We stigmatize accents, but language belongs to everyone

Summary

In this segment, author Hernan Diaz discusses 'accent profiling' and how accents are often unfairly stigmatized, even among native speakers of the same language. Drawing from his own experience of living in multiple countries and speaking several languages, Diaz questions the need for accent reduction and highlights how language is a shared space where mutual comprehension transcends differences. He emphasizes that accents reflect cultural diversity and that the presence of accents proves the inclusiveness and hospitality of language.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Hernan Diaz is the associate director of the Hispanic Institute at Columbia University and a Pulitzer Prize nominee for his first novel.
• 📢 Diaz raises the issue of accent profiling, a lesser-known but impactful form of discrimination.
• 🌍 Having lived in Argentina, Sweden, and the U.S., Diaz has a foreign accent in every language he speaks, representing his multicultural background.
• 🚖 His Argentine accent leads to confusion even in Buenos Aires, highlighting the fluid nature of identity through language.
• 📚 Diaz challenges the idea of needing to 'correct' his accent, questioning what a 'native speaker' truly means.
• 🔍 He discovered that accent-reduction courses are not just for immigrants, but even target regional accents like New York, suggesting widespread accent stigmatization.
• 🗣️ Accent discrimination, Diaz argues, is rooted in geography, class, and race, and reflects stereotypes and social barriers.
• 🎭 Many people, including actors and writers, adapt their accents to fit certain social expectations or avoid discrimination.
• 🗣️ Diaz believes that accents are echoes of one language in another and represent the beauty of diversity in language.
• 🌐 He concludes that language belongs to everyone, emphasizing that accents prove the inherent hospitality and inclusivity in human communication.

Q & A

What is the central theme of Hernan Diaz's commentary?

The central theme of Hernan Diaz's commentary is accent profiling and discrimination, highlighting how accents can be stigmatized and used as a tool for exclusion, even among native speakers of the same language.

What personal experiences does Hernan Diaz share in his commentary?

Hernan Diaz shares his personal experiences of having accents in multiple languages, including Spanish, Swedish, and English, and how those accents have caused others to question his identity or place of origin.

Why does Hernan Diaz question the need for accent reduction or elimination?

Hernan Diaz questions the need for accent reduction or elimination because he believes accents are a natural part of language diversity. He argues that there is no 'correct' way to speak a language and asks why one should aspire to sound like a so-called native speaker.

What examples does Hernan Diaz provide to illustrate accent discrimination?

Diaz provides examples such as flyers advertising accent-reduction classes for not just immigrants, but even native speakers with regional accents, like those from New York. He also mentions how actors or writers might try to adopt accents that align with stereotypes of prestige or social status.

How does Hernan Diaz define an accent in his commentary?

Diaz defines an accent as the 'echo of one language or tone in another,' implying that accents reflect a mix of linguistic influences and personal history.

What is Hernan Diaz’s stance on language and its ownership?

Hernan Diaz believes that language doesn’t belong to anyone, not even its native speakers. He sees language as a shared space where everyone contributes toward mutual understanding, regardless of their accent.

What role does place play in accent discrimination according to Diaz?

Diaz argues that accent discrimination is ultimately about place – determining who belongs and who doesn't. Accents can mark someone as an outsider, reinforcing social boundaries based on geography, class, or race.

Why does Hernan Diaz enjoy the presence of accents in language?

Diaz enjoys accents because he sees them as 'ghostly presences of something strange in a familiar environment,' reflecting the diverse linguistic backgrounds of individuals and showing the inclusivity and adaptability of language.

What does Diaz believe is the most conclusive proof of language’s hospitality?

Diaz believes the fact that people can still understand each other despite accents is the most conclusive proof of the hospitality inherent in every language, showcasing its ability to bridge differences.

What societal stereotypes are connected to accents according to the commentary?

According to Diaz, accents are often linked to stereotypes determined by geography, class, and race. These stereotypes create stigmas, leading people to either embrace or reject certain accents to fit social expectations.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Introduction to Accent Profiling

Judy Woodruff introduces the topic of accent profiling, an often overlooked form of discrimination. She presents Hernan Diaz, an author and academic, who will share his personal insights on this subject. Despite his accomplishments, Diaz has experienced the effects of accent profiling, which will be discussed in the segment.

🌍 Personal Experience with Multiple Accents

Hernan Diaz explains his personal background, having been born in Argentina, raised in Sweden, and spending most of his life in the U.S. He shares how this diverse linguistic upbringing has left him with a distinct accent in every language he speaks, causing others to question his origins or misunderstand him. Despite this, Diaz emphasizes the richness that comes with having multiple accents.

📚 The Complexity of Accents in Language

Diaz reflects on the complexity of accents, mentioning how they can even exist within native speakers of the same language. He points out how different accents are often associated with geographic, racial, and class-based stereotypes, which leads to people trying to erase their accents to fit into a particular social group.

🎭 Accent Discrimination and Social Identity

Diaz discusses how accent discrimination is a form of social exclusion, illustrating how individuals adopt different accents to fit in. He provides examples, such as a Russian writer adopting a British accent or an actor changing their accent to sound more Californian. This constant modification of speech highlights the power dynamics tied to accents.

🗣 The Universality and Hospitality of Language

In the concluding section, Diaz advocates for the beauty of accents, viewing them as 'ghostly presences' that enrich language rather than diminish it. He emphasizes that language is a shared, inclusive space where mutual comprehension is possible despite differences. Accents are a testament to the universal hospitality embedded within every language.

🏆 A Final Note on Hernan Diaz

Judy Woodruff closes the segment by acknowledging Hernan Diaz's nomination for the Pulitzer Prize, reaffirming his significant contributions to literature and his thoughtful perspective on the topic of accent profiling.

Keywords

💡Accent profiling

Accent profiling refers to discrimination based on a person's accent, often tied to perceptions of nationality, class, or race. In the video, Hernan Diaz discusses how accents can lead to stigma and marginalization, regardless of whether a person is a native or non-native speaker. This concept ties directly into the theme of how society values or devalues people based on how they sound.

💡Accent reduction

Accent reduction refers to the practice of modifying or eliminating one's accent to sound closer to a perceived 'standard' version of a language. Diaz mentions seeing flyers for accent reduction classes, questioning the need for such practices. This reflects the societal pressure to conform to certain norms of speech and challenges the idea that one should eliminate their unique linguistic identity.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination, in the context of this video, refers to negative treatment based on one's accent. Diaz highlights how accent discrimination affects both immigrants and native speakers, as certain accents are associated with stereotypes or lower status. This concept is central to the video’s discussion on how language differences can mark social boundaries and perpetuate inequality.

💡Cultural identity

Cultural identity is the sense of belonging to a specific culture or nationality, often expressed through language and accent. Diaz reflects on his own multicultural background, speaking multiple languages with different accents. His experiences show how accents are an important part of one's identity, and reducing or altering them can feel like erasing a part of oneself.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes are oversimplified and fixed ideas about a group of people. Diaz discusses how accents are often linked to stereotypes about race, class, or geography, leading to accent-based discrimination. For example, a New York accent might be stereotyped as unrefined, and eliminating it may be seen as desirable in some social contexts.

💡Belonging

Belonging is the feeling of being accepted or fitting in within a group or society. Diaz explores how accents can influence perceptions of who 'belongs' in a particular space, with accent discrimination serving as a way to exclude people. He challenges the notion that accents mark someone's place in society, advocating for a more inclusive view of language.

💡Language as shared space

Language as shared space is the idea that language is a communal tool meant for mutual understanding, rather than something that belongs to native speakers alone. Diaz emphasizes that despite differences in accent, people can still communicate and understand one another, which underscores the inclusive nature of language itself.

💡Mutual comprehension

Mutual comprehension refers to the ability to understand and be understood by others, regardless of accent differences. Diaz argues that the very existence of accents, and the fact that people with different accents can still communicate, is proof of the inherent openness of language. This concept supports his broader message that accents should be accepted rather than corrected.

💡Geographical variation

Geographical variation refers to the differences in accent or dialect that emerge in different regions. Diaz notes that even within the same language, accents vary based on location, and these variations are often judged. For instance, a Texan actor may try to sound more Californian, highlighting how accents can signal regional identity and are sometimes seen as something to modify.

💡Hospitality of language

The hospitality of language is a metaphor Diaz uses to describe how language, by its nature, welcomes all speakers and their differences. He views the fact that people can understand each other despite having different accents as evidence that language is inherently inclusive and cooperative, supporting the broader theme that linguistic diversity should be celebrated.

Highlights

Hernan Diaz, associate director of the Hispanic Institute at Columbia University, discusses accent profiling.

Diaz highlights that he has a foreign accent in every language he speaks, reflecting his multinational background.

He recalls seeing flyers for accent reduction and elimination at his university, sparking his reflection on accents and their significance.

Diaz questions the need for accent correction, asking 'To sound like who, exactly? A native speaker? What would that even mean?'

Accents are tied to geography, class, and race, and they carry social stigmas and stereotypes.

Diaz points out that even within native speakers of the same language, accents can lead to discrimination.

He notes that accent discrimination is about place and who belongs, emphasizing the social implications of accents.

Accents are described as 'the echo of one language or tone in another,' which Diaz finds enriching and culturally significant.

Diaz challenges the notion of 'correct' language and emphasizes that language belongs to everyone, not just native speakers.

He celebrates the diversity of accents as a testament to the hospitality and openness of language.

Language is a shared space where mutual comprehension is possible despite differences, according to Diaz.

Diaz reflects on his personal experiences with accent discrimination and how people often underscore pronunciation differences to assert social boundaries.

Accents, according to Diaz, symbolize cultural and linguistic diversity, enhancing rather than detracting from communication.

Diaz points out that even native speakers seek to modify or 'correct' their accents, such as New Yorkers wanting to eliminate their regional accent.

In his humble opinion, Diaz suggests that accents are not flaws to be fixed but valuable cultural expressions.

Transcripts

JUDY WOODRUFF: We have all heard of racial profiling, but what about accent profiling?

Hernan Diaz is the associate director of the Hispanic Institute at Columbia University,

and his first novel was just nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Those are certainly accomplishments, and yet he possesses something else that sets him

apart.

That's tonight's In My Humble Opinion.

HERNAN DIAZ, Author, "In the Distance": I work at a university in New York with a large

population of international students.

Walking around campus the other day, I was perplexed to see flyers advertising accent

reduction or even accent elimination.

Having been born in Argentina, grown up in Sweden, and spent most of my life in the United

States, I have, to some degree, a foreign accent in every language I speak.

Something in my Spanish makes taxi drivers in Buenos Aires ask me where I'm from.

In Swedish, my accent is very slight, but I have the vocabulary of a 12-year-old.

In my early 20s, I lived in London for a couple of years, which left its mark.

But the fact is, I got English almost as a gift, through Swedish.

And there is still a Scandinavian lilt in there.

Does my accent need correcting?

I don't think so.

To sound like who, exactly?

A native speaker?

What would that even mean?

Looking at accent-reduction classes online, the third hit I got wasn't aimed at Eastern

European or South American immigrants.

It actually read, "Want to get rid of your New York accent?"

An accent can be a stigma, even within native speakers of the same language.

These variations, determined by geography, class, and race, are always identified with

stereotypes, and fleeing from one means embracing another.

In England a Russian writer may adopt an upper-crust British accent.

In California, a Texan actor may aspire to a San Fernando Valley cadence.

Even though everybody has an accent, there certainly is such a thing as accent discrimination.

Most of us have either suffered or witnessed it at some point.

I can easily tell when I'm not being understood or when someone is underscoring a difference

in pronunciation just to show me my place, because accent discrimination is, in the end,

all about place, who belongs and who doesn't.

An accent is the echo of one language or tone in another.

I, for one, enjoy these ghostly presences of something strange in a familiar environment.

They are a reminder of the fact that language doesn't belong to anyone, not even to its

native speakers.

Language is shared.

It is, in principle, a space where everyone is welcome and cooperates toward mutual comprehension.

And the very fact that there are accents in the first place, the fact that we can still

understand each other through all the differences, is the most conclusive proof of the hospitality

at the heart of every language.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Pulitzer Prize nominee Hernan Diaz.