Regional accents: a rationale for intervening and competencies required

Over the past 20 years, an increasing number of speech-language pathologists have stepped into the traditional arena of English as a Second Language to address the communication needs of accented individuals. Even with the growing support of ASHA, this continues to foster opposition from fellow professionals who feel that accent intervention falls outside the scope of our practice. This controversy steps up significantly when the accents in question are not foreign, but regional. This article presents a rationale for regional accent improvement training for the adult client, positions the unique demands of regional accents within the global terminology of accent, outlines the prerequisites for trainers, reviews the basics of a valid accent assessment, and addresses some preliminary instructional issues. This author suggests that trainers look outside the field of speech pathology for relevant research. Additionally, practical applications for working professionals require a clearer understanding of the American workplace and the field of human resources (management development).