Learning a new language is hard enough, then learning where to put word stress, how to pronounce English correctly, and what intonations are appropriate based on context–well, now you’re in the big leagues. But what about fitting in where you are? Even if your English is letter-perfect, you could stick out in a crowd. But if you try too hard NOT to stick out, you could wind out sticking out even more!
For example, if English is your second language, and you’re working on your American accent and you live in Boston, you’re going to likely notice that native Bostonians often don’t pronounce English words they way they ought to be pronounced “by the book.” For example, a funny, commonly known phrase that stands out in the Boston accent is, “Go pahk the cah.” (Go park the car.) Things in New York can be just as confusing, with some people saying, “Let me axe yous a queshun” (Let me ask you two a question.)
Examples like these go on and on across the continental US, so what’s a nonnative speaker to do? Should you try to fit in by incorrectly pronouncing words and common colloquial phrases?
Probably not. As with most things, it’s always better to lay the foundation for your American English pronunciation first. Later, after you feel you truly have a grasp of all the nuances of American pronunciation, you can try to add in certain phrases and commonly used trend words (take for example, the word “shorty” to describe your girlfriend, or “spot” to describe your home.) But if you lack the confidence to use these words, even when they are what’s most commonly used where you live and work, it’s likely your pronunciation will suffer, and this can create nervous habits around using the American English accent you’ve worked so hard to learn.
The best advice? Go with your gut feeling. If you think you’ve reached the place where you can confidently use other American accents and trendy words in English, then give it a shot. If it makes you feel better and more a part of the group, all the better for your English and your American experience!
