Fifty Patterns for Making Sense

 

41.  Listen to accents

 

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When  you hear an accent, be doubly careful to check on attitudes.

 

 

 

   
 

Everyone has an accent but me.  This is like the mother watching the soldiers march who said that they were all out of step except for her son.  Everyone uses their tone of voice to show where they were brought up or who they are identifying with.  But we also use our tone of voice to show when we are angry or pleased or stern or apologetic.

The problem is that with a person who has an accent different from your own, you will make mistakes.  Something that for that person is meant to show concern sounds to you like anger; or something intended to sound like an apology may sound to you like making fun of you.

When you notice that someone has an accent, that is your strongest clue that you are likely to make mistakes about their attitudes from the way they speak.  And they are likely to make mistakes about your attitudes as well.

 

   
   
 

Even where you think you hear resistance to your ideas, assume cooperation (17); it may just be that you've misread intonational cues.  Don't worry if comfortable moments (20) are interrupted with uncomfortable ones.  Pay attention to them for clues that the other person is trying to say something that you are not hearing.  Let others see your human identity (39) and enjoy the humanity of others (50)

 

   
 

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