My approach is based on authenticity, modified for comprehension of the local audience and the abilities and comfort of the performer. For non-performers, the first concern is intelligibility to the community in which the client works and lives; the next concern is fitting in more closely (in terms of accent) with that community.

I encourage early acquisition of any new dialect, the sooner, the better—and preferably well before it is needed, so it becomes second nature and my client is using the dialect, not the other way around!

I address anatomy, vowel and consonant production, connected speech (phrasing), intonation (melody and rhythm), and linguistic considerations such as regional vocabulary and grammar. I also stress cultural immersion, particularly class consciousness and social history. I provide personal instruction, practice materials, guides to supplementary resources, and other guidelines for continued improvement. I recommend or devise drills depending on the client’s individual needs. Clients are encouraged to record our sessions, or I can provide recordings on request.

For non-performers, even more emphasis is placed on daily practice; then on application of the target speech pattern in an increasing number of ways, such as reading aloud, conversation, and any other situations that might be appropriate to the client’s needs.

My recommended notation system is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), but I can and do help clients to use other notation systems if they prefer.

Last updated on October 24, 2010 by Amy Stoller