Accent vs Pronunciation
Accent and pronunciation, though closely related words, have difference between them when comes to their meaning. However, the two words are often confused as words that give the same meaning. Now, when it comes to a language, according to the Oxford English dictionary, an accent is ‘a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class.’ Accent also refers to the stress or emphasis that has to be placed on a letter in a particular word. On the other hand, pronunciation is the manner in which a word should be articulated for the better understanding of it. This is the main difference between accent and pronunciation.
What is Accent?
Accent is related to a language. Having an accent or not does not harm the way a language is used. Accent is mostly related to poetry. In the composition of poetry, by accent, you mean the stress or emphasis that has to be placed on a letter in a particular word. Then, accent is important in composing music and poetry.
Accent is all about intonation. If accent goes wrong, then intonation also goes wrong. Hence, what you speak is not usually well received. However, if you have a strong British accent then an American speaker might not understand what you say immediately. However, that does not say you are pronouncing wrong. With time, the American listener will understand as the word is pronounced correctly. Accent sometimes refers to the tone of voice.
What is Pronunciation?
On the other hand, pronunciation is more about speaking a language and articulation. Language is defined as a mode of expression of thought by means of articulate sounds. The articulate sounds referred to in the definition refer to pronunciation. Only if, the pronunciation of a particular word is rightly made, the listener can understand the sense of it. Otherwise, he may not be in a position to understand what you speak. Pronunciation is important in speaking.
Pronunciation is all about articulation. On the other hand, if articulation goes wrong, then the entire pronunciation goes wrong, and the person who is spoken cannot understand what you are trying to say. On the other hand, pronunciation refers to the elocution aspect of speech. This is the reason why pronunciation is given great importance during elocution competitions in schools and colleges.
What is the difference between Accent and Pronunciation?
• When it comes to a language an accent is ‘a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class.’
• Accent also refers to the stress or emphasis that has to be placed on a letter in a particular word.
• On the other hand, pronunciation is the manner in which a word should be articulated for the better understanding of it.
• Accent is all about intonation, whereas pronunciation is all about articulation.
• Having a different accent does not mean that you are speaking a language wrongly. However, if you are not pronouncing as the word should be pronounced wrongly then you are speaking a language wrongly.
These are the important differences between the two words that are often confused, namely, accent and pronunciation.