When you meet someone for the first time, you notice how they talk. If they speak a language that’s not their first language, their accent might be different from what you expect. This makes sense, we all speak differently based on where we grew up and who we grew up with.

However, it’s completely wrong to make assumptions or judgments about someone’s intelligence, competence or social status based on how they pronounce words, their intonation or the regional or cultural origins of their speech. It is a form of prejudice known as accent bias.

Unfortunately, as we become more modern and advanced in all areas of life, we often fail to keep our judgments neutral and continue to unfairly judge people by their accents. Just because someone has an accent doesn’t mean they deserve to be mocked or seen as less educated.

The truth about accents

Accent bias damages our personality traits because it reinforces stereotypes and thus prevails social inequalities. It also disregards the rich diversity of languages, cultures and personal histories that shape the way people speak.

Our accents naturally develop from our environment — the languages we hear, the people around us and where we grow up. Someone from an area with limited exposure to a particular language might speak it differently than someone who grew up immersed in it. But one thing that must be kept in mind is that this has nothing to do with intelligence or capability.

The harm of accent bias

When you judge people by their accents, you cause ethical and moral harm. You’re actually judging their background and circumstances — things they didn’t choose. As a result, the other person may feel they’re not smart just because of how they talk. They sense your doubt about their ability to do their job well. Worst of all, your judgment makes them feel unwelcome and isolated as if they don’t belong.

We may overlook their skills, ideas and contributions just because they don’t sound the way we expect. As a result, this can hinder the chances or opportunities of people who don’t speak with the ‘right’ accent (as we perceive it).

Remember kids, intelligence is far more complex and involves how we think, solve problems, learn and adapt. It’s not defined by how we pronounce words or which dialect we speak.

Why do we fall into accent bias?

Even when we say that it’s wrong, we fall into the abyss of judging people; sometimes the way they dress and sometimes the way they speak. A lot of it comes from the environment we are living in or what we are constantly being fed, such as the media, movies and even the education system, where knowingly or unknowingly preference is given to certain types of accent, which are considered ‘standard’ or ‘neutral’ (like the American accent or British accent when speaking English).

So when we constantly hear famous people or those in authority speaking with these accents, we subconsciously connect the accent with qualities like competence, intelligence and success.

And on the flip side, accents that are different from that of the native speakers of a language are conceived as ‘non-standard’, and unfairly linked to a lack of education or intelligence.

As a youth, you are still in the process of developing your perspectives, you are highly susceptible to absorbing societal biases, and accent bias is one of those that can creep in if you aren’t careful.

By judging others based on their speech, you not only hurt those people, but also limit your own potential to connect with a wider variety of voices and experiences.

Break free from accent bias

• Listen to what people say, not how they say it. Their ideas matter most.

• How someone talks doesn’t show how smart or skilled they are. A farmer might know things a college professor doesn’t.

• Every accent tells a story. Different ways of speaking make our world richer.

• Notice when you judge someone’s accent. Stop there and think: “Am I being fair?”

Your accent doesn’t make you who you are. What matters is your thoughts, ideas and intelligence. When you meet someone whose accent is different, listen to their message, not their accent. This makes life richer and more interesting than expecting everyone to sound according to your standards. Together, we can build a world where everyone is valued for who they are, not how they talk.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 1st, 2025