Accentism

Accentism, discriminating against someone because of their accent, is still prevalent in societies around the world. We explore accent bias in an increasingly diverse world, the politics and cultural significance of accents and what your accent says about you.

- GEORGIA NELSON

George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him” — a phrase that still rings true to this day. Whether you’re aware of it or not, everyone has an accent. The way you speak can tell others a lot about you: “It’s a telltale giveaway of where you’re from, where you live, where you were raised,” says podcast host Josh Clark on the ‘What’s the deal with accents?’ episode of Stuff You Should Know About.

An accent is formed based on the people you are around and how they speak. Just like you, your accent is a product of the environment around you, but it can tell you a lot about your family history, too, from socio-economic class to education and where your distant relatives are from. Accents can also give away non-locals or tourists, as the different pronunciation is easily noticeable.

Your accent can change over time, depending on your environment and where you live. For example, an Australian living in the United States for many years will likely pick up an American “twang”, usually subconsciously, not just because they are hearing it all the time but also for the convenience of being better understood. You may also learn to adjust your accent according to your situation. In an office setting, a polished, refined tone may be your go-to, but you may be a bit looser and slip back into your regional dialect when it comes to casual conversations with friends.