Aussie Accent - Why My Aussie Born Son Does Not Have One?

blitzzbargain on 11/06/2018 - 00:00
Last edited 11/06/2018 - 00:24

Hi All,

My son was born and is raised in Australia. He is 9 years old. Yes, he is bi-lingual. We speak our native tongue at home. He is very easy to switch languages (automatically) - which I think he has the skill to do that as it is not an easy thing to do.
However, I notice that he does not have any Aussie accent and tone. That's a bit of concern as most of his friends have a strong Aussie Accent.
If it is possible, I like him to have it because it shows a true identity, but what do we need to do to make this happen? Do we need to speak English all the time? Is it too late for his age for having the accent?

I like him to have some degree of Aussie Accent if it is possible.

Please advise or share your experience.
Thank you.

Toys & Kids

Comments

  • RICKYLOVESYOU on 11/06/2018 - 21:58

    This might help:

    https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/how-ar…

    Essentially our accents change as we age and change social groups, friends, workplaces etc.

    Shouldn't worry too much about it, some kids will have a neutral accent when they are younger and grow into the many diverse Australian English accents somewhere down the line..

  • m0nkeycheese on 11/06/2018 - 21:58

    adult accents evolve, don't worry about it

  • cycleri3 on 11/06/2018 - 22:11
    +1

    I speak three languages and I adopt my accent to the native speakers of that language. But when I need to speak some english with the speakers of the other languages I don't use my native english speaking accent as I know it would be hard for them to understand.

  • stingy-oz on 11/06/2018 - 22:53
    +1

    Disclaimer: I am quad-lingual, migrant from a multi-cultured country and now living in Melbourne. My kids picked up the 'aussie accent' as they grew but that's a different story.

    OP i think your concerns that your kids not picking up the "Aussie Accent" is honestly an overreaction. I'm not about to tell you how to spend your days trying to get your kids to 'speak like an aussie' when he/she is an Aussie. True blue aussie. The home environment do little to cause the change of accent as kids picks up the language and accent from their peers, schools and people that they interact with. From there, they'd eventually have some general accent.

    I'm not sure what is the true definition of an "Aussie Accent"; be it adding a 'mate', or greeting 'good day' or even the 'raising the tone of every sentence making it sounds like a question' accent; no one can tell you it's right or wrong here. One thing for sure is, let your kids organically grow, spend more time cultivating good behaviour and education. Accent is really secondary to anything a kid needs. Your kid will mix with other kids eventually, with accent or not.

    Also, people will adopt the accent of their surrounding and I'm pretty sure your accent would have changed since you lived here. Some words you'd never had used before migrating here, you'd have been using it everyday now.
    So let them be, don't worry about it.

    That said, Ozzy Man reviews and Jim Jeffries are some of the great search terms if you want to hear 'aussie accent'.

  • chachi on 11/06/2018 - 23:04
    +2

    Jeez, be proud of you kids accent, cotton wool much?

  • djmm on 11/06/2018 - 23:09
    +3

    OP must be chinese

  • ColonialBoy on 12/06/2018 - 00:07
    +2

    I studied linguistics. His accent probably comes from his first five years. Humans have an innate language ability and learn most of the rules of English by age 6. He would have learned the accent from who he was speaking to. If he was only speaking to you rather than other kids his own age, that's the accent he would have learned.

    Television, DVDs, radios and other devices have little effect on language acquisition before age 6. He would not have picked up the accent from them. Language would have been learned from direct human interactions. Babies start learning language from 9 months but don't start speaking until about 16 months. They are listening when you think they are not.

    At age 9, if he wants to study a new language, there is a second process called "second language acquisition". The innate ability to learn languages has virtually lost.

    Interchanging between two languages is called "code-switching." You can start a sentence in one language and finish with another.

    My recommendation is that he engages with lots of kids with aussie accents. This probably means school, playing sport and joining a sport team, sleepovers, weekend outings, etc. Get him to spend time with others.

  • nurbsenvi on 12/06/2018 - 00:09

    I prefer Irish accent over aussie
    Sadly, I got an asian accent :( not cool.

  • DingoBilly on 12/06/2018 - 01:24

    I'm bi-lingual myself - and I find it's more a matter of who I'm with as to whether I have an accent or not.

    What I mean by that is - my parents can't detect an Aussie accent because they're not familiar enough with it themselves to pick it out.
    My friends think I have a Polish accent because I don't sound Australian enough.
    When overseas, people think I have an Australian accent (because likely they're not used to Australian language themselves).

    So it's all a bit of context more than anything. Ultimately though - who cares? If they do or don't have an accent… they're still just your kid and I doubt it'll affect their life satisfaction/outcomes as much as the morals,friends and education that they're given.

  • anastasiastarz on 12/06/2018 - 02:01

    The answer is an acting class.

  • Symbiotic on 12/06/2018 - 02:51

    This is a blessing. Embrace it; don’t fight it.

  • bulletNOVA on 12/06/2018 - 03:38
    +1

    Is there any chance that you are Asian?

    • pinkybrain on 12/06/2018 - 06:53
      +1

      Mostly likely..

      Asian tends to have warp views about what is success…

      just look at the tiger mums

      • Emerald Owl on 12/06/2018 - 11:30

        Yes, this is why China is a country I do not recommend embraces capitalism. Hell they currently have ‘communism’ yet have the most billionaires. Although I guess that is a given.

        • pinkybrain on 12/06/2018 - 12:38

          I think they have a term called capitalism under communism..

          Basically we let you be a rich capitalist (goes against communist principles)
          but you must not criticize the government (and we will still censored free speech and other freedoms)

          They have more billionaires cos all the manufacturing of goods is in that country and there is just a lot more people.

          They are also innovating new products though ie Xiaomi etc.. rather being known previously as just copy cats.

        • WinstonWithAY on 13/06/2018 - 14:50

          Politically they're Communist but economically they're quite capitalist. I think

  • johnno07 on 12/06/2018 - 06:49

    I'd be more concerned about the effects of this weird variant of helicopter parenting on your kid's future success than whatever the heck his accent ends up being in a decade's time.

  • tonee88 on 12/06/2018 - 07:43

    Nothing to worry about there, I rather sound like neutral than a bogan

  • DryScissors on 12/06/2018 - 08:42
    +1

    My daughter got an English accent from watching Peppa Pig. Nothing to worry about.

  • dasher86 on 12/06/2018 - 08:48

    I was born oversea; migrated here when I was 2.

    My accent is Australian, however it is still influenced by what was my native tongue; more so when I was growing up.

    I grew up in a rough 'ethnic/bogan' neighbourhood but ended up going to a very Anglo school.

    I've traveled the world and I have worked overseas.

    I found that being able to change my accent from different degrees of Australian/ broad Australian is useful in situations.
    Some people will never understand that having a different skin tone will automatically change the initial perception of you. In certain countries being able to talk in a natural accents is a perception of class and wealth - hence respect garnered. Or actually being treated like a tourist and not a local. However if I want to fit in like a local I keep my mouth shut…

    Sometimes I even impress myself with how much more Australian I sound when I am traveling overseas and meeting people for the first time. My accent then tends to shift to a softer Australian accent and then shifts further to mimic who I am with.

    I lived in the UK for a while and having an Aussie accent definitely helped in landing work contracts.

    My partner says that my accent shifts from when I am with my childhood friends to when I am out and about. She always laughs if there is an English server as my accent tends to take on an English twang.

    Accents play a large part in how people initially perceive you.

  • sleet on 12/06/2018 - 08:57

    What's wrong with the aussie accent? I love it. I find it funny.

    I grew up in the western suburbs of sydney so my accent is decent, not too bogan haha

    Maybe your kid needs to hang out the suburbs or outback more.

  • newjerseydamo on 12/06/2018 - 09:24
    +2

    The fact that you're going to be putting unneeded pressure on your child making it sound like his accent/tone is not correct, is heartbreaking.

    Seriously, there are bigger issues to worry about in the world than what they sound like.

    Give the kid a break and just let him be himself.

  • shaybisc on 12/06/2018 - 09:29

    Maybe he already has an Aussie accent but doesn't use it with you. I've noticed my accent is to some extent mutable, depending on audience.

  • h4zey on 12/06/2018 - 09:33

    It's too late mate, just let the kid be. As long as they speak perfect English than it's good enough.

  • mhasan on 12/06/2018 - 10:17

    You should have sent him to child care centre when he was 1.5 years old all way to kinder and then prep. That's where kids pick up Aussie accent. Im Pakistani and my wife is Colombian, my daughter speaks English in Aussie accent, Urdu and Spanish in their own accents. However, having an accent is not a bad thing. it should not bother you, when he will grow up, he will work on his accent if needed to be.

    • khomeini on 12/06/2018 - 20:59

      As long as he does the head bobble - everything is fine. I hope they still teach that at prep.

  • sauce2k on 12/06/2018 - 10:24

    I'm sorry but this is a ridiculous post and it cracks me up………hahaha seriously..

  • ChatCPT on 12/06/2018 - 11:21
    +9

    no offence but you have a messed up head OP. forcing a kid to be something he's not. he's just a child leave him alone. spend your energy teaching him to be kind and respectful. I feel sorry for this kid he's only 9. just imagine what else he will put this kid through as he grows up.

    • blitzzbargain on 12/06/2018 - 11:29

      Just to be clear. I am not forcing him anything to do anything.
      I am just wondering why he does not have any Aussie Accent even though his friends have heavy Aussie Accent. (I just try to find out why)
      He is a happy kid, that's all that matters. :)

      • ChatCPT on 12/06/2018 - 11:56
        +3

        glad to hear that.
        my 2 cents - you can only hear his accent when he speaks to you. have you observed how he sounds when he is with friends his own age. if he was born here and grew up around aussie kids thats how he will sound - around them. he is probably 'putting on' a more ethnic accent talking to you in an effort to mirror you.

  • Butt Scratcher on 12/06/2018 - 11:28
    +1

    lol. Send him off to live with a family of bogans, problem solved.

    Like myself, I grew up around people who are 1st gen immigrants. We don't have hard aussie accents like those you see in the movies. They are very slight, only when you go overseas do people realise you have some odd accent that even they can't recognise from known australian actors.

  • shaybisc on 12/06/2018 - 11:45

    He needs the lingo as well as the accent.

    Barry McKenzie: Now listen mate, I need to splash the boots. You know, strain the potatoes. Water the horses. You know, go where the big knobs hang out. Shake hands with the wife's best friend? Drain the dragon? Siphon the python? Ring the rattlesnake? You know, unbutton the mutton? Like, point Percy at the porcelain?

    Blanche: I think he wants to go to the loo.

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068173/quotes

  • Baa on 12/06/2018 - 12:05
    +4

    Born in Perth with American father and Irish mother - only ever lived in Perth.

    Have a bastardised American / Irish / Australian accent.

    Australians think I am American, Canadian or Irish
    Americans think I am Australian
    Irish think I am Irish

    Brother and sister have very neutral Australian accents.

  • crentist on 12/06/2018 - 12:06

    my parents were migrants from 2 different regions so my accent ended up fairly neutral i think. in australia, i dont think ive ever opened my mouth and not been recognised as australian, so no worries there

    im not bilingual, but ive studied a few languages (german, japanese, korean). im terrible at all of them, but the one thing i always got complimented on was pronunciation. id practise with native speaking friends and theyd say my accent was like a native, even if my sentences were garbage.
    when i visited london, i was only there for a week and at one point, after some brief conversation at the hotel bar, the bartender said they thought i was local, and i realised i might have been speaking slightly differently

    i guess a more neutral accent makes it easier and more natural to adopt the accent of people around me. if i wanted to play up being an aussie i could, and sometimes do around some aussie friends. otherwise, i kinda like the ambiguity. i feel like it gives me more control over how im identified, if its as an aussie bloke or not

  • thesigness on 12/06/2018 - 12:11
    +1

    Give it a couple more years, his voice is going to to break anyway during puberty so it'll reflect a deeper tone soon enough.

  • ely on 12/06/2018 - 12:37
    +1

    Wait, wait, wait… You want an Aussie accent? But they're horrific! My daughter was born here, no Aussie accent yet at three, hopefully she can hold out without picking one up but I figure it's inevitable that she will.

    Luckily it's not generally too bad down here in VIC, if we were in Queensland then I probably would be considering elocution lessons.

    Half serious only; big city Aussies sound much the same as big city Kiwis (I can't normally tell, and Aussies generally can't tell that I'm Kiwi either), but strong Aussie accents are even worse than strong Kiwi ones.

    • khomeini on 12/06/2018 - 20:57

      Agree to your first point. (Horrific - yep)
      Agree to your second point. (Unlikely that she will hold out)
      Agree to your third point. (Victoria is much more sophistimacated than Queensland).
      Disagree to your fourth point.
      I found that rural kiwi's (farm boys from woop woop) had an aussie twang that was much the same as rural aussies. Definitely have something in common.

      • ely on 14/06/2018 - 16:29

        Interesting; I grew up in rural NZ and would have said that they're very different. Perhaps it's more nuanced than I supposed though, with more variety in the regional accents of both countries - and perhaps some of those do overlap.

        • shakoo on 14/06/2018 - 16:45

          at first blush, rural NZ and rural Australian accents sound the same. I used to work with a guy from Taumurunui and you'd swear he had an aussie accent until you'd listened to him for a while.

  • tyme on 12/06/2018 - 14:01
    +1

    You say you want him to have a "true identity" but you're concerned he isn't just like his friends?
    Seems like a contradiction.
    If your perception of Australian pride is just superficial shit like slang, vegemite and thongs then you don't have a strong connection to the country yourself.

    Let your kid be himself, there's no shame in being bilingual, biracial, dual-citizen or having a subtle accent.
    Tryhard aussies are far more obnoxious for forcing it.

    • Porker on 12/06/2018 - 14:21

      Agree with tyme. An accent shouldn't define one's identity.

      Also, he might be speaking more Australian than you think - take him to another English speaking country and his accent may be more apparent. There will also be an Australian that speaks with a thicker, lighter, different, better, worse, accent than you.

      If it's also a case where he's not being accepted because of his accent (or lack of), then it seems that a change of friends is required. However, is the son concerned by this? Or is it a case of the parent worrying more or due to comparing childrens' talents, smarts, etc etc? - I think it's the latter, but I also think the child is already 'one up' by being able to speak two languages.

  • BartholemewH on 12/06/2018 - 14:16

    Surely there's a Youtube mix of Alf Stewart from Home and Away? Once your kid has mastered that accent, he won't wanna swap it for quids.

    Edit: As for whole of family training, your wife should be watching Kath & Kim boxed set and you need to get a bit o Russell Coight into ya.

  • UFO on 12/06/2018 - 14:17
    +3

    OP, there's been 3 pages of comments but I would like to give you my point of view as well :).

    I am from a non-English speaking background, and I understand your concerns more than you know.

    The reason your son doesn't have an accent is because he first learned to speak at home with his parents… and his parents, even though they've raised him with both English and the other language, no doubt speak English without much of an Australian accent. And of course he has learned how to pronounce things listening to you both!

    Even though he is 9, he has really only had a few years where he has been exposed predominately throughout the day to 'Australian accent' (unless of course he has friends at school who are also multilingual, in which case there is not much exposure to the accent you seek and all the friends will speak the way their parents do).

    What I'm trying to say, is first of all… don't be concerned! Please.

    Secondly, your son will develop his own accent as time goes on and as his exposure to different dialects increases.
    You can't change your own accent and neither can your wife. Not permanently (it would simply be "acting" by going to a dialect coach).
    And since you aren't about to stop talking to your son- your influence in daily communication with him will affect the way he talks as he listens to you. It's only natural.

    It's like when Australian's move overseas. It's that immersive daily 'bombardment' of a foreign language (even if the language is still English but different accent!) that affects change within your own tone. Your brain adjusts by itself to what its hearing.

    So to answer your original question:

    No, you can't change your son's accent. Not without changing a lot of other things in his life as well.
    You can encourage more English to be spoken at home or with socialising with friends, but I strongly suggest you don't!
    Your sons heritage is nothing to be embarrassed about. As he gets older, he will naturally develop an accent that is his own- but this will depend on who he converses with more.

    I have extended 'elderly' family who mainly just talk with people of similar backgrounds. In the decades living here they still don't have the Aussie 'twang' my parents or I possess. I sound very Aussie… because I am. Your son may not 'sound' Aussie… but he is.

    Don't stress about the little things mate, your sons life (and voice) are his.

  • BartholemewH on 12/06/2018 - 14:21

    If the situation is dire straights, you could move out here to regional Australia. Kids out here'll have you son speakin' the local lingo in no time cob.

  • brad1-8tsi on 12/06/2018 - 15:30

    I wouldn't worry about it. My kids don't have nearly as stong an Australian accent as I do. It because of music, TV and there friends.

    Do I care. Nope. Their accent will develop and change throughout their life.

  • dpr on 12/06/2018 - 17:58

    Get him to speak to an overseas relative and let them judge if he has an accent. My wife (who has lived here a little over 15 years) has overseas relatives who go on about her Aussie accent and I'm like wtf there is no accent. You probably have an accent too and just dont realize it.

  • beyondtool on 12/06/2018 - 18:39

    Accents are very funny things. Ultimately they are at the mercy of the owner in this case your son. I had a friend who was Irish, and the first time I realised was when she spoke to her mum on the phone, instantly the accent changed she didn't even realise she was doing it. Then there is my brother who lived in the UK for 10 years and sounds very english even through he has been back here 6 months, and my sister who sounds like Kylie Minogue some kind of mixed aussie/english accent but she hasn't been to the Uk in a decade. I've known others who have travelled the world for years and still sound incredibly okka.

  • khomeini on 12/06/2018 - 18:47
    +1

    As long as your kid looks "Australian" - thats the only thing that matters really. Well do they?
    (Quick to the skin whitening section of the local "other language" store) - yes only ethics with skin complex issues will get this.

  • ajdj10 on 12/06/2018 - 19:37

    Send him to a Trump rally.

  • boondocksaint on 12/06/2018 - 20:08
    +1

    Somewhat off topic,but I kind of understand where OP is coming from.I speak english as a second language,I speak it well,english tests confirm this.Writing not so much though :)

    Anyhow, I have a South African accent,and the reality of living in a rural town is that people are not used to accents.Most struggle to understand us. Some words completely throw them off and they can't even make sense of something easy, in context, like how we pronounce milk. Sometimes you can even see how people lose interest in you because they hear an accent.In no way am I saying everyone is like this and it is a lot better in thr cities.

    Long story short,as first generation immigrants,I hope our kids sound more like Aussies than we do,it will just make it easier for them

  • DiscoJango on 12/06/2018 - 20:38

    yell out "g'day cobber!" every day when you get home, then make a cuppa. he will be calling you a mad dog sick kent within days

  • Black Brown Blue on 12/06/2018 - 20:53
    +1

    Don’t worry too much. He will develop his own accent as he grows up. The time spent in school, doing activities and other aspects of life will all form his accent eventually and it will be close to Australian at the end. Not much you can do about it except maybe engaging more in English, watching English materials and reduce native language if you are really worried. I have been to Australia since I was 13, I get mixed responses, some people tell me I have accent, some say I have mix accent. I think I have mixed accent and I am proud of it. Being bilingual is a great skill to have.

  • BobbyJ on 12/06/2018 - 21:15

    Are you sure he doesn't have an accent? I know people who have a regular Australian accent who automatically switch into a non-Australian accent when they speak in English/their native language with family.

  • ladybug1 on 12/06/2018 - 21:31

    It's because he is around non-native English speakers. As someone who does not have an Australian accent, I understand your concerns, even thought things are changing.

  • Starcraftmazter on 12/06/2018 - 21:38

    I find that people who are raised or have lived in a major city for long tend to gravitate towards "neutral" English accents because of the diversity of language backgrounds of the people you will be dealing with on a daily basis.

    To develop a true blue accent you need to live in a more rural /remote area.

  • Julius on 12/06/2018 - 22:06

    You need to start speaking English at home. You need to be taking him out to social/sporting events where he gets exposure to the English language. If you haven't already, start connecting with the other parents so it'll be easier for his friends to see him on weekends.

  • Apoca89 on 12/06/2018 - 22:22

    My story - English speakers at home, Australia all my life and I have an accent. Can't with out where it's from.
    My advice - embrace what you have, don't worry about what you don't. He'll be able to make up stories about it, use it to get people's interest, and what's more, it'll be part of who he is.

    • Apoca89 on 12/06/2018 - 22:24

      Also, what is considered an accent is different for different people. Other nationalities may note he had what they consider an accent

  • [Deactivated] on 12/06/2018 - 22:29

    Certain accents are looked down upon. It isn't fair but that's the way it is. People have the right to discriminate or have their opinions about cultures, accents, religion, political views, choice of salad dressing…

    It doesn't matter. You can't change that and neither would I want there to be "hate speech laws". We are not a racist society. We do not have discriminatory laws (except affirmative action). We don't need to protect everyone's feelings.

    The only thing that you can change is your kid's accent. Whether it's too late or not depends on what accent your kid speaks. It is generally easy to adopt a new accent for a new language. If you're already speaking English semi-fluently but with a foreign accent, chances are it is permanent.

  • Forfiet on 13/06/2018 - 03:23

    I have some form of a British accent from my mother, born in the outback and lived in SA all my life…. Weird eh?

    • Munki on 13/06/2018 - 10:48

      You do realise there are heaps of different "British" accents, right? Like, loads.

      • Forfiet on 16/06/2018 - 08:19

        Yep that's why I said "some form" :)

  • AustriaBargain on 13/06/2018 - 05:24
    +1

    Maybe he speaks with one a bit more when he is alone with his friends.

  • gentlecrack on 13/06/2018 - 07:20
    +2

    My daughter is of the same age. She was born abroad and we moved here when she was 4. We speak our mother tongue at home, and she has a multi-cultural friend circle. She is bilingual and good at both the languages for her age. I made sure that she reads, writes and speaks both very fluently. And she has got a heavy Aussie accent when she speaks to her friends. Recently I had a tough time correcting her Aussie accent when I helped her with her speech as I felt that it affects the clarity and pace.

    Speaking English at home is not a solution if you don’t have the Aussie accent yourself. Besides, it’s good for your kid NOT to lose proficiency in your mother tongue and lose his true identity. IMO our language and culture are our roots and it’s something to be carried through generations and celebrated, nothing to be worried about.

  • MementoMori on 13/06/2018 - 10:18

    Question for people who think Australian accents and culture are awful… why do you choose to live in Australia?

    Just for the amazing quality of life, but screw the locals? It's those locals who made the country (up until around the 1970's, that is).

    I'm first gen Aussie although I appreciate and love the country and it's locals.

    • centrelink on 13/06/2018 - 10:43
      -1

      yep no one born after 1970 contributed anything to the country confirmed

      • HighAndDry on 13/06/2018 - 10:44

        Can confirm. Born after 1970. Have not contributed anything of worth.

      • MementoMori on 13/06/2018 - 13:40
        -1

        Nice user name.

        My comment concurs with your statement, allowing for the obvious fact that many different cultures/ethnicities/etc contributed to the country after the 1970's (including both my own parents).

        Take another read of it.

    • HighAndDry on 13/06/2018 - 10:46

      and it's locals.

      *its

      But apparently not enough to respect its language! Tsk tsk…

      (j/k - in case it's not obvious enough)

      In any case, I don't see anyone (many people?) saying the Aussie accent is bad or that Aussie culture is bad. Just that not having an Aussie accent, or not being 100% Aussie "culture-wise" is also not a bad thing.

      • MementoMori on 13/06/2018 - 13:41

        I'm only skimming most comments but I saw a few that have said it's something to avoid, something 'lower class', 'bogan', etc etc.

  • Munki on 13/06/2018 - 10:50

    As a father of two: what..? Why is this even an issue?

    • HighAndDry on 13/06/2018 - 10:54
      +2

      Beats me. Unless the accent is so thick they're completely unintelligible to others, it's not really an issue.

      More to the point, OP is completely missing the point. The key point isn't to have an Aussie accent, the key thing is (if anything) just to embrace the Aussie culture. Having an accent can be part of that, but it's far from the actual point.

      • Munki on 13/06/2018 - 11:27
        +1

        Absolutely. The accent doesn't determine how well you've embraced the country. Understanding Aussie culture (film, TV, personalities, etc) is much more vital in carving your identity as an Australian.

        OP should go watch The Castle with his son and feel the serenity..

  • [Deactivated] on 13/06/2018 - 12:05

    Lol, reminds me of pink panther… Hammmmburrrrgerrr

  • kaleidoscope on 13/06/2018 - 13:48

    If you and your partner has a strong english accent and you speak english at home like that, it could be the cause.
    Speak the native language at home.

    The way you speak / accent is something to embrace not be ashamed imo…

  • [Deactivated] on 13/06/2018 - 16:04
    +2

    get him to read comments on Shannons Noll's facebook page every night

  • Lionmaru-G on 13/06/2018 - 16:47

    Because he doesnt want to sound like a bogan?

    My kids sounded more american cos of all the Hollywood movies and cartoons they watch all the time.

  • stwongy on 13/06/2018 - 18:36

    you need to calm down…your vocal chords are still malleable while you are young since it is easier to learn languages that way. Therefore they don't absorb the heavy imprint of an accent. The accent occurs because your vocal chords and muscles have stabilised since they are used to being used a certain way. They will eventually appear according to the social environment he spends most of his time at (school). I was raised in a home that speaks a language other than english and I never noticed that i had an Australian accent til I was in third year uni (now)

    • callum54 on 13/06/2018 - 20:22

      Nothing to do with his vocal chords. Vocal chords control pitch and depth only. Not an accent. An accent is the inability to lose sounds associated with the speaker's mother tongue when speaking in a second, non-native language.

  • callum54 on 13/06/2018 - 20:12
    +2

    I am a linguist: a simple solution is to never speak to your son in English. He will try,and has, emulated your accents of English, which is why he doesn't sound native. If he only speaks English with Australian native speakers, then his accent will sound Australian. He has up until about 14 years old to learn this before his brain will change to learn English/accents as a second language learner instead of as a first language learner. A human's brain 'rewires' itself after puberty and this is why it is very easy for children to learn languages and very difficult for adults to learn then. So make sure he is exposed to as many Australian accents before puberty.

  • onlyletters on 13/06/2018 - 21:26

    mate ya fakn dont want one, its fakn shit mate.

    • dsp26 on 14/06/2018 - 08:14

      Your handle looks familiar… Pulsar.org.au??

  • Pandaroo on 13/06/2018 - 23:13

    Introduce your child to the comedian Alex Williamson aka Loosest Aussie Bloke, he will straighten your child out.

  • lonix on 14/06/2018 - 05:42

    Only way to get good at something is practice

  • dsp26 on 14/06/2018 - 08:11

    First comment. That is the primary cause for any language.

    No one ever really forgets their native tongue afer adopting english fulltime for example hence why they will always understand it but won't necessarily be able to speak it because of tonal differences and how your tongue moves.

    If i even tried to speak to my parents in our native for a day i would sounf "bery presh of da bot" for a whole week

  • Lancerx on 14/06/2018 - 10:50
    +1

    Don't worry too much, as long he speaks perfect english, who cares what accent he got..

    Hell i only picked up aussie accent 8 years after migrated to Aus.

  • The Gent on 14/06/2018 - 11:59

    he does not have any Aussie accent[…] That's a bit of concern…

    No it isn't.

  • dealsucker on 14/06/2018 - 12:48
    +1

    In the words of certain Russell Peter - "I dont want my kid born in USA to sound like an immigrant" :P

  • cwongtech on 14/06/2018 - 13:47
    +1

    Make him work in retail. He'll be talking non-stop to a lot of strongly "Australian Accented" people.
    I myself can adjust the tone of the accent, but I only do it if someone seems a bit racist towards non-white Australian (parents are from Hong Kong).
    That way, they will feel weird when they ask where I'm from because of a really thick native (bogan, white washed) accent.

  • Gauntlet on 14/06/2018 - 13:49

    Did you check the language setting? Maybe he needs a reset.

  • SaberX on 14/06/2018 - 14:07

    I didn't read through all the comments but I am similar to your son. Parents from asia. Born and brought up here.

    Really I wouldn't worry or care. To be honest when I gotot the USA They still pick up im Aussie, but I am generally 'neutral' to most others in asia, here etc. Nothing too thick. And I don't know why this wouldn't be a great thing?

    I find I tend to 'tone shift' to whoever I'm talking to. If their scottish, or asian, then I tend to mimick them in a similar way to body language mirroring. My mrs notices it alot, and I don'tk now if the locals I speak to feel I am faking it, but it comes naturally without me thinking. I wouldn't have it any other way.

    And I agree, I don't have a strong accent , but even if your accent is not smooth or 'australian' many who are technically bright, and whose written and verbal english is perfectly fine ( just speech isn't smooth) are still respected in the workforce. If your written and actual 'content' of your speech was a jumble, like your speaking tone, then you may have some concern that it may hinder career.

    But there is no way that your son if brough up here must have perfectly fine english skills, just no accent, would be hindered job wise. Again I think it's good not having a fully thick aussie accent. Not becuase I'm ashamed to be australian but moreso I feel for conversing with others i'm more neutral. How many times have you struggled or heard people complain of not understanding Irish people's accents or so forth? To them it is clear as day, but not others. SO by being more neutral I think it's great.

    More than likely your accent/tone in your dialect counters the aussie accent and subconsciously (just like me) they end up neutral as they are exposed to a variety of sounds and not just one i.e. the aussie accent. Again I think it's perfectly fine and a great position to be in.

  • lunartemis on 14/06/2018 - 14:08

    Australia is a multicultural country and you should be proud of how he speaks and the fact he can speak multiple languages is something not every Aussie has.

    I am bilingual and I do change the way I speak English depending on whom I am talking to (more broad accent when talking to tradies, while I tend to speak more cultivated when speaking to educators and older people). Your son probably has similar skills where he can switch his accent according to situations.

  • Finnthehuman on 14/06/2018 - 14:40

    You should accept your son just the way he is

  • boiiiii on 14/06/2018 - 17:33

    Your son probably speaks with a different accent with his friends then he does with his family. Being bilingual myself, I realized I change my accent when I'm around different peoples.

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