Is having an accent in English a bad or a good thing? Why or why not?

It is a good thing! Because it sounds so wonderful! Woman or man, I just love it!

It is not a bad thing at all. I was once told by an instructor that everyone has an accent, even the Midwesterners of the United States (who pride themselves on not having an accent). We all sound different to someone else not from our home area.

Enjoy the difference!

Good or bad as in how?

Is having a southern (US) accent good or bad?

Good, I love that too. Any accent intrigues me!

Everyone has an accent of some sort "you'all"

Northerners, people from Boston, people from Texas and the southwest, hillbillys, southerners ( and down south you can tell even from what part of the south at times.

I mean, what about foreign people who learn English as a second or third language? Most of them have accents.
What do you think about their accents?

Some people can be difficult to understand but for the most part I don't think anything good or bad about it. I think some accents on English actually sound quite charming :)

It's like a woman with long hair. One day she cuts it off and the next day she wishes she could have it back.
Own experience:)

There is no problem with having an accent if you express yourself clearly. It's quite charming and special.

I work in a lab with loads of people with different foreign accents. I like it although when you are tired it can lead to misunderstandings.

I work at a public library with coworkers and patrons who have English as their second (or third or fourth) language. All of them sound delightful! And it's fun when someone from a different part of the U.S. comes in with an accent and we try to identify it. People from Queens sound different than people from Brooklyn (both NYC buroughs) and people from Alabama sound different than people from North Carolina.

Accents make English more musical and colorful!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LaurenM1

is having an accent in English a bad or a good thing? why or why not?

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If people who need to be able to understand you as in business dealings etc are not able to understand you then it becomes a problem.

Otherwise I think at least for me, I have heard so many accents at different times from people of different countries that it really does not matter as long as I am able to continue a conversation.

Especially in the Asian countries, where everyone is exposed to so many accents in movies, TV etc plus what is taught in school,the accents become confusing for the individual himself.

As for me English is a second language,but in school I learnt the British English grammar and later I read American fiction and most of my spellings range from British to American, so I do not think it is that much of a big deal in this global community we live in... :)

An accent makes you unique, people usually like talking to people with accents

I had an Aunt, by marriage, who was from Great Britain and I loved listening to her. She would get upset at someone and out would come, "that bloody fool!" She came over after WWII and never lost her accent. She was just "peachy" and I miss her.