Ask any expatriate if they plan on dropping their British or Australian accent before they move abroad and many would answer that they would rather stay true to who they are and that they have absolutely no intention of dropping their native-born accent. But are there any advantages for expatriates who either intentionally or unintentionally drop their accent while living abroad?
Better Understood
One of the biggest surprises that even English-speaking expatriates will have to come to terms with once they move to America is that they cannot be easily understood by many Americans. A British expatriate who goes to a restaurant and has to spend ten minutes trying to make themselves understood by their waiter or waitress as they ask for a glass of water and an orange juice can be result in an incredibly frustrating experience. After all, they may reason, aren't they speaking the same language as Americans? But even if you are a native English speaker, as an expatriate living in America, you will not always be understood as you speak English. Some expatriates just re-state what they have said and hope to be understood at some point, while others take it more to heart and drop their accent while around Americans so that the locals can understand them more easily.
Blend In
For expatriates who hate to stand out like a sore thumb, using an American accent when speaking can help them feel like they are blending in more easily. It will certainly do away with the “where are you from?” questions. But be warned, Americans can often tell if you are mimicking their accents and can become quite offended at the impersonation. Look at the situation in reverse. Would you want someone to mimic your British accent in an effort to be accepted by you?
Expatriates will face the accent issue again and again. But how they choose to tackle it is entirely down to them to decide. Over time, many expatriates will lose their native born accent and sound more like an American than a fellow countryman. But they must also consider how they will then blend in when they return home. They may face the same issues that they did when they were living in America and have to re-invent themselves all over again. The most important thing that an expatriate can do is to remain true to who they are and that means preserving their accent as far as it is possible.
