Accent Modification and its Efficacy in Patients with Accents
Emily Barnett
Harding University of Searcy, Arkansas The goal of this research paper is to explore the specialty of accent modification within the field of speech-language pathology. This paper will define accent modification and discuss its purpose among those receiving this elective therapy. Methods and techniques for implementing accent modification, how effective these techniques are, how they are used in accent modification, why accent modification is relevant in our world today, and how speech science is related to accent modification will also be discussed.
According to ASHA, “an accent refers to a phonetic trait from a person’s original language that is carried
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101). Because our speech is habitual, it is very difficult for many to change the way that they speak (Ojakangas, 2013, p. 101). Ojakangas informs us that changing one’s speech patterns involves changing the circuitry of the brain and how it functions, and she describes two different types of motor learning that are entailed in accent modification (Ojakangas, 2013, p. 102). The first of these is motor adaptation, in which previously learned movement is scaled to new environmental requirements; in other words, it is the act of modifying an existent sound to use in another language in similar phonemic contexts (Ojakangas, 2013, p. 102). The second type of motor learning that Ojakangas describes is motor skill learning, which involves learning to produce a new movement altogether (Ojakangas, p. 102). It is important to note that those who have accent differences within their native language face different problems than those learning to speak a new language. Thus, a different approach is needed in accent modification for native-language speakers than those who have an accent because they are not native speakers of the language (Barb, 2005, p. 11). When looking at the two types of motor learning that commonly take place in accent modification, it can be inferred that a …show more content…
Since one’s intonation comes natural with their language and is not “taught”, it is helpful for those trying to modify their accent to be able to visualize their own intonation patterns as opposed to common intonation patterns of the accent they desire (Shoemaker, 1996). With the use of a specialized module for a computerized speech laboratory (CSL) created by Dr. Agin with Kay Elemetrics Corp., Lincoln Park, NJ, differences in sentence intonation patterns among non-native speakers can be illustrated. One can speak into the system through a microphone and receive visual feedback regarding their intonations as opposed to the standard intonations of the language (Shoemaker, 1996). This visualization illustrates their pitch characteristics and intonation patterns, allowing the speaker to see what changes they may need to make in pitch and intonation in order to further improve their accent. Intonation is vital in languages at the sentence and conversation level in determining whether a question is being asked or a statement is being made. For this reason, the computerized speech lab is very beneficial to those learning to modify their accent among the non-native population. As outlined above, accent modification is a rapidly growing area in the field of speech-language pathology, among both regional and foreign accents.
Summary of Interpretation: Given the information provided in Interpretation A, the clinician diagnosed Kara-Lynn with a severe phonological disorder. This diagnosis was made based on evidence provided by testing results, clinician observations, and speech analyses. Kara-Lynn demonstrated phoneme collapses into /d/ in place of stops (/p/, /t/, /k/, /g/), fricatives (/s/, /z/, /θ/, /ð/), and some consonant clusters (/tr/, /gr/) across all word positions. For example, Kara-Lynn produced /diə/ for “seal,” /dædɚ/ for “treasure,” and /dədudɚ/ for “computer.” Kara-Lynn also presented with active phonological processes of final consonant deletion (/fɪ/ for “fish”), cluster reduction (/tul/ for “school”), vocalization (/ɛləkə/ for “helicopter”), and deaffrication (/ʃi/ for “cheese”). She also presented with inconsistent patterns of initial-consonant deletion (/ɑʊps/ for “house”, /ɪʒ/ for “bridge”). In most instances, Kara-Lynn presented with both final consonant deletion and another phonological process, which markedly impacted her speech intelligibility, as when she produced /lɑʊ/ for “clown,” demonstrating both final consonant deletion and cluster reduction. She also expressed a high percentage of CV (27%) and CVC (29%) syllable and word shapes, with little other variation. Analysis of Kara-Lynn’s speech sample revealed similar errors exhibited during formal assessment, including phoneme collapse into /d/, high occurrences of initial and final consonant deletion and cluster
The film “American Tongues” documents a variety of English accents that are present across the United States and highlights a lot of the opinions people have about accents and people who speak these accents. A large majority of the people who express opinions about other peoples’ accents tend to express negative views, as they see their own accent as the superior one. The film focuses on showing the array of accents found in the U.S., but also how a lot of people who speak these “inferior” accents work to learn “Standard American English” to increase their chances of getting jobs and communicating in more official domains. Although the film was made in 1988, it expresses views still present in today’s society towards different accents, as people tend to continue judging others based not only on what they say, but also how they say it.
The opportunity to observe the work overview of a Speech Pathologist, has tremendously solidified my interest in this field. At the Diana Rogovin Speech Center at Brooklyn College, I observed clients of various ages with different speech language disorders including articulation, language, voice, fluency and accent modification. Observing clinicians at the speech center gave me the opportunity to learn how important client-clinician interaction is for the session and how essential it is to build a good relationship with the client. Although I learned the
A phenomenon applicable to the vast field of Speech-Language Pathology, and the foundation of research now and in the future can all be attributed to, difference versus disorder. This concept considers the complexities of those served within the profession and highlights the range of possibilities displayed from an individual, that draws a fine line between a person being labeled as having a dialectal difference or a speech and/or language disorder. A difference can be defined as an alteration in an individual’s speech and/or language that can be attributed to internal and external factors such as race, culture, and the environment in which a person lives. In contrast, a disorder is an actual disability that interferes with a person’s speech
Increasing Kara-lynn’s speech intelligibility will be the primary target of treatment. The multiple oppositions approach with maximally distinct targets will be utilized to treat Kara-lynn’s phoneme collapses into /d/. She collapses multiple phonemes into /d/ in word initial, medial, and final positions including some stops, fricatives, and consonant clusters. The multiple oppositions approach targets phoneme collapse by simultaneously contrasting the errored sounds with the target sounds .This helps the child recognize their own patterns of error and make widespread changes to their sound system as a whole(consider adding reference).
Some of the duties of a speech pathologist are, but are not limited to, evaluate patients’ levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty, identify treatment options, teach patients how to make sounds and improve their voices, work with patients to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow, and counsel patients and families on how to cope with communication and swallowing disorders (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015). ‘If the speech-language pathologists work in medical facilities, they work with physicians and surgeons, social workers, psychologists, and other healthcare workers’ (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015).
In the novel How The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez; Sandra “Sandi” Garcia, the second eldest daughter of the Garcia family. An accent is something that embodies you, but it does not have to be a physical aspect of oneself. It can be a talent that let’s others know who you are what is special about you. To lose one’s accent is to lose something that represents oneself; a symbol of who that person is. Sandi’s accent was her artwork.
NSOMEs delineate from phonetic placement and sound modification procedures that are used in traditional articulation therapy due to the fact that they are not directly related to the act of speech (Muttiah, Georges, & Brackenbury, 2011). Phonetic treatments also target
The reason people may be obliged to change their accent is to feel like they fit in and not stand out, so that people from
One of the notable attributes about living in a state and/or city in America is that whenever you travel outside of your city or state, most people are quick to point out your “accent”. However, from your standpoint,
The purpose of this evidence based research paper is to evaluate the efficacy of the cycles approach when compared to the traditional articulation therapy approach in the treatment of children who are highly unintelligible. The Cycles Phonological Remediation Approach (Hodson, 2011) is a treatment method for children with severe speech sound disorders. This approach targets phonological pattern errors in a sequential manner. During each cycle, one or more phonological patterns are targeted and after each cycle is complete, another cycle begins. Recycling of phonological patterns continues until the targeted patterns are generalized into the child’s conversational speech. The cycles approach is meant to mirror typical phonological development in children (Hodson, 2011).
On the articulation subtest of the DEAP X produced errors /ϴ/→ /f/, /ð/ → /d/ in all positions, as well as /k/→ /t/ and /g/→ /d/ in initial position. She also produced /ts/ → /tʃ/ in the final position of a word. X produced lateralizations of /ʃ/ and /s/ in all positions. The phonology subtest assess phonological processes in both single words and connected speech. On the phonology subtest she demonstrated fronting of /k/→ /t/ in initial position and blends. The single word-connected speech subtest indicated inconsistent errors when fronting /t/→ /k/. The scores based on the three subtests indicate the client produces distortions of /s/ and /sh/, as well as typical simplifications for /k/, /g/, /ϴ/, and /ð/
The article “A person’s Accent Can Change Your Perception of What He Is Saying” by Alice Robb was very interesting. The title of the article says it all. I agree with the author statement in the article “listening to a voice with a foreign accent can prime people to see a situation according to the values of foreign culture. The Chinese-English speakers voices seemed low, soft, scared, and did not stand out as independent, therefore when I looked at the picture of the fishes it made me think the group of fishes were chasing the single fish that was swimming ahead. Once I listened to the American-English speakers the voice sounded more at a higher pinch, strong clear, and independent, which made me looked at the picture differently than when
The Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation (GFTA) test was administered to assess Jeffrey’s production of all English consonants in fixed position. The GFTA assesses the production of sounds according to types of errors (omissions, substitutions, additions, distortions) in
Results: Minimal-pairs treatment procedure was effective in decreasing process use over a short period of time. Several sound production errors improved concomitantly. Subject-A improved more rapidly than subject-B. Generalization to probe words occurred gradually.