Let us consider pronunciation as a form of identity. It is shaped by the specific place you come from. That place, forms the unique melody with which you speak. The way words are pronounced reveals the origin of one’s mother tongue. In this context, there is no right or wrong; the musicality inherent to a person’s origin is never wrong. Therefore, every pronunciation deserves respect, not only to prevent racist misunderstandings but also because having an accent means that a person speaks more than one language. It suggests that they might work in a country different from their birthplace, that they can communicate across borders, and that their perspectives are likely complex rather than linear.

How often do we invoke “different origin” as an excuse to use incorrect speech?

Orthophony teaches exactly what its etymology suggests: the correct voice. Specifically, the proper placement of the tongue that produces the correct sound, aiming for speakers to be understood. In other words, speech should be based on the alphabet and sounds of the foreign language, avoiding any alteration or variation.

Orthophony does not change your place of origin or your natural intonation. It does not completely alter your accent. It simply transforms incorrect speech into correct speech. Through orthophony, the flow of speech is enhanced semantically, reshaped into the correct sound of the foreign language, and where natives might otherwise ask you to repeat in order to understand you, smooth communication is achieved immediately from the start. It is always possible to pronounce a second language exactly as it is spoken, without mutations based on the unfamiliar sounds of the first language.

A very significant form of ignorance is believing that it is acceptable to pronounce a foreign language with incorrect letter combinations and inaccurate sounds drawn from one’s native tongue. Any language knowledge that refuses to focus on and produce the correct sounds of another alphabet, is incomplete. In order to be regarded as speakers of a foreign language, we first need to speak the language and then write it. Hence the classic question: “Do you speak foreign languages?” and not “Do you write foreign languages?” If the first (speaking) is inferior to the second (writing), there is incomplete learning and practice, which you both see and hear.

Just as written language requires proper grammar, so does spoken language require orthophony. In conclusion, pronunciation will always reveal our origin, and orthophony will always betray how adequate our education is in the foreign language we speak.

Andrea Vakana
Linguist, Spanish professor, Actress