Social media trend: When your Durban accent slips
"The way we pronounce
words is shaped by our environment, culture, and the linguistic norms of our
community," says speech-language therapist Chané Naidoo.
Having an accent in South Africa is nothing unusual – it’s part of what makes the country so diverse. While there’s a recognisable "South African accent", each region has its own distinct way of speaking, shaped by its community and culture.
Take Durbanites, for example – many will agree that their accent has a unique rhythm and quirks that only fellow South Africans truly understand.
In many ways, accents connect us, whether it’s instantly recognising someone from your hometown or spotting a fellow South African while travelling abroad.
Speech-language therapist Chané Naidoo from Heidi Allan's Practice in Durban explains: "Accents form due to the sounds, rhythms, and intonations we acquire from the language and dialects we are exposed to during childhood.
"Our environment, culture, and the linguistic norms of our community shape how we pronounce words. When we speak a language, we become accustomed to certain patterns, so accents can be difficult to change later in life."
We recently came across a social media trend where people share how their accents naturally slip back into conversation.
While it was all in good fun, it was also a heartwarming reminder of how accents hold deeper, more personal meaning – often tied to a sense of home and identity.
"People often adjust their accents or speech patterns depending on their social environment, known as linguistic accommodation. This happens for various reasons: to fit in socially, better understand, or align with professional expectations," says Naidoo.
"Some individuals may unconsciously modify their accent in different settings, while others do so intentionally, such as speaking more formally at work versus casually with friends."
Check out this TikTok video of a South African veterinarian effortlessly slipping back into his Durban accent.
@amirthevet AKKKKSSS …. Agh i miss durban 😝 #southafrica #durban ♬ original sound - Amir Anwary
READ MORE: Durbanite called out over her "posh accent"
Accents are deeply tied to place and culture, but in South Africa, we also love finding the humour in the way we speak.
Here’s another local joining in on the accent slip-up trend – his TikTok video basically says it all.
@sloophaho In high school all it took was one slip up 😭 #SAMA28 #tiktoksouthafrica ♬ original sound - sloo ✊🏾🍉
How do speech therapists help those looking to adjust their accents? Naidoo explains that speech therapy focuses on refining an accent – not by erasing it, but by improving speech clarity and control.
"This
process involves targeted intervention in pronunciation, intonation,
and rhythm to help individuals develop more control over their speech
patterns."
It was a humbling insight, as many people feel self-conscious about their natural accents.
As for where accents come from? "Accents are a natural part of language and identity. Our goal as speech therapists is to support clear and confident communication rather than erase linguistic diversity," Naidoo adds.
If you'd like to consult a speech-language therapist, you can contact Naidoo at [email protected] or 031 566 4477.
On that note, we found a South African who effortlessly nails local and international accents in under 50 seconds – watch Ched's TikTok video that's causing a stir.
@chednotched Bro just yappin
♬ original sound - CHEDNOTCHAD
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Image courtesy of TikTok