaker take Elocution classes?

Perhaps.

A non-native English speaker may take elocution lessons if he or she has attained a sufficient level of English mastery, and not just in spoken English.  Therefore, if the learner has attended an accent reduction class and has sufficiently reduced his or her accent which has interfered with speaking English clearly, then this may not be enough.

English elocution requires a sound understanding of grammatical English as different English speaking techniques are used in elocution.  More importantly, a greater understanding of cultural pragmatics is required as the speaker needs to be aware of more sophisticated forms of English, such as cooperation and implicature, speech acts and events, politeness and interaction.  For many native speakers these features are innate and implicit.  Therefore, accent reduction classes may not be enough if, for example, you are taking or wish to take accent reduction or elocution classes for the purpose of Business English communication.

Learning to speak English clearly and meaningfully is a complex and intricate process which overlaps into many sectors – psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, speech science, phonology, applied linguistics, discourse and linguistic analyses.  Therefore, if you wish to learn how to speak English in the shortest time possible and within budget, then it may be wise to ask your prospective teacher or trainer if he or she has knowledge and experience in all of these fields.

Is there a form of Elocution for learning Business English Communication?

Yes.

We will be writing on the importance of learning Elocution for Business English, and for use in the workplace, soon.

Watch this space!