The Difference Between Accent and Pronunciation
There are so many myths in the language learning world, and one of the biggest is this:
Accent and pronunciation are NOT the same thing!
People mistakenly use these terms interchangeably. I often hear people say, “I need to improve my accent when speaking my second language.” But do they really mean ‘accent’? Rather, what I think they’re really talking about is pronunciation.
Let’s break down these two terms to clarify what each one really is and why it matters.
Accent is how someone uniquely speaks a language, influenced by things like race, gender, education level, geographical region, age, and socioeconomic background.
Pronunciation is the correct articulation of sounds and words in a language.
Here’s an example: if a Spanish person and a Honduran person say the same word, like “gracias,” will they say it the exact same way? No. Is one right and one wrong? Not at all—they both have different accents but they also both have correct pronunciation.
On the other hand, if a native English speaker who has never learned Spanish tries to say “gracias” but says it like “grassy-ass”... well, that’s incorrect pronunciation!
While the difference between the two might just feel like an over concern for semantics, it’s actually really important. When searching for a teacher or program, knowing this distinction can help you avoid being pressured to adopt a certain accent that doesn’t feel like “you.”
For example, if I taught my students to adopt my specific accent, then I’d be teaching them to sound like a millennial white woman from Georgia, USA. While my accent is not an uncommon one, it might not be fitting for who my student is!
Language expression is diverse, and all accents are valid. There’s no reason I need to teach my one specific accent. Rather I need to focus my efforts as a teacher on correct pronunciation so my students know the difference between “tree” and “three” / of “fifty” and “fifteen”.
If you’re a native Spanish speaker learning English, you might feel pressure to “lose the Latinx accent.” But your accent is a beautiful part of who you are and where you’re from. Just look at Sofia Vergara—a proud Colombian actress in Hollywood. She has a strong accent when she speaks English, but she communicates clearly while showing off her Colombian identity through the way she speaks.
Changing how you speak is challenging, and it’s normal to feel pressure but also PLEASE be patient with yourself! With all there is to learn in a language, should adopting a specific accent be a priority? I don’t think so. Put those efforts into your pronunciation and authentic expression instead.
As Amy Chua wisely said, “A foreign accent is a sign of bravery!” So, laugh at your mistakes, embrace your accent and have fun with the language— it’s all part of the process.
Just for fun…. a picture of Molly with Sofia Vergara. 😉
