What’s in an accent?
That accent is a sign of my “global-ness”
That accent is here to vouch for my empathy
That accent tells you that while you view me as the other, I view me as both from here and there
That accent reflects my ability to reach out, to connect, to understand
That accent renders me homeless and at home everywhere at once
That accent means I am multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-national
That accent allows me to be who I want, when I want
That accent makes me who I am…
I have a language to think in, argue in, communicate in
I have a language I make love and peace in
I have a language for my emotions, a language for my rationalizations, a language for my business, a language for my leisure
And when you see my transition from one to another, you’ll hear my accent evolve too
I implore you to get one in any language too.
By Ankita Tipnis