Why Does Your Native Accent Stick When Speaking English?

I was on Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi Island, wandering through the jungle, completely lost, until I finally reached the island’s highest peak just in time to witness one of the most stunning sunsets of my life. The view was breathtaking; my eyes were locked on the sun as it slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.

Then, reality kicked in. The sun was gone, and I had to make my way back through the dark jungle. Just as I spotted a local and was about to ask for directions, a couple beat me to it. In perfect English, they asked:
“How can we get to the center other than through the forest?”

And just from those few words, I knew where they were from. Smiling, I told them I was heading the same way, and we started walking together.

Then, the first thing I asked them was: “Are you Turkish?” 😆

The guy who had asked the question looked slightly annoyed and surprised: “Wait..how did you know?” he asked. I used to answer these kinds of questions, but now I just smile and don’t even mention accents anymore.

This isn’t limited to English, I can instantly recognize Turkish speakers in Chinese too.

However, in my ten years abroad, I’ve only met two Turks whose accents didn’t give them away. When they finally admitted, “Actually, I’m Turkish,” I laughed and blurted out: “No way, me too!”

Why Do Many People Carry Their Native Accent into English (or Any Other Language)?

Why is it so difficult to sound completely natural in a second or third language? Why can’t we instantly pick up the accent of the language we’re learning?

The answer lies in brain plasticity, auditory perception, and speech production.

In this article, I’ll break down the neuroscientific reasons why your English accent is still influenced by your native language! 🚀

What Brain Areas Are Involved in Accent Acquisition?

Your accent isn’t just about vocabulary or grammar, it’s shaped by a combination of auditory, motor, and cognitive processes in the brain.

🧠 Wernicke’s Area – The brain’s auditory center, responsible for understanding sounds. When learning a foreign language, it struggles to process unfamiliar sounds because it’s already wired to recognize and prioritize the sounds of your native language.

🧠 Broca’s Area – Controls speech production. Encoding new speech sounds and syllable structures into motor memory takes time and effort.

🧠 Motor Cortex – It’s not just your brain learning a new language, your tongue, lips, and vocal cords must also adapt. If a sound doesn’t exist in your native language, your mouth muscles lack the muscle memory to produce it effortlessly.

Your accent is influenced by how flexible these areas are and how well your muscle memory adapts to new sounds.

Critical Period Hypothesis: Why Childhood is Key for a Native-Like Accent

One of the biggest challenges in accent acquisition is the Critical Period Hypothesis. Babies are born with the ability to recognize and differentiate all sounds from all languages. However, this ability declines with age.

📌 Patricia Kuhl (2010) found that between 6-12 months old, babies filter out sounds that don’t belong to their native language.

📌 Flege et al. (1995) showed that those who start learning a second language after age 7 tend to retain a stronger accent.

📌 Scovel (1988) found that the optimal age for acquiring a native-like accent is between 0-7 years old. After this, the brain categorizes foreign sounds as “unfamiliar,” making them harder to pronounce naturally.

If you weren’t exposed to a language at an early age, your brain files its sounds into the “foreign category,” making it much harder to master its accent naturally.

Can Adults Still Develop a Native-Like Accent?

As we age, our brain plasticity (ability to rewire itself) decreases, making it harder to break native speech patterns when learning a new language. But it’s not impossible!

✅ The brain can rewire itself – No matter your age, consistent practice and exposure can train your brain to adapt to a new accent.

✅ The Auditory Immersion Effect – If you hear and speak a language regularly, your brain starts processing it as “normal” rather than foreign.

✅ Speech Muscles Can Be Trained – Pronouncing new sounds is a physical skill, like playing an instrument. Consistent speech practice can retrain your tongue, lips, and vocal cords.

Why Do We Want an American Accent, But End Up With a “Crazy Turkish Accent” Instead? 😂

Your accent isn’t just shaped by neurological and physical processes—it’s also influenced by culture and habit!

Here’s why:

🔹 Emotional Connection to Native Speech Patterns – Our native intonation, rhythm, and emphasis feel natural and comforting. In a new language, this automatic reflex disappears.

🔹 Misclassifying Sounds – For example, Turkish lacks the “th” sound in English, so Turkish speakers often pronounce it as “d” or “t”. The brain categorizes the new sound into the closest native equivalent.

🔹 Social Factors – People unconsciously maintain elements of their native accent because it feels familiar and safe.

This is why Turkish accents in English stand out easily—the speech patterns and pronunciation rules of Turkish carry over into the second language.

How to Reduce Your Accent: Science-Backed Methods

Luckily, linguists and neuroscientists have found several ways to improve pronunciation and reduce your native accent:

1️⃣ Shadowing Technique – Listen to native speakers and imitate them in real time. This is one of the most effective ways to train your ear and speech muscles.

2️⃣ Vocal Exercises – Practice moving your tongue, jaw, and lips deliberately to adjust your pronunciation.

3️⃣ Immerse Yourself in Natural Speech – Watch movies, series, and podcasts without subtitles to train your ear.

4️⃣ Record & Compare – Record yourself speaking and compare it to native speakers to identify differences.

5️⃣ Join İDA (İngilizceyle Dünyaya Açılın) – Learning English is a lifestyle! I’ve lived in Shanghai for 10+ years, teaching thousands of Turkish students how to master English. Join İDA to fix common mistakes, train your accent, and learn with the best resources!

It’s Never Too Late to Improve Your Accent!

Accent acquisition depends on your brain’s auditory and motor processes, exposure, and consistent practice. While your native language influences how you pronounce English, you can train your brain and speech muscles to adapt.

So, don’t give up! 🎯 With the right techniques, patience, and exposure, you can make huge progress.

How about joining İDA, practicing in group sessions, or trying shadowing with a TV series today? Let’s start polishing that accent! 🚀