What do you think about a situation where non-native English learners, the people in South Korea, are trying to pronunciate every words and sentences exacly like native US. citizens? I think it's too much and wonder what U.S. and other native English speakers would think about this. Is it ok, will you be puzzled, or does it seem awkward?

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from Microsoft Copilot

It's an interesting topic. Striving for perfect pronunciation can be admirable—it shows dedication and a desire to master the language. But, here's the thing: native speakers often appreciate effort rather than perfection.

Many English speakers find diverse accents charming and a part of the global tapestry. So, while aiming for clarity and good pronunciation is valuable, stressing about sounding exactly like a native U.S. citizen can be overkill. It's about communication, not perfection.

What’s your experience with this?

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from ChatGPT

It's a great question that touches on language learning, culture, and identity.

Many native English speakers, especially in multicultural societies like the U.S., tend to be understanding and accommodating when it comes to non-native accents or differences in pronunciation. While some learners, such as those in South Korea, might strive to sound like native U.S. speakers, this is often seen as an attempt to reach fluency and be better understood. However, native speakers generally don't expect perfect pronunciation from non-native speakers, and most are more focused on the clarity of the message rather than the exact accent.

In fact, trying to sound exactly like a native speaker may not always be necessary or beneficial. Accents can be a marker of identity and cultural background, and many people appreciate diverse accents as they reflect the speaker's unique linguistic journey. Overemphasizing native pronunciation can also add unnecessary pressure to language learners, potentially making communication feel more stressful or inauthentic.

Some U.S. citizens might find it impressive if someone has mastered the accent well, but others could feel it’s unnatural if a person speaks with an overly forced or artificial accent. Most native speakers, however, tend to value effort, sincerity, and clarity in communication over the perfection of accent.

In short, while it's okay to aim for native-like pronunciation, it's not something native speakers expect, and it's often seen as fine to have an accent that reflects your own linguistic background.

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Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/1g8d8gz/practicing_pronunciation/