Understanding accents and their role in language learning

Charlotte Guest
Charlotte Guest
A woman on her phone smiling outdoors in a city
Reading time: 4 minutes

Accents are a fascinating aspect of language that can reveal a lot about a person's background and experiences. For language learners, accents often become a central focus, sometimes to the detriment of more important language skills. In this post, we’ll explore what accents are, why people have them, and why intelligibility is more important than mastering an accent.

Ways to improve your language intelligibility
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree Pearson can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

What are accents?

An accent is a distinctive way of pronouncing words that is characteristic of a particular region, social group, or native language. It involves variations in phonetics, intonation and rhythm. For example, a person from London might speak English with a different accent compared to someone from Edinburgh.

Accents are natural and inevitable; everyone has one. They are influenced by various factors, including geography, culture and exposure to other languages. When you learn a new language, your native language influences your pronunciation.

Depending on your accent, you may pronounce some sounds in certain ways that aren't reflected in another language, or perhaps certain sounds or words don't even exist in your first language. For example in Japanese, there is no /L/ sound, so a native Japanese speaker might struggle to pronounce the word "love" with an accurate /L/ sound.

Another example is Khoisan languages. They often use clicks in their language, which is not found in many other languages, making it difficult for non-native speakers to imitate and learn. For anyone who has to make a sound they aren't used to, it can be initially difficult as the mouth has to move in a way unfamiliar to the speaker.

There is even a discussion on whether physical aspects affect accent, such as the shape of your teeth, tongue and oral posture (the way your teeth rest together and tongue sits in your mouth). There are also many other physical factors that are under debate on whether they impact voice/accent.

Why do people have accents?

People have accents for several reasons:

  1. Geographical influence: The region where a person grows up significantly affects their accent. Even within the same country, accents can vary widely from one city or town to another.
  2. Cultural factors: Cultural background plays a role in shaping how people speak. For instance, social norms and traditions can influence speech patterns and pronunciations.
  3. Native language impact: Your first language has a profound impact on how you pronounce sounds in a new language. Certain sounds may not exist in your native language, making them harder to replicate accurately in another.
  4. Exposure and practice: The amount of exposure and practice you have with a new language can affect your accent. Regular interaction with fluent speakers can help you adopt more native-like pronunciations. If you spend a lot of time around foreign media you may start picking up accents from there.

Have you ever spoken to someone and you feel like they're mimicking your accent? or that you're subconsciously mimicking theirs? This can be due to the 'chameleon effect', when a person adopts and mimics things such as gestures or voice of the person they are in conversation with. This is seen as a subconscious way to build rapport and connection with others.

Why do accents matter?

Accents matter because they are a core part of our identity and how we relate to the world. For language learners, accents can be a source of pride or frustration.

However, it’s essential to understand that having a foreign accent is perfectly normal and not a barrier to effective communication. In fact, accents add diversity and richness to language and should be embraced.

Why intelligibility is more important than mastering an accent

In the context of language learning, intelligibility—being understood by others—should be your primary goal rather than eliminating or changing your accent. Here’s why:

  1. Effective communication: The main aim of learning a new language is to communicate effectively. If others can understand you clearly, your accent becomes less important.
  2. Reduced pressure: Focusing on intelligibility rather than perfecting an accent reduces stress and makes the learning process more enjoyable. You can concentrate on expanding your vocabulary and improving grammar instead.
  3. Cultural acceptance: Many native speakers are accustomed to hearing various accents and can understand them without difficulty. They appreciate the effort you put into learning their language, regardless of your accent.
  4. Retaining your identity: Trying to eliminate your accent may mean losing part of your cultural identity. Embracing your accent shows others that you are proud of where you come from and can open the door to meaningful conversations about culture and diversity.
  5. Practical progress: Concentrating on intelligibility allows you to make practical progress in real-world situations, such as ordering food, asking for directions, or participating in conversations.

Tips for improving intelligibility

  • Listen and mimic: Spend time listening to fluent speakers and try to mimic their intonation and rhythm.
  • Practice pronunciation: Focus on pronouncing key sounds correctly.
  • Record yourself: Recording your speech and comparing it to fluent speakers can help you identify areas for improvement.
  • Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask fluent speakers for feedback on your pronunciation and clarity. It's the best way to determine your intelligibility.

Be proud of your accent

Accents are a natural part of language and identity. While they can influence how we are perceived, they should not be a major concern for language learners. Instead, focus on being understood and enjoying the process of learning a new language. Remember, an accent is not a flaw; it’s your blueprint.

Read out blog post 'Understanding dialects in the English language'

Brush up on your language skills with Mondly by Pearson

More blogs from Pearson

  • Friends sat on a moving train together talking
    What is the hardest language to learn?
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    It's incredible that thousands of languages are spoken worldwide, each with its own set of challenges for learners. A question that often pops up is: "Which language is the hardest to learn?". Today we take a closer look at this question and consider different factors that make learning a language challenging.

    What is the hardest language to learn? 

    Learning a language is a complex process that involves several components, including phonetics (sounds), morphology (word formation), syntax (sentence structure), semantics (meaning), and pragmatics (communication in context). These factors all contribute to the perceived difficulty of a language.

    Language difficulty

    The U.S. Foreign Service Institute ranks languages based on their difficulty for English speakers. Factors include similarity to English and script complexity.

    FSI Language Difficulty Rankings

    • Category I: Easiest languages (e.g. Spanish, French, Italian)
    • Category II: Moderately difficult languages (e.g. German, Indonesian)
    • Category III: Difficult languages (e.g. Russian, Hebrew, Arabic)
    • Category IV: Very difficult languages (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean)

    In theory, you should also be able to apply this the other way around to work out how hard It would be for someone to learn English. But it isn't quite as simple as that in practice.

  • A man working on a laptop in a library smiling
    Are remote English tests lower standard?
    By Alice Bazzi
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    As digital testing becomes more widespread, a common perception still persists: that remote testing or at-home tests are somehow lower in quality than traditional test center exams. For institutions and governments, this raises an important question: does the delivery format impact the standard of assessment? 

    The reality is, the quality of the test is defined by design, scoring and security, not by location. 

    PTE Express is built on the same core principles as established English proficiency tests, including rigorous test development, validated content and standardized scoring processes. The academic integrity of the test remains consistent regardless of whether it is taken in a test center or from home. 

    In many ways, remote testing introduces additional layers of oversight. PTE Express incorporates advanced features such as biometric identity verification, AI-enabled monitoring and fraud detection algorithms to ensure that each test session meets strict security standards. These systems provide continuous monitoring and create detailed audit trails, offering institutions greater transparency into how tests are conducted and validated. 

    For US institutions evaluating large volumes of international applicants, this ensures that remote scores can be trusted to meet the same standards as in-person testing without limiting access based on geography.

    Governments also benefit from scalable, secure testing solutions that support broader participation while maintaining compliance and integrity. Agents, in turn, can confidently recommend remote testing options knowing they deliver both accessibility and credibility. 

    The bottom line 

    Remote testing is not a lower standard, but it is an evolution of English testing delivery. PTE Express demonstrates that it is possible to maintain high-quality, secure and globally consistent assessment in a fully online format. 

  • A teacher talking to a student in the hallway
    How to design accessible language lessons for all learners
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Every student learns differently. Some learners enjoy speaking in front of the class while others prefer to write their answers first. Some understand new English words quickly while others need more time, pictures or examples.

    As a language teacher, you cannot create a separate lesson for every student. However, you can use inclusive teaching strategies to make lessons more accessible. This helps all students take part, understand new ideas and build confidence.

    Here are a few simple ways to design accessible language lessons for all learners.

    1. Give clear instructions in different ways

    Clear instructions help students understand what they need to do. However, listening to instructions once may not be enough for everyone.

    Try explaining a task aloud, writing the steps on the board and showing an example. Use short sentences and break longer activities into smaller steps. For example, before a writing activity, show students a short example paragraph. Then give them a simple list of steps to follow.

    These inclusive classroom strategies can help learners understand tasks more easily and work with greater independence.

    2. Use different types of learning materials

    Pictures, audio recordings and written text can help language learners understand and remember new information.

    For example, when teaching vocabulary about food, show pictures, say each word aloud and write it on the board. Students could then listen to a short conversation about ordering food in a restaurant. Using different types of materials gives students more ways to understand the same information.

    Make sure your resources are accessible too. Use readable fonts, clear text and good color contrast. Add captions to videos and provide written versions of important audio content when possible.

    3. Offer different ways to participate

    Not every student feels comfortable speaking in front of the whole class. Some need more thinking time while others may find writing easier than speaking.

    Give students different ways to share their ideas. They could write an answer, discuss it with a partner, complete a digital activity or speak to a small group before sharing with the class. For example, before asking students to discuss a question in English, give them a minute to write down their ideas.

    This approach helps learners prepare for speaking activities and build confidence without removing opportunities to practise spoken English.