dagmaraka wrote:oy. just heard myself. that must be one of the most unpleasant human experiences, to hear oneself talk on the radio, or even worse, see oneself on TV. Blechch!
If it's any consolation, the experience is unpleasant only for oneself. (I occasionally used to give classical piano concerts as a teenager, and my"blech" reflex on hearing myself was the same as yours and Sozobe's.) From my perspective as a disinterested observer, your appearance went very well indeed.
For one thing, past experience has taught me that when people call into a radio show, few of them ever rise above incoherent drivel. I couldn't care less about accents or trembling voices, and doubt that any other listener would.
Second, your accent is negligible. Plenty of native speakers diverge farther from standard American English than you do. And what's most important, you made your points clearly, in concise, grammatical language, with a voice that immediately invites sympathy. In the end, that's what counts.
You could have held your ground not just as a caller, but as a regular participant in that show. Don't let little things make you self-conscious about your appearance!
