Module 5: Developing Self-knowledge of ASEAN

Table of Contents

Language Focus

Language Focus 10: Different accents among the ASEAN community

People speak English with their own accents in each ASEAN community. Some may be able to speak like a native (standard English).  To communicate with each other, one must understand the variety of accents. Also one must be able to communicate to others: either by standard English or local English.


There have been many discussions on whether to use standard English or local English. People in each country (learning English when they are grown up) cannot avoid their own accents. This makes English rich and budding.

Language Focus 11: Understanding different accents

EXAMPLES: The following are people from different nations speaking in their own accents and commenting on their own accents.  There is no “monopolized” accent now. However, the following are examples of some of the accents many people of such nations speak. But there are people with standard accents!  Some may not agree that people of their own nation speak like that.  This also depends on the speakers’ background in English study, the place (such as people in the market or academic institutions), and their experience of English use.

 

A video clip/typical accent
A person introducing their country.