Find Accent Reduction Classes in Bristol

Accent Reduction in Bristol

There are lots to like in Bristol: a thriving art community and a vibrant culture. The architecture is stunning and green spaces abound. In Bristol, you can find plenty to do, from hopping nightlife to an energetic sports scene.

Unfortunately, Bristol is also home to a terrible statistic. It ranks seventh-worst for inequality out of all the UK's 348 districts.

Bristol boasts a diverse population that includes large Arab, Asian and Black communities. What's even more remarkable is that the Black community populations far outnumber the Asian population; an inversion of demographics seen elsewhere in the UK. A majority of the Black population hail from African nations while the next-largest block represents the Caribbean contingent.

The lilting quality of those persons' speech is lovely to listen to. Unfortunately, it brings those speakers much hardship as they try to get along in a society disdainful of them. Perhaps reducing their native languages' speech patterns and accents could help.

Accent Reduction for Bristolians

Non-native populations obviously have a need to master English, including how in it is accented, as quickly as possible - but that doesn't leave native Bristolians off the hook.

Renowned English linguist Stanley Ellis once described the Bristolian dialect as a '... crazy, crab-apple tree of a language'. It's difficult to know whether he loved or loathed it; he went on to qualify it thus: "... with the sharpest, juiciest flavour", a conclusion decidedly open to interpretation. Still, however you might filter his words, you can't escape the conclusion that there is room for native Bristolians to improve their pronunciation.

Unlike speaking in Received Pronunciation - Britain's standard, region-neutral accent, Bristolians pronounce their Rs like Americans do: 'car' instead of 'cah', as an example. Also, words that end in A or O typically have a W or L attached to them. Bristolians don't go to the cinema but to the 'cinemaw'. Or maybe the 'cinemal'.

How Accent Reduction Can Help You

To those with an ear for languages, the sounds of both the Bristolian dialect and immigrants flavouring their English speaking with their native accents are delightful. The downside is that, beyond that small realm of appreciation, speakers who are thus afflicted have a hard time gaining traction anywhere else in the English-speaking world.

Whether you aspire to the most mundane work - as a shop assistant, teacher or office worker for a multinational company, or your aims are far loftier, maybe a career in aviation, science or politics, you have to be able to speak in such a way that people can understand you. That includes people whose first language isn't English.

Reducing your accent can open doors to career fields that didn't exist 20 years ago. You might, for instance, become a social media influencer or launch a podcast, if you're particularly knowledgeable about a certain field. You could also start a Youtube channel about a subject you're passionate about: gaming, fashion, food or economics.

Speaking in a region-neutral accent won't guarantee you a future of success and untold riches but it will certainly make your chances of living a satisfying life in the UK a bit greater.

Finding Accent Reduction Lessons in Bristol

It's a sad fact that, in today's world, anything that makes you different from the mainstream can prevent you from joining it. Fortunately, Superprof's accent reduction coaches can help you learn how to speak English so that you'll be more openly welcomed in every aspect of life, from shopping to having fun.

In Bristol, you will find four Superprof language coaches who would be happy to meet you for lessons, either at their home or yours. If your circumstances are such that meeting face to face would be too difficult, you can also find Superprof language tutors who give lessons online. Superprof has more than 100 accent reduction tutors in the UK alone so you're sure to find more than one such person who can meet your accent reduction needs.

It might seem hard to shed your native language's rhythm and patterns - be they Bristolian or from another land but, after taking lessons with a Superprof language coach, you will soon find that people understand you better and focus on what you're telling them rather than how you're talking.