“REVIEW OF THE MARKET OF ACCENTS BY JAN BLOOMAERT”

Abstract

This paper describes the points presented in the Market of Accents by Jan Blommaert. Also, the
author stand on the points presented. Lastly, the author conclusions that formulated after
analyzing the article.

Introduction

THESIS STATEMENT

What is/are the points presented in the article?

English can be defined as the global language as it helps everyone in understanding and
communicating to other people in appreciation and communicating across countries and cultures.
While, accent is an individual way on how to pronounce a word or how they emphasized particular
letters. The state policies focus on language variation while the private actors create a market that
will emphasize the language accent and discourse. Both language and accents are integrated in the
word “globalization”, differences of culture and origin means variation in language that may result
on misunderstanding between an individual. Many people searching success in the global
environment and the economy. The private sectors took the variation of accent as an opportunity
to establish courses in the internet. These courses offered their customer a training which will help
them to have an accent reduction and give them confidence and courage to speak American
English but not the totality of the language. But not everyone is prospect customer of the websites.

Body

Do you agree with the point/s exhibited? Justify and support your answer with literature if
necessary.

A state would prescribe the use of English in schools, however would not be overly
worried if the result of this schooling were English with a British or other accent. The reality that
students speak American English with one of a kind accents is not usually a state concern, and the
state would leave its pupils alone if they speak this layered cake of accents. One study the stated
that government sectors focal point on educating are grammatical structures, vocabularies and
expression that were mostly used for reading comprehension. Consequently, students had minimal
communication capabilities in English unless they have participated in the classes introducing
additional English courses in private institutes (Khoshsima & Toroujeni, 2017).

Also, linguistic purification is regarded as the first step to linguistic readiness for the
globalized world. If an individual already reduce their accent that can cause the misunderstanding
in communication, it means they can be part of global economy. The variation of accent is the
result of differences of origin and culture of a person. Ahmed (2018) explained that global
communication is directly affected by the process of globalization. Many people perceive culture
to be the root of communication challenges. When people from two different cultures attempt to
exchange information, the way they speak, their body language or their mannerism can be
interpreted differently by the other person. The way people approach problems and how they
participate in communities is all influenced by way of culture.

The websites of American accent do not or never offer the totality of its language instead
it offers the precise bit of language that will meet the immediate needs or desire of their customers.
For example, in the website known as “American Accent Now”, there is a woman who is
frustrated due to the fact she can’t achieve her goal. As a potential customer, she requested by the
website to identify the problem occurred because of her current accent. It means that pronunciation
is the key to obtaining the job that one individual desire and to earn more money. The point is not
to learn American English, but to sound like an American.

On the other hand, he stated that not everyone is a prospect customer of the course. The
course prospect are the people who have strong accent such as British, German, French, Japanese,
Chinese, Indian accent because they prone to misunderstanding and have problem on contact with
native speaker of English. Also, those groups who embody globalization as a success story. The
reason is, the package sold by the dot com business brought: American accent, self-confidence,
personal and professional happiness or satisfaction, smooth and efficient communication with
Americans, business opportunities and money. They sell the package through means of internet on
technology which is the product of globalization.
 And undergoing this training means obtaining new accent, not getting rid of the current
accent. They are expected to change themselves by ‘reducing’ their existing accents in English. By
adopting, with great investments of effort, an accent that makes them sociolinguistic invisible and
changes their speech from something that contains their foreign accent that can cause noise on
communication process to a normal, uniform, unremarkable and therefore no longer distracting
tool of communication.

Discussion – CONCLUSION

What conclusion have you formulated after analyzing the article?

In conclusion, globalization can be defined as the country’s interdependence, integration

and interconnectedness. And accent reduction is vital in globalization as it helps to eliminate the
noise in verbal exchange between people who have different nationality. On having a reduction of
accent can make positive impact on many aspects of one’s everyday life such as; gain confidence
and career opportunities. Also, it will take away the frustration resulting from misunderstandings
due to the noise in their speech. And undergoing this training means reducing and not getting rid
of the current accent that originates on individual country. But it does not implt that your current
accent is wrong because there are no such as good and bad accents, the goal is to have a better
communication among people with different origins.

Khoshsima, H. & Toroujeni S. M. (2017) . A comparative study of the government and private
sectors. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313891645_A_Comparative_Study_of_the_Government
_and_Private_Sectors'_Effectiveness_in_ELT_Program_A_Case_of_Iranian_Intermediate_EFL_L
earners'_Oral_Proficiency_Examination

Ahmed, A. (2018). Noise factors affect communication. Retrieved from:

https://bizfluent.com/info-8405097-noise-factors-affect-communication.html