Listener Biases and Comprehension Strategies

Accent modification is an elective service sought by individuals who want to change or modify their speech (ASHA.org). Those who seek services do so because their speaking pattern deviates from what is considered native or standard in a region and they perceive it to have a negative consequence. However, it’s important to think about how listener biases and comprehension impact the speaker.

This is highly controversial right now. I will say that no one should ever feel forced to change something about themselves, including their accents. However, many clients do report improved self-confidence, gaining new skills, and becoming more proficient at communication. This is something that everyone can benefit from!

Additionally, some clients are difficult to understand. They get tired and frustrated of having to repeat themselves. Rightfully so! I can relate when I attempt to speak Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country. About half of the time, I cannot get my message across.

There are several factors that impact the intelligibility of accents and dialects, and it’s not all about the speaker’s abilities. Let’s discuss some of these factors.

 Listener’s Biases

Everyone has biases, it’s human nature. It’s when we act on them that they become a problem. When it comes to accents and dialects, biases of the listener can impact comprehension of the speaker more than one may think. Listener comprehension is impacted by a listener’s:

• Biases towards groups of people or accents
• Familiarity with the topic
• Familiarity with the L1 or dialect of the speaker

In summary, a listener’s ability to understand accented speech depends on their familiarity with accented speech and the complexity of the topic (Jenson & ThØgersen, 2017).

Also, the expectation bias is true for both non-native speakers (NNS) and listeners. Non-native speakers may assume that they are asked to repeat themselves due to their accent, whereas, native speakers have errors in their speech and are asked to repeat themselves at times, too. However, research does show that while native speakers have errors in their speech, it is more noticed in non-native speakers (Dalman & Kang, 2019).

Listeners may very well be biased against groups of people or accents and be completely unaware of this bias. For instance, white speakers are typically perceived to be from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or the United States, and to be native English speakers. Listeners may even assume, based on someone’s physical appearance or clothing, that they are from a non-English speaking country and assume they will have an accent. Therefore, they may perceive someone has an accent when they are a native English speaker.

So, what does this mean for clients? Listeners may give them inaccurate feedback about their accent, and non-native speakers may assume that typical miscommunications are due to their accent. It’s important to remind clients that native speakers have communication mishaps as well. While listeners have a major role in the communication loop, we cannot work with every listener a non-native the speaker will interact with. We can only work with clients and help them develop effective communication strategies based on their own needs and goals.

Improving Comprehension

There are strategies we all should use to help with listener comprehension, regardless of who is speaking. Just think about it- 15 and 50 sound similar, as well as M and N, especially if there is background noise or over the phone (I always spell out my last name “L-I-M as in Mary” but people always hear Lin).

To help the listener, try:

• Introducing the topic– Before jumping into a topic, give the listener a heads up about what you are going to discuss. This is also helpful when transitioning topics too. We all have that friend who changes a topic halfway through the conversation by shouting out a random question, usually about a topic you just finished discussing. When broaching a new topic, start with ‘Now let’s talk about…’

• Using gestures– Use gestures to help the listener follow along. However, use them mindfully. Too many gestures can be distracting. Make sure they match the message. For example, when talking about an increase, move your hands up or out wide to indicate ‘growing.’ When saying a small number, hold up that number with your fingers.

• Writing things down– With my graduate clinicians and clients, I always write down key points for them and give them the piece of paper. They can refer to this later and not have to worry about the spelling. If necessary, follow up with an email to recap that message. This is a helpful reminder for everyone.

For Medical Professionals

The above strategies are key for everyone, especially medical professionals. It can be the difference between a medication dose of 15 vs. 50mg. Taking the time to confirm receipt of the message to a nurse or patient can save someone’s life. Adding these strategies into practice will make everyone’s job a little safer as well as easier. I know doctors, nurses, therapists, and patients will appreciate it.

What strategies do you use to help with listener comprehension? Let us know in the comments below.

Resources:

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Accent modification [Practice portal]. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Accent-Modification/

Dalman, M., & Kang, O. (2019). Listener background in L2 speech evaluation.
Metacognition in Learning. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89414

Jensen, Christian and Jacob Th gersen. Foreign accent, cognitive load, and
intelligibility of EMI lectures. Nordic Journal of English Studies. 2017;16(3):107-
137.

Lim, Kari. (2022). Speaking with an American Accent: A Guide to General American English.