Journal 6

Accents: Accents play an important role in determining the ethni or the region in which an individual comes from. On most occasions, accents are always stereotyped. This makes it very uncomfortable for an individual to express himself or herself. A good example is I. I am very conscious in the way I speak, and my accent. In the western society, especially United States, people emanating from Africa and other third world countries normally wish to have an American accent. This is because they view the American society and manner of speech, as superior as compared to theirs.
Furthermore, speaking with their native accent would depict that they are not yet integrated within the American society. It would therefore be difficult for them to make new friends because of negative stereotyping. Based on this fact, young people normally try not to speak with their native accents, when speaking a foreign language, or when they are in a foreign country. Furthermore, it is impossible to lack an accent. This is because as a human being, I have to interact with my peers.
This interaction normally influences my language, and the accent which emanates from my speech. I tend to pick the accents of my friends when speaking to them. This is for purposes of identifying with them. On this basis, an individual would always speak with an accent. People would tend to pick the most dominant accent within the society. For example, when in America, an individual would pick the American accent. If the same person is in Britain, with time, the person would pick the British accent. This situation happens to me. While speaking, I am heavily influenced by my environment. My accent always tends to change, based on the person I am speaking to.
If speaking to my peers, I would change my language and accent, and speak in a manner that is acceptable to them. On the other hand, if it is an elderly person, or my parents, I would change my language and accent. I would have to speak with them in a more respectable manner. On this basis, my accent and language would always change, based on the relationship that I have with the person I am speaking to.