(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Keep Your Identity While Changing Your Accent
English learners all over the world have the same question: how can I speak more like a native speaker?
A big industry has grown up around helping non-native English speakers change their accent. Accent is more than simply how you pronounce individual words. It also includes the stress and intonation patterns for whole sentences.
There are many books and software programs, online and in-person courses that promise to teach a "native accent." But is it really necessary to sound exactly like a native speaker? Some experts say it is not.
Eusebia V. Mont leads the Accent Modification Program at the University of Maryland's Department of Hearing & Speech Sciences. Mont talked about it to VOA Learning English.
The Accent Modification Program serves students, faculty and the local community. Students come to the program for one or two school terms. They meet in a group for 90 minutes a week. Each student meets with one other student and a clinician for more individual work.
Altogether the program amounts to about 60 hours of learning in class. Mont says the time needed to improve is different for each student.
"The rate of progress absolutely depends on the type of accent it is, how long they've been speaking English, how often they speak English, how much exposure they have to the language; listening and speaking; so it's a very individualized process."
Everyone speaks with an accent of one kind or another. People often say they want to "lose" their accent, or lessen their accent. But it is more exact to describe such an effort as "adding" or "modifying" an accent. Mont says the purpose of accent modification is to give students tools to use when they need others to understand them more clearly.
"Our goal is not to eliminate the accent. I view accent as an extension of culture; an extension of a person's individual identity - and I don't work to eliminate any part of culture from an individual."
Students in the program are looking toward the future. They will most likely work in English-speaking environments when they leave school. The program teaches them tools for this. For example, they learn how to give an "elevator pitch" – a short description of an idea – and to discuss their research. They also practice interviewing and giving presentations at work.
The program teaches idioms and colloquial expressions as well. This helps students talk with native English speakers. The idea is to help them feel part of the English-speaking community in which they study, work and live.
Mont says that there are a few methods for modifying accent, but most have the same basis. One method is called the Compton method or Pronouncing English as a Second Language, or PESL. Arthur J. Compton developed the method in the 1980s for English learners who know English vocabulary and grammar fairly well. PESL teaching begins with a test to find out how the student's native language affects different areas of pronunciation. Then, learners use practice materials to record their own voice and compare their pronunciation attempts to recordings of a native speaker.
Another method is the Tomatis Method, which uses special headphones and includes listening to electronically modified music and voices. This method is also used as a therapy with children who have autism or other conditions that can cause difficulty in language learning.
The methods used at University of Maryland are based on data from tests of participants, Mont says. She has found that the best method is the one that works for the teacher and student. So the team may switch and use a different method if the first choice does not work.
Learners who want to modify their accent often take a "do-it-yourself" approach, thinking they know exactly what to work on. But that is not as easy as it may sound. The participants at University of Maryland's Accent Modification Program learn how to listen to and examine their own speech pattern. They also learn to produce separate sounds and then work on intonation of sentences. Over time, they build confidence in speaking understandably in particular situations: class discussions, phone calls, interviews and discussions of their research.
Accent modification is like any other tool, Mont says.
"When you need it, pull it out of the bag, and when you don't need it, it's fine to put it away… if you are using accent modification for work advancement, for example, then be comfortable in your home environment and with friends. Use the accent modification tools that you have learned when you need them."
Mont's final advice to English learners is not to expect to sound exactly like a native speaker.
"Don't compare yourself to native English-speaking peers and colleagues. Unless it is an imitation or mimicking, you're not likely to sound exactly like your native English-speaking peers, and that's okay."
And remember, even native English speakers do not all speak alike!
I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Bryan Lynn.
重点解析
重点讲解：
1. grow up 长大；成长；
But now it's time for that brand to grow up along with her.
但现在是时候让品牌形象和她一起成长了。
2. in-person 亲自；当面；
This step involves in-person or Internet surveys, or perhaps product trials with feedback forms.
这一步包括和人们面对面、或网上调查、或和反馈表格在一起的产品试用。
3. begin with 始于；以开头；
The film begins with an aerial view of the Great Basin of Nevada.
影片以空中鸟瞰内华达大盆地的镜头开始。
4. attempt to 试图；尝试；
Close your eyes and attempt to identify the sketch by running your fingertips along the raised outline.
闭上双眼，试着用指尖沿着凸起的轮廓辨认草图。
参考译文
改变口音的同时保持自己原有的身份
全世界的英语学习者都有一个同样的问题：我怎么能说得更像一个母语是英语的人？
目前，一个规模宏大的行业已经发展起来，以帮助非英语母语者改变他们的口音。口音不仅仅是如何发单个单词的音，它还包括整个句子的重音和语调模式。
有许多书籍、软件程序、在线和面对面式课程，都承诺教授“母语腔”。但是，真有必要像英语为母语的人那样说话吗？一些专家说不用的。
尤西比亚·V·蒙特是马里兰大学听力与语言科学系的口音矫正项目负责人，蒙特与美国之音谈论了此事。
口音矫正项目为学生、教师和当地社区服务，参与该项目的学生们学习一或两个学期。他们每周以小组的方式见面一次，每次90分钟。每位学生与另一位学生和一位临床医生会面，完成更多的个人独立活动。
该项目的课堂学习时间共计约为60小时，蒙特说每位学生需要改进的时间各不相同。
“进步的速度完全取决于口音的类型、说英语的时间、说英语的频率、对语言的接触程度，听力和对话能力；所以，这是一个非常个性化的过程。”
每个人说话都带有某种口音，人们经常说他们不想要自己的口音，或想要减轻口音。但更确切地说，这种努力是“添加”或“修改”口音。蒙特说，口音矫正的目的是让学生学会，在需要别人能够更加清晰地理解他们时可以使用的方法。
“我们的目标不是消除口音，我认为口音是文化和个人身份的延伸，我不想从个人身上消除文化的任何部分。”
参与此项目的学生正在展望未来，他们毕业后很可能在讲英语的环境中工作，这个项目教会他们不同的方法。例如，他们学习如何进行 “电梯行销”，即在最短的时间内把结果表达清楚，以及讨论他们的研究。他们还练习面试和在工作中做业务陈述。
该项目也教授习语和口语表达，这有助于学生与母语为英语的人交谈。其理念是帮助他们感受到自己是学习、工作和生活的英语社区的一部分。
蒙特表示，有几种矫正口音的方法，但大多数都基于相同的理念。其中一种方法被称为康普顿法或将英语发音作为第二语言。亚瑟·J·康普顿在20世纪80年代时，为熟悉英语词汇和语法的英语学习者开发了这种方法。该种教学从测试开始，以便了解学生的母语对发音不同方面的影响。然后，学习者运用练习材料录制自己的声音，并将发音与母语者的录音进行比较。
该课程还教授习语和口语表达。这有助于学生与母语为英语的人交谈。他们的想法是帮助他们感受到英语社区的一部分，在那里他们学习、工作和生活。
蒙特说，马里兰大学使用的方法是基于参与者测试的数据。她发现，最好的方法是对老师和学生都有效的方法。因此，如果首选方法不起作用，小组可能会换用一种不同的方法。
想要改变口音的学习者通常会采取DIY的方法，认为自己知道该做什么。但这并不像听起来那么容易。马里兰大学口音矫正项目的参与者，学习如何倾听和检查他们自己的语言模式。他们还学习发出不同的声音，然后研究句子的语调。随着时间的推移，他们在特定情况下建立起自信，知道别人能够理解自己在说什么，比如：在课堂讨论中、打电话、接受访谈和讨论他们的研究。
蒙特说，口音矫正和其他工具一样。
“当你需要它的时候，把它从袋子里拿出来。不需要的时候，把它收起来就行了。例如，如果你是为了升职使用口音矫正法，那么在家里，以及和朋友们在一起时就可以放轻松。在需要时，运用学到的口音矫正法就可以了。”
蒙特给英语学习者的最后一条建议是，不要期望自己说得完全和母语是英语的人一样。
“不要把自己与说英语的同龄人和同事作比较，除非是为了模仿，否则你的发音可能与他们不完全一样，这没关系的。”
记住，即使母语是英语的人，他们的说话方式也不尽相同！
吉尔·罗宾斯和布莱恩·林恩报道。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
