Accent Modification FAQ
What is an accent?
Non-native English speakers use melody, intonation, and stress on syllables in words that differ from American English speakers. In addition, the movements of the jaw, tongue, and lips can vary which affects the pronunciation of consonant and vowels sounds in words. An accent can affect a person’s ability to be understood and stand in the way of success both professionally and personally.
What is a dialect?
Those who speak the same language can have variations in the way they speak, both in sounds and word choice which varies regionally. Some choose to work on dialect to limit differences in their speech in order to assimilate or for professional purposes.
How can an accent or a dialect difference affect communication?
Some individuals feel challenges and frustration communicating because of their accent. They may find it difficult to be understood which can lead to decreased social interaction. It may hinder an individual’s professional expression and may lead a listener to focus more on the person’s accent than what they are trying to convey. This can negatively impact job performance, educational advancement, self-esteem and everyday life.
What is involved in accent modification training?
The main goal of accent modification training is to help each client speak more intelligibly and be understood by a larger population. Elimination of an accent or cultural identity is NOT the goal. A client is actually learning how to “Americanize” their speech patterns. After a specific assessment of an individual’s speech, an individualized program is tailor-made.
Where are sessions conducted?
Your customized sessions are offered locally in person at my office in Warwick or via Skype.
Voice Therapy FAQ
What is involved in this Voice Therapy program?
The first step is an initial consultation to determine the client’s voice modification goals. Then the program consists of a number of hour-long sessions either in person or via Skype. The content of the sessions is determined by the goals set during the initial consultation. The length of each program is individualized and generally ends when the client meets his/her voice modification goals.
What is involved in the sessions?
Sessions are individualized to focus on the client’s goals.
Your session may include:
- Vocal hygiene training
- Breathing techniques to support a strong, healthy voice
- Gender-based vocal modulation including
- Resonance
- Pitch
- Volume
- Intonation
- Articulation
- Rate/Volume
- Gender-focused language
- Semantics
- Pragmatics (social rules of communication)
How long is the program?
The length of each program is individualized and generally ends when the client meets all goals set jointly with the clinician such as when the client feels the self-perception of their voice matches that of their identity and personality.
Where are the sessions conducted?
Your customized sessions are offered locally in person at my office in Warwick or via Skype.