/lang/ - Languages

The Russian people are nice, they don't criticize my accent too much, so I keep it unless im talking drunk

Well, I think it depends on the strength of your accent, the language you are learning(because different people tolerate different accents) and the accent you are trying to imitate.

For example, I think that native English speakers are very forgiving of accents compared to others as long as you are speaking understandably.

The accent you are imitating is important because learning standardized British or American English is fine but venturing into dialect territory, Japanese Osaka-ben or Swabian German for example, will make you sound like a tryhard fool. Though, seasoning your speech with some local slang will score you some benign amusement, sometimes.

>>795
>standardized British or American English

But is there really such a thing when it comes to accents? A New Yorker sounds nothing like a Texan, so where is "standardized American English" actually spoken?

It's important to have good, clear speech with correct pronunciation.

This will aid the comprehension of the listeners. Seriously though, let's do the best we can, the melody of the sentences won't be native, but it doesn't need to be perfect.

I don't think you need to imitate anything. You're not a native and you don't need to sound like one.

>>791
Did imitating their language make you loose your dignity in the first place?
You simply haven't learned the correct pronunciation until you learn the correct accent. Even if it's not strictly required for ineligibility in most cases.

>>797

For all intents and purposes when someone refers to "standard" American or British English they're referring to the broadcast accent, one which is usually taught on ESL materials from that country.