Speak Like a Native: Mimicking Pronunciation and Speech Patterns

Few things feel more satisfying than receiving positive feedback on your accomplishments. With language learning, the compliments you receive along your learning journey often reflect where you are in that journey.

They may start out like this, “Wow, you started learning a new language!”

And then evolve to this, “I can tell you’ve been practicing!”

And eventually sound more like this, “You speak so well!”

But how do you get to the point where the compliment takes the form of someone mistaking you for a native speaker?

Admittedly, getting to native-level competence is quite the feat. It’s not just vocabulary and grammar that’ll get you praise from native speakers. You also need the proper pace and cadence, the nuanced pronunciation, and even the pre-speech thinking skills that lifelong speakers possess.

Learning a language through mimicking is an important piece of achieving native-level conversational speaking, and it’s a pivotal part of the Pimsleur Method™. Pimsleur^® prioritizes opportunities for learners to mimic native speakers so that you can go from “Good for you for learning a new language” to “Did you move abroad?”

Let’s learn more about the benefits of mimicking native speakers for pronunciation and language learning.

Why Mimicking Pronunciation Works So Well

With mimicking, you simply listen to the particular speech patterns of a native speaker – pronunciation, pace, rhythm, tone. After the native speaker is done, you try to reproduce the words in the same exact way. That’s mimicking in a nutshell. It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in this case, it’s also a sincere way to accelerate your learning pace!

The benefits of mimicking native speakers to improve pronunciation have been known for decades. But why does it work so well?

It trains your brain. This won’t be your first time mimicking other speakers. When you acquired your native language, you naturally copied the speech patterns (including pronunciation) of your parents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, teachers—basically anyone older than you who could speak. Mimicking actually strengthens the “memory neurons” in your brain. Think of mimicking as a vigorous form of mental exercise that’s used to improve speech.
It helps you improve the physical part of speaking. Your brain subconsciously controls all the mechanisms involved in speech – your jaw, tongue, lips, vocal cords, breath. Mimicking pronunciation improves muscle memory for all pieces of the speech production process. As mimicking helps you master highly complex motor processes, you start to fast forward through the thinking part of speaking and just…speak!
Language learning through mimicking builds confidence. Linguistic imitation has the unique ability to help you avoid mistakes from the outset. By mimicking a native speaker, you can bypass months or even years of specialized speaking practice, thereby accelerating your learning curve. And with instant feedback from expert speakers, your confidence quickly grows as your conversation partners increasingly comprehend what you’re saying.

The Benefits of Mimicking Native Speakers for Pronunciation

Why does mimicking pronunciation and other language usage (like grammar and vocabulary) work so well? It’s partly science, partly proven technique, and wholly effective in helping you learn a new language. Here are just a few reasons why mimicking helps you refine your pronunciation skills so quickly and efficiently:

You sound like a native speaker sooner. You don’t need a vast vocabulary to “sound” like a native speaker. Mimicking has a way of making even fundamental phrasing sound free-flowing and natural. While you refine your pronunciation through mimicking native speakers, your ability to apply proper rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation to new words and phrases increases.
Your aural ability improves. We’ve focused mostly on the oral (speaking) aspect of pronunciation in this article. But learning a language the right way includes the ability to listen accurately. And mimicking boosts your aural (listening) skills like few other language learning techniques. As your listening improves through mimicking, you’ll recognize nuanced sounds and phonemes that might have previously escaped your attention. Plus, refined listening skills help you anticipate what your conversation partner is about to say next—a crucial part of maintaining momentum in any interaction.
Mimicking helps perfect the pace of speaking. Correct pronunciation is just as much about stressing the right syllable as it is about finding the right rhythm. Mimicking pronunciation improves your ability to naturally stress syllables, connect words and phrases, and establish appropriate pace and cadence. These are the ingredients for conversational speaking prowess.

What Is Shadowing in Language Learning, How Do You Practice It, and Why Does It Help?

When an object casts a shadow, it’s instantaneous; your shadow simply appears the moment you encounter the sun’s rays.

Unlike a regular shadow, shadowing in language learning doesn’t just happen…you have to make it happen. But it’s relatively easy.

With mimicking, you take a moment to slow down and carefully copy an expert’s speech patterns after they’ve finished speaking. But with shadowing, you speak along with the native speaker – at the exact same time.

To practice shadowing, start with brief sentences. Listen to the sentence once, then repeat it out loud with the speaker. Repeat this process as many times as it takes to correctly reproduce the sounds. It’s highly recommended that you use mimicking and shadowing in tandem; if you mimic for 10 minutes, shadow for the same amount of time. Shadowing can provide feedback that mimicking alone can’t always reveal.

Typical mistakes made in shadowing include using audio that’s too long, trying to read while shadowing (you can always read the text after you’ve spoken), and delaying your shadow sessions until you feel more competent. Just like regular conversations, shadowing works with actual, real-world practice. So don’t worry if you don’t feel ready; it’s shadowing that will get you there!

Pimsleur Helps You Master Natural Speech Patterns

Our goal is to get you speaking your preferred language conversationally. Thanks to the Pimsleur Method, you can effectively mimic the expert speakers found in our world-class audio lessons (available in the Pimsleur app), then apply those same skills to real-world conversations. Our Speak Easy feature creates an ideal, highly applicable environment to practice mimicking and shadowing – you listen to native speakers converse and then you mimic after or go back and shadow as they speak. Our Voice Coach with real-time pronunciation feedback allows you to put this practice to the test. With targeted feedback, you can focus on areas marked for your personal improvement.

See how easy it is to learn a new language, especially when you know how to mimic native speakers—sign up for a subscription today. Don’t wait years to learn a new language; with Pimsleur, we’ll get you conversational within months or even weeks!