NEVER. The answer is NEVER folks. An accent is never annoying and I’m sorry to say so (I'm not, but I had to put it out there on default because I’m Canadian), but if you ever tell anyone that their accent is annoying, you are an ass and you need to get with the program. EVERYONE HAS AN ACCENT, even in their own native language. It may be slight, it may be very hard to detect in some cases, but we all have one. In second languages, third, fourth, and fifth, if we learned these languages as older adolescents or adults, we have an accent when we speak them. The only case of non-accented-ness (is that a word?) is with bi/tri/whatever-comes-next-linguals that were taught those languages from the age of zero, and were exposed to them and utilized them from day one. If that is you, then by all means, you may claim to have no accent. For the rest of us, EMBRACE THE ACCENT and never make fun of someone’s accent for it doesn’t mean they are stupid, or ignorant (that would be you my friend), or uneducated…you know what it means? It means they fucking speak another language. How good is your Hindi? Your Mandarin? Your Russian? Do you happen to speak those fluently without an accent? Because if you do, you were the luckiest child in the world and you should probably be a millionaire right now. If you don’t, then you have no right to comment on the accent of others. You might be wondering where this semi-rant is coming from and I suppose it’s from some comments I’ve heard from internet trolls on YouTube along the lines of:
“l’accento anglofono è fastidioso” – the English accent is annoying
(referring to Anglo-Saxon accents in Italian)
This kind of comment makes me want to scream. I know, it’s just keyboard warriors but still. *muffled screaming in office* This is not to say that in second languages, we shouldn’t make an effort with pronunciation, in fact many polyglots concentrate heavily on pronunciation and accent and do a damn good job with it. All I’m saying is that our reaction to the outcome of these efforts needs to change, we should be applauding all efforts and not only perfection when it comes to language-learning. Call me an idealist but I hope that one day no one will have to be told that their accent is annoying but instead, that it’s wonderful and admirable and brave that they are learning another language.
In conclusion, let's all be more like this towards each other:
“l’accento anglofono è fastidioso” – the English accent is annoying
(referring to Anglo-Saxon accents in Italian)
This kind of comment makes me want to scream. I know, it’s just keyboard warriors but still. *muffled screaming in office* This is not to say that in second languages, we shouldn’t make an effort with pronunciation, in fact many polyglots concentrate heavily on pronunciation and accent and do a damn good job with it. All I’m saying is that our reaction to the outcome of these efforts needs to change, we should be applauding all efforts and not only perfection when it comes to language-learning. Call me an idealist but I hope that one day no one will have to be told that their accent is annoying but instead, that it’s wonderful and admirable and brave that they are learning another language.
In conclusion, let's all be more like this towards each other:
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to "dare un'occhiata" at these ones:
Immunity to Accent Attractiveness: Can the Italian Accent Stop Being Sexy?
The English Stare and Getting "Englished" Living Abroad and How To Deal
What I'm Really Thinking While Speaking Italian as a Second Language
Taking Risks in Language Learning
Language Burnout
The Gift of Language: Italian and Beyond
The Neverending Story of Learning Italian
Living in Italy, Speaking in English
Parli Italiano?
How to Keep Learning Italian in Italy
If you want to get into the sappy language stuff, try these:
Revelations: To Think of Love in English
Creative Writing: Call Me Baby
Hypothetical Italian Teenagers Won't Have Varsity Jackets or Homecomings
My Canadian Identity Abroad in Italy: The Conundrum
Survey Results: Can You Fall in Love Without Speaking the Same Language?
Can You Fall in Love Without Speaking the Same Language?
How to Fight and Make Love in Two Languages
The Relationship Between Loving Someone and the Language You Love With
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