Will I get my accent back?

thisisadamh

Hi, I moved to Ireland 9 years ago when I was 8 from South Africa. And my accent is nearly gone It is still there to the point that people identify it as an English accent. So it is nearly gone.
I am going to back to South Africa for a holiday for a month after my leaving cert. Would that be enough time to reclaim it to the point it is recognised as a SA accent as I don't think it would take too long to get it back because I used to talk like it. I just feel that I am losing my link to SA

Aard

I'd say that it would be enough time to undo the "dammage"(!) of the Irish accent. I recently spent a month in Canada, and (mainly because I liked imitating the accent) I found myself starting to speak a little bit like them. So, seeing as how you used to speak with a SA accent, I'm sure you'll pick it back up after a month. It'll take a concerted effort, though, on your return to maintain it.