What is an accent?
The term ‘Accent’ refers to ‘the way a person pronounces words.’ Generally, an Accent is influenced by the speaker’s native language, regional dialect, or
speech patterns.’ It
involves the different pronunciations of vowels, consonants, stress patterns,
and intonation. An
accent changes as per geographical location, social factors, or individual
language habits.
Accent has different types. They are
– regional accents (e.g. British accent, American accent), foreign accents
(when speaking a non-native language), or social accents (associated with a
particular social group or class).
Accents can affect the overall sound
and rhythm of spoken language. It includes variations in vowel sounds,
consonant pronunciations, and word stress. They can contribute to the unique
identity and cultural diversity of individuals and communities.
It’s important to note that having an accent is a natural part of
language acquisition. The speaker’s accent does not show the speaker’s
proficiency or intelligence. Accents should be loved and be given enough
importance as they reflect the rich linguistic diversity found all over the
world.
How to Mark the Accent in English:
In English, accents can be marked or
indicated by placing a symbol called an accent mark (‘) before the stressed syllable in a
word.
1. Identify the stressed syllable: Listen carefully to the word and
determine which syllable is emphasized or pronounced more forcefully.
2. Place the accent mark (‘)
: Once
you identify the stressed syllable, put an accent mark (‘) just before that syllable.
For example:
· The word
“banana” has the accent on the second syllable, so it is marked as ba‘na-na ( /bÉ™‘nÉ‘:nÉ™/)
· The word
“elephant” has the accent on the first syllable, so it is marked
as ‘e-le-phant ( /‘elɪfÉ™nt/
)
By marking the accent, you can
visually represent the emphasis or stress in a word, which helps in correct
pronunciation and understanding of the word’s rhythm.
It’s important to note that accent
marks are not commonly used in English writing, except in specific cases such
as dictionaries or language learning resources. In everyday writing, the
pronunciation and accent patterns are learned through exposure, practice, and
familiarity with the language.
