Accent Modification – A Racist Goal?

One of the services we provide at The Sound Center is accent modification for foreign and regional accents.  Clients work on pronunciation, intonation, speaking rate, style of presentation, and tone of voice, among other areas.  The accent we teach is American English, as spoken by most broadcasters in the US.

Some see this work as fundamentally racist.  They claim that the group in power dictates the correct way of speaking, and the less powerful are forced to change.  Who has the right to say which way of speaking is correct?   

I can see their point, especially when people are dismissed or demeaned for the way they speak.  However, in my opinion, communication is the goal.  If people have ideas to share but their audience cannot understand them, it is to their benefit to make some changes in the way they speak.  

I have simplified this debate considerably, but I am curious to find out what you think.  Is accent modification a racist goal?

Chicago a cappella – Voices extraordinaire!

Ah, the human voice!  In the business world, a persuasive, informative, confident sound is key.  But it’s Friday…take a break from the boardroom and consider indulging in an “intimate taste of the vocal arts,” as Chicago a cappella’s 9-voice ensemble was described in the Chicago Tribune by Michael Cameron (April 21, 2008). 

This group is near and dear to my heart.  They sing innovative programs and have extremely high musical standards.  I serve on the Board, and The Sound Center is a sponsor of the upcoming Black and Red Ball on May 22nd.  I would like to extend a warm invitation to this event.  If you would like to taste the vocal arts and delicious cuisine, join us at Park West.  

If you can’t attend, please give yourself the opportunity to hear them!  Sample their sound here or buy a CD.  Download their music at itunes.  Catch a performance in the ‘08-’09 season.  They perform in Chicago, Oak Park, Evanston, and Naperville. 

You can also buy some raffle tickets and be entered to win a Desert Resort and Spa Getaway for Two!  Check it out!

A Call for Questions

I would love to use this blog as a place to answer any questions related to communication.  If I can’t answer them, I will do my best to find the answer and invite feedback from you.  So go ahead, ask away!  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• VOICE:  Would you like to know something about how your voice works?  What people prefer to hear in a voice?  Voices people dislike?  Can a voice be changed? 
• ACCENT:  Perhaps you want to know something about accents, like what is the American accent?  Why are some accents harder to understand than others?  Is it discriminatory to require an employee to receive accent modification training?   
• PRESENTATION:  How about presentation in the business world?  How much should a person use gestures?  Should a presentation incorporate visual aids like PowerPoint? 

These are just a few ideas.  Use them or brainstorm your own and ask.  I love this stuff!

A Call for Questions « The Sound Center Weblog

A Call for Questions « The Sound Center Weblog

P.S. Our website

You can learn more about The Sound Center by visiting us at www.thesoundcenter.com. 

The Sound Center first blog post

This is my first blog post.  My name is Michelle Eppley and I am the president of The Sound Center, Inc.  We help people unlock the power of the voice, redesign foreign and regional accents, and become more fluent, articulate, intelligible, confident and effective communicators!  I am looking forward to blogging.  Thanks for reading!