People’s reasons for modifying their speech are as unique as the individuals themselves. I welcome them all. For some, learning pronunciation is no different from learning vocabulary or grammar, simply a part of refining skills in a language that they didn’t learn from birth. For many, improving communication skills--whether pronunciation, interpersonal skills or intercultural skills--is an asset to their work life. If pronunciation differences or awkwardly chosen vocabulary get in the way of relationship building, this can be a significant barrier to getting the job done, especially in teaching, customer-facing roles, and roles that require frequent presentations. In many situations, pronunciation doesn’t need to change very much at all, and it is learning general strategies for speech clarity or navigating occasional misunderstandings that makes the biggest difference. Sometimes it’s about gaining insight about cultural differences or polishing your business communication skills.
When it comes to pronunciation differences, there is also a shared responsibility between listener and speaker to ensure both a reduction in communication breakdowns and a more welcoming, patient and compassionate environment for people with a variety of accents and languages backgrounds. Whatever your goals are, we can work on them in a way that is both effective and empowering.