What`s in an accent
November 2010
The Reddy family was sitting down to a yummy dinner – aloo paratha sizzling with butter, and potato raita.
12-year-old Anita called out to her dad a little self-consciously, “Daaad, can you paess me the baedder, please?”
Her dad raised his eyebrows.
“What kind of an accent is that?” he asked. Anita looked embarrassed. “We have this new girl in our class who has just come from the US and she has such a cool accent, Dad.”
“So you are trying to copy it?” her dad asked. “Well, everyone’s making a big deal out of her. Even Shobha (who was the social queen of the class) is trying to become her friend. So why shouldn’t I have an accent too? I’ll also get some bhav.”
“Your best friend is Sonal, right?” her dad asked her.
“Yes,” she replied. “Why do you like her?” asked Dad.
“Because she is such fun to be with. She makes me laugh all the time. And she always sticks up for me when others make fun of me.”
“Have you even noticed her accent?” Anita looked thoughtful. “No,” she admitted. Her father smiled lovingly at her. “Put your effort and energy in cultivating your nature – in becoming more sensitive, more generous, more loving and you will see that with or without an accent, you will be loved by everyone who really knows you. And that is what is important, isn’t it?”
Anita thought about it. It would have been nice to be like Shobha or the new girl and have everyone trying to impress you, but come to think of it, did anyone really like Shobha? Not really. She was too selfish and stuck up. They all just wanted to be near her because she was rich and pretty. She made up her mind. “Yes, Dad,” she said. “That’s what’s important.”
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