Do you think accents have an effect on social perception?

Answer 1

Anything that makes a person standout has an effect on social perception. People tend to categorize people and because of that we form an opinion on someone based on a category, ethnicity being a very obvious one.

Answer 2

Of course. Accents are perceived by the aural sense and while someone thinks about the accent emotional perceptions occur. We go through our emotional file to see how we feel about the accent we just heard. Once we get that response, very quickly less than a second, we start thinking about the social perception the accent is given off. Yet, not all accents are bad. An English accent is considered well bred in the USA, a French accent is considered cultured. Some accents are assets.

Answer 3

This is an awesome question. I have issues with my own perceptions of people with country accents. I am from the south and I have grown up around a tremendous amount of ignorance. I think that for his reason I tend to think that country "folk" have little sense. I know that this perception in inappropriate. I have moved to Atlanta and experience a more diverse environment, thankfully!

Answer 4

Whether or not they should, they do. My children are always asking me why I am so particular in their language usage. I always tell them that having a good command of the language enables you to speak with anyone. Speak in a way that suggests ignorance and people will treat you as if you are.

Unfortunately, Americans are particularly hard on people with accents. Some how they seem to feel that if you speak with an accent, that you "think with and accent."

Answer 5

In some cases, yes. I am from Kentucky, but I don't have that "hillbilly" accent. I think that sometimes when you hear people speaking with a really Southern accent it makes them sound less intelligent. It's not accurate, of course, but sometimes people get that perception.

Answer 6

I definitely say yes having had a Canadian accent myself years ago, and having parents, who were Polish immigrants both with very thick accents. I was made fun of in high school for using words like boat, about, roof and aye so as a teen I learned to adjust and Americanize my speech. However my parents were older and more difficulties. Both were hairdressers and dealt with customers everyday. My father less problems because his customers loved his accent and a lot of people didn't seem to have a problem understanding him. My mother on the other hand had more problems with people understanding her. I remember once a lady from Texas was in their shop and between her and my mom it was hilarious. I had to sit the whole time and interpret their conversations for both of them because neither had a clue as to what the other was saying. Most of all at places like the DMV I always had to go with them because the workers would get very agitated and impatient whenever they had to repeat their instructions to my parents due to lack of understanding their accents.

Answer 7

Of course. I go to school in Manhattan and one day I was on the train with my 2 friends that are visiting from Jamaica. They have an accent so when they were talking, people were looking at them weird (as if they were talking another language).

Answer 8

Definitely. Most accents are associated with class, race, stereotypes, status, education level. Hence, most people will initially make judgments when they hear an accent because of how they associate it with the above factors.

Answer 9

I think yes, I met this guy, make fun of my accent but he himself had a very bad accent either, and when he speak he mumbled, never understand what he was talking about.

Answer 10

yes! ((and i think some are hot too :p))

as much as media and hollywood play a role in it, i'd like to think i'mfocusing on the person and not a notion in my head that becuz they're from xyz land they're likely a sterotype.. example, we grow up around movies and such portraying tall, dark, handsome and italian as delish!! i personally like antonio sabato jr. can't act, but whoooooohooooo easy on the eyes and cute accent (=

i had a texas accent i lost quick after working for the airlines and hv'ing enuff people call me a dumb hick if i told them something they didn't want to hear ): works both ways!!