Should I change the way I talk for my child.

[maxinesmith]

Hi all
I was just wondering if I should be changing the way I talk around my child.

Just for reference I was born in California and have a prevelant accent. I am aware that to many especially some of the teachers that my voice can come across as unintelligent and I have a tendency to extend the ends of my words instead of saying umm.

In January my child's teacher said she has noticed this in my child and has told us to consider speech therapy as a way to correct this As quarantine goes on I am realising that my child is begging to pick up more and more of my American accent. Which is something I don't know if I should be worried about.

If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with having an accent.

What do you mean re. the ends of words? Can you give an example?

I think it’s pretty rude if the teacher to be honest. Most kids have accents which come from a mix of their parents accents and their local accent.

It is perfectly normal for children to have their primary carer's accent. I bet the teacher wouldn't have said this to an Asian child (for example) Even in the UK we have lots of regions dialects and it would be unacceptable for the teacher to approve of one over another

I tend to extend the last syllable of a given word in place of using fillers such as umm. This tends to make me seem like I am talking slowly and highlights my vocal fry.

Can you give an example?

Are you saying that you say 'elephaaaaant' for example? Does your son speak significantly slower than his peers?

It's hard to comment without hearing it, but really elongating the end of words could be a matter for a speech therapist. If it was so pronounced as to be problematic.

Nothing wrong with having an accent though.

For reference I have an accent similar to the kardashians (we are both from the same community) i personally think that he isn't slower to the point where it's a problem but somewhat notable. He also has a slight vocal fry like me but without the valley girl twang my voice has.

I should imagine that your extension of the final word sounds normal with a Cali accent but with a mainly Brit accent might sound a bit odd.

I should imagine your son will grow out of it though. My kids talk with a weird hybrid Northern English and Aussie accent which is a strange pairing as they're pretty opposite.

Hahaha my little un has no chance then.

I speak with a South London accent and my 5 month old was born in North East Scotland where the dialect is Doric (YouTube it Doric).

Looking forward to seeing how it plays out 😂

OP What do you mean by dry please?
When you saymy voice can come across as unintelligent and I have a tendency to extend the ends of my words instead of saying umm I’m not sure what you mean can you give example please?

So i tend to extend the last syllable of a word in place of a conversational filler like saying umm. This has the tendency of making me sound slower.

Selly like this

"I went to the shops and bought a pack of bananaaaas."

"I saw your sister at the market, she was with her friend Maryyyyy"