gpsm

If you are an American guy talking with English people, do you try to not have your own accent so they can understand you? What about Australian people talking to American people? I wonder people speak neutral English when you are having not-from-your-country people. Or how much do you understand, if foreign people speak with their own accent?

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Answer:It depends on the level of comprehension the listener has.

I talk to a lot of Asian people, mainly Chinese and some of them understand me perfectly, while with others, I have to slow down and make sure they understand my meaning.

I have trouble with some accents when they speak very quickly, especially on the telephone when reading from a script.

I have no trouble understanding my American friends, especially the ones of my own generation, as they tend to pronounce their words very clearly compared with some of us Aussies.

They usually understand me too or are too polite to tell me if they don't.

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Answer:My native language is English & I am neither Australian nor American. I have often heard foreigners (in Japan particularly) say that it is much easier to understand me than other foreigners. I don't change my natural accent but depending on the level of proficiency of the person with whom I am speaking, I will speak slowly if their English is poor, or I will speak at a natural pace if they speak English very well. So, for me, I have to gauge how fluently the foreigner can speak English and respond accordingly. When foreign people speak with their own accent, whether I understand them depends on THEIR native language. I speak 5 languages so if English is too difficult for them & I can speak their language, we just talk in their language but if not, I will speak English slowly to them & use easier words so they can understand me.

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