Should You Lose Your Accent Or Not?

Should You Lose Your Accent Or Not?

Over the years I have had many people ask me how they can lose their accents. Although I understand how this can be achieved, I always question why they would want to do that. It usually transpires that they believe their accent to be the number one reason for others not understanding or accepting them. In this video I'd like to offer three tips that may help those wishing to change their accent that instead of ridding it completely may offer a clearer way to communicate WITHOUT losing your identity.

Recommended reading -

We can help you...

Gain confidence in presenting yourself with spoken English

Become a more authoritative, engaging and resonant voice

Work on and develop your speech, sales pitch or presentation

Learn physical and practical training techniques for daily practice

See an immediate and positive change over the quality of your communication

Focus on pitch, tone, projection, articulation, accent and intention

Overcome nerves and engage your audience.

Relax and find comfort in your physicality, body language, speech delivery and conversational grammar. ​

[ihori]

To keep your own accent is good. But I have learned that in England there is a tendency of getting a whiff of a "more common" accent if you are speaking RP. So, there is a sort of "modern RP" which differs from how people spoke it in 40's or 60's. 
I remeber seeing an article stating that kids from upper-class families were trying to acquire a sort of South-London, East-End, or even Jamaican accent for not being bullied in the street. As well as some politicians deliberately make an effort to change their accents to become closer to their constituency. Even the Queen have made some tiny steps in that direction. 
In this sense Englih is rather an interesting language, which is tolerant to many accents and likes them all.

My native language is Russian, and if we hear a person who does not pronounce sounds clearly and correctly, that gives us an impression that a person has a something wrong with his mouth or being uneducated (even wrong stress or intonation plays role). When I first had encounted with the South-London accent I had an impression that they are lisping or not been lerned to speak clearly when they were kids. Now I know I was wrong.
 
I am trying to master the standard RP just for my whim, but I also like your accent, thought for my ear it does not differ too much. The accent of the actor John Simm sounds interesting. Also Scottish or Irish accents, too. Even Brummie.
Lately I came across HRH Charles reading "My heart in the Highlands" on youtube. It was one more bit of difference from the standard RP. 

So, now and then I try to imitate how people speak when I feel they speak handsomly. Probably it is not good for loosing the focus on RP, but rather interesting.
So, what I am trying to say in theis long run is, it may be fun to pick up another accent and become able to speak it as if it is your own.
I like your videos and all peaces of advice you are giving here. Go on and keep her steady, mate!

[estherjegede-aghedo]

Wowww!!!! I love the clarity of your voice! I got so much value from this.Thank you!🙏🙏🙏

[alejandromaciel]

Awesomeness! Thank you so much Daren! Do you have by any chance exercises, or where to put the air for an American accent? Please? Thanks and happiness!

[emmanuelmartinez]

Can you explain what it is to have an accent? If you are from England how could you have an accent?

[jagdishmohapatra]

Sir I have no credit and debit cards please help me....