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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
Accent
Hi,
my name is Martin and English is not my first language. I am thinking about making instructional videos on currency trading. I'm not sure whether my accent is OK or not, as too heavy accent could discourage people from purchasing my product, so I would like some native speakers to let me know whether I should do it myself or whether I should rather have someone else do it for me.
You can hear it right here:
http://www.gzw.wz.cz/accent.mp3
Please be honest with me, thank you :-) I would also appreciate some advice on what I should focus on when improving my accent.
-- Martin
my name is Martin and English is not my first language. I am thinking about making instructional videos on currency trading. I'm not sure whether my accent is OK or not, as too heavy accent could discourage people from purchasing my product, so I would like some native speakers to let me know whether I should do it myself or whether I should rather have someone else do it for me.
You can hear it right here:
http://www.gzw.wz.cz/accent.mp3
Please be honest with me, thank you :-) I would also appreciate some advice on what I should focus on when improving my accent.
-- Martin
Top answer
If you do it yourself you will need to speak more slowly - I found some words were not clear, eg the end of 'currency' kind of disappeared. The problem with an accent in an instructional video is that it's a distraction, and if the topic is challenging the viewer really needs all their concentration for that. That doesn't just apply to 'non-native' accents - as an English person, I would find an American drawl or a strong Scottish accent an irritating distraction if it meant that I had to listen extra carefully.
- If you do it yourself you will need to speak more slowly - I found some words were not clear, eg the end of 'currency' kind of disappeared.
- The problem with an accent in an instructional video is that it's a distraction, and if the topic is challenging the viewer really needs all their concentration for that.
- That doesn't just apply to 'non-native' accents - as an English person, I would find an American drawl or a strong Scottish accent an irritating distraction if it meant that I had to listen extra carefully.
- This effect is even more pronounced if I can't actually see the speaker to get visual clues to support what I'm hearing.
- You also need to consider to what extent conscious or subconscious racism may play - there is an unfortunate tendency amoung some Brits, (I can't speak for other nationalities), to equate non-native English with low intelligence, which may affect the credibility of the product.
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1 Answers
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If you do it yourself you will need to speak more slowly - I found some words were not clear, eg the end of 'currency' kind of disappeared.
The problem with an accent in an instructional video is that it's a distraction, and if the topic is challenging the viewer really needs all their concentration for that. That doesn't just apply to 'non-native' accents - as an English person, I woul
The problem with an accent in an instructional video is that it's a distraction, and if the topic is challenging the viewer really needs all their concentration for that. That doesn't just apply to 'non-native' accents - as an English person, I woul
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