The heavy accents of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arianna Huffington, Henry Kissinger, et al., are fascinating.
When we lived in Europe, I spoke enough German, French, Italian and Spanish to get most things done. My accent in each language was nearly perfect. I listened and I mimicked. Simple. I still get compliments from French, German, Spanish and Italian ham-radio operators on my accent of the few phrases I remember. Yes, even the French! Conversely, I often chat with radio operators in Europe who speak more correct and unaccented English than many Americans.
Why is it, then, that so many people in public life and in academia who are foreign born, speak with such pronounced accents? One, they are lazy. Two, it is part of their "mystique." Three, possibly they are tone deaf.
Over the years, the number of blacks who speak nearly flawless and unaccented English has increased dramatically. Not coincidentally, their incomes have risen dramatically. Hispanics who don't learn English are doomed to miss the economic rewards in mainstream commerce. In many mom-and-pop stores, it is interesting to hear Asian children who speak perfect English. Yet, if you ask a question of their parents, the response is often "I get my daughter."
Have you ever noticed that there are very few regional accents among TV news anchors, no matter what their ethnicity or country of origin? Well, other than Peter Jennings, who says "aboot" and "dullar." For all our diversity, what binds us together is a common language, and the better you speak it, the better your chances for success.
So, when Arnold and Arianna mumble their way through press conferences, I am reminded of two young men I served with as federal agents in North Carolina. Both were from Alabama and had thick accents. Quite often when one of my associates was speaking, the locals would slip up to me and ask "What did he say?" In California, there will be a lot of people asking, "What did they say?"
Richard C. Rhodes, Honey Grove, Texas
Richard Rhodes
08/03/98