Accent Reduction Program: The Value of Code Switching
Effective communication is definitely one of the keys to any successful business endeavor. Being able to convey your thoughts in a clear and concise manner helps speed up the exchange of opinions while minimizing the amount of misunderstanding in the process. As any accent reduction program would suggest, the need to adapt different techniques to seamlessly ease into an acceptable method of speech is critical. In this matter, code switching has often been used as a means to slowly integrate the linguistic features of the accent you are aiming to adopt into your daily speech habits. However, its degree of effectiveness is often questioned by those 
in the initial stages of an accent reduction program if results are not seen relatively quickly.
You can avoid getting into this kind of negative thought pattern by focusing on a particular area of need related to your accent production program each day, such as pronunciation followed by your speaking rate. Or perhaps you have a tendency to mumble when nervous. Regardless of which part of the accent reduction program process you find most difficult, consistent practice will yield the easiest path to success.
Accent Reduction Program: What is Code Switching and How Does It Affect Your Accent?
Code switching, sometimes called code mixing, refers to the practice of switching between two dialects or accents within the same language. Although sometimes applicable to writing as well, it is more often seen in verbal communication.
There are a number of reasons why people code switch, sometimes subconsciously. Code switching is sometimes used as a means of blending into a crowd, or applying terms or accents to specific words and statements that are most often heard regionally. For example, it is normal for people to adapt the Southern drawl when found within the area that uses it, sometimes because you hear it so much that your brain’s adaptability kicks in and urges you to sound the same way. There are also instances when code switching is applied as you use a specific dialect that is not your own, as you try to figure out a way to convey your thoughts in an effective way your audience will understand.
This concept is often referred to when someone tries to talk about their troubles at work with friends and family. When describing the problem, they are likely to use workplace jargon and acronyms their listener is unfamiliar with, at which point the listener will say “just talk to me in layman’s terms”, a straightforward fashion free of workplace jargon.
Because you have been trained to speaking a certain way, there are times in your accent reduction program when you will find yourself switching back to your native tongue regardless of the amount of effort you put in to adopting a neutral sounding American accent.
Accent Reduction Program: Will Code Switching Help You Reach Your Ultimate Goal?
There are different sides to code switching that may or may not help your efforts to reduce your accent in an accent reduction program. Code switching from your native accent to standard American English can help you become more comfortable with the process, as you will able to compare and contrast the features of your native accent with those of the standard American English accent. Consistent code switching can also cause a noticeable delay in your learning. Some people tend to get so comfortable in using code switching that they fail to reach their goal in an accent reduction program of completely adapting to a specific accent. Furthermore, switching between one accent to another can also become confusing to listeners.
At the end of the day, whether code switching will benefit you specifically depends on your learning style and pace. An accent reduction program would be able to effectively pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses, and make a final determination as to whether code switching is applicable for you.
Want to start a personalized Accent Reduction Program?
Get started with Accent Pros free accent reduction screening! The screening will rate your accent severity using a 7 point scale: 1 being the most heavy and 7 being very mild. If you’re inclined to take it a step further, check out our various accent reduction programs we have to offer. Accent Pros has an office starter accent reduction program and an online starter accent reduction program. Both the officer starter accent reduction program and online starter accent reduction program have had all clients get a 50% of more accent reduction after 12 sessions-check it out!
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