“But They Have an Accent…”: Rethinking Myths About Accents in Multilingualism
"Will my child ever sound like a native speaker?"
"Can we fix their accent?"
"I’m afraid my daughter has a German accent when she speaks Italian, what can I do?"
These are real concerns I hear regularly from parents, educators, and even professionals. One parent recently posted in a multilingual parenting group asking for a bilingual speech therapist in a city in Germany to help their daughter "lose the R" in her Italian, which they described as sounding “too German.” This small example reflects a much bigger issue: the persistent and deeply rooted myths around accents.
In this article, I want to offer a new lens, one grounded in science, multicultural awareness, and over a decade of working with families across borders.
Let’s talk about accents.
Let’s talk about identity, inclusion, and what really matters when raising multilingual children.
The Myth: An Accent Equals a Mistake
One of the most damaging beliefs around multilingualism is that having an accent in a second or third language is somehow a flaw, something to “fix.”
But here’s the truth: an accent is not a sign of failure.
It is a sign of diversity, experience, and adaptability.
We are so accustomed to associating language fluency with accent that we forget this key distinction:
🔹 Fluency is the ability to express yourself with ease and confidence.
🔹 Accent is the sound patterns your speech carries from your previous language experiences or from your “stronger” language.
Someone may have a strong accent and still communicate perfectly. Another person may sound "native" but struggle with vocabulary, structure, or cultural nuances.
🌍 What Is a “Native” Accent, Anyway?
Before we even talk about reducing or acquiring a native accent, we must ask: What is a native accent?
In multilingual cities like Brussels, Singapore, or Montreal, “native” isn’t one fixed sound, it’s a range of accepted, local variations shaped by history and population.
The idea of one “correct” accent is a linguistic illusion. There isn’t one native English or Spanish or Arabic—there are regional varieties, class-based differences, urban and rural shifts, and layers of identity shaped by migration and mobility.
So, what do we really mean when we say “native”? And more importantly, why do we want our children to sound like native speakers?
This question deserves careful reflection, especially in families raising children across multiple languages and cultures.
Parents, Ask Yourself:
Instead of asking “How can I remove my child’s accent?”
Try asking:
“Why do I want them to sound native?”
“Am I worried about their social integration, or am I responding to someone else's judgment?”
“What message am I sending them about our language and identity?”
Because here’s the thing: trying to erase an accent is often a response to fear, fear that your child won’t be accepted, that they’ll be teased or judged, or that they’ll be seen as “less” in school or work environments.
These fears are absolutely valid, but the solution is not to erase part of their linguistic identity. The solution is to equip them to thrive in multiple languages and cultures, with confidence.
The True Goal: Functioning Across Languages and Cultures
In my consultations with families, I often emphasize this:
🎯 The goal of multilingualism is not perfection. It’s communication, connection, and competence.
Your child might have a French R when they speak Spanish, or a Slavic rhythm when they speak German. That’s fine.
What matters more is:
Can they navigate everyday life in that language?
Can they form relationships in that language?
Can they access information, education, and opportunity using that language?
These are the real indicators of success, not whether they sound like a monolingual child raised in that language from birth in a monolingual context.
📚 What Research Tells Us
Linguistic research is clear: accents are a natural part of second language acquisition. In fact, many people who start learning a language after the early childhood years will retain an accent to some degree.
And that’s okay.
Of course, clarity in speech is essential, and yes, some words do need to be pronounced correctly to avoid misunderstandings. However, having an accent doesn’t automatically interfere with comprehension. Most children and adults remain perfectly understandable, even if their accent is strong. What matters most is effective communication, not perfection. In some contexts, an accent may even be an advantage, signaling multilingual competence, global experience, or cultural flexibility.
So, where does the bias come from?
Unfortunately, many societies equate “correctness” with “nativeness”, and accent bias is often tied to deeper issues of class, race, and migration history. This is why some accents are admired while others are unfairly stigmatized.
Language Awareness Over Accent Reduction
Instead of focusing on “fixing” pronunciation, I encourage parents and educators to develop language awareness:
Teach children that accents are part of their story, not something to be ashamed of.
Help them listen actively, not just speak “perfectly.”
Focus on intonation, rhythm, clarity, and confidence, more than mimicry.
And if your child expresses discomfort or embarrassment, explore it with empathy:
“I hear that you're not comfortable with your accent. Let's talk about what feels hard. Do you want to work on clearer pronunciation, or are you worried about what others will say?”
This opens the door to empowered language use, instead of internalized shame.
Multilingual Role Models with Accents
Think of the incredible leaders, authors, scientists, and artists who speak in their second or third language, with accents.
Do we admire them less?
Or do we admire them more for being able to operate across cultures?
Your child is walking that same path. Their accent is not a problem, it’s a passport.
A Note for Educators and Speech Therapists
If you’re working with multilingual children, be mindful of how you talk about pronunciation. Emphasizing “native-like” speech can send the wrong message and create unnecessary pressure.
Instead, support children in:
Developing clear, confident speech
Expanding vocabulary and expressive skills
Understanding when and how language use varies by context
And remember: in multilingual children, some pronunciation features are transfer effects, not disorders.
Parents: What Should You Do?
Here are a few practical tips:
✅ Accept the accent as part of the journey. Don’t rush to correct every “foreign” sound.
✅ Focus on exposure. The more meaningful input they get in each language, the more natural their pronunciation becomes.
✅ Model positive attitudes. If you speak a language with an accent, embrace it! Show your child that communication matters more than perfection.
✅ Seek support, not correction. If you're worried, talk to a specialist who understands multilingualism.
Final Thoughts: Let’s Shift the Focus
Let’s stop asking:
“Can we make their accent go away?”
And instead ask:
“Are they confident communicators?”
“Do they feel proud of their languages?”
“Are they able to express themselves fully?”
Because in a world where multilingualism is growing, accent diversity is not the exception: it’s the norm.
🎥 Want to Explore This Topic Further?
If you want to explore this topic in more depth, the recording of our webinar “Multilingual Parenting: Strategies for Success” on accents, language identity, and multilingual development is for you.
Multilingual speech therapist Sofia Zelu and I first conducted a survey to gather the most common questions parents had about accents, language refusal, and multilingual development. Based on those real concerns, we created this practical and accessible webinar, a tool designed to support families through real-life challenges.
🎤 In this session, we discussed:
How to support multilingual children emotionally and linguistically
Real-life case studies from families around the world
Tools to build confidence, at home and in school
💬 What people are saying about it:
Let’s stop trying to “fix” accents, as if they were errors to be erased, and instead start celebrating the rich, personal stories they carry.
Every accent tells us something about a person's journey, their connections, and the unique blend of cultures they bring into the world.
It’s time we treat them as a source of pride, not shame! 🌍