Want to Change Your Accent? Watch This First.

Summary

This video addresses the common feelings of shame and embarrassment many people have about their accents when speaking English. It explores how negative judgments about accents are learned through media and societal influences, affecting both how we perceive others and ourselves. The video highlights the deep connection between language and identity, explaining why learning a foreign language can feel like a loss of personal power. The key takeaway is that, just like the perceived value of an artwork, the value of your English is based on your belief in it. Embracing your accent and language as part of your identity is the key to overcoming self-criticism.

Takeaways

• 😀 Many people feel self-conscious or embarrassed about their English accent, and this is common and normal.
• 😀 Negative feelings about accents are not related to language ability but stem from learned cultural judgments.
• 😀 People tend to view local accents negatively and foreign accents positively, which is evident in surveys of native speakers.
• 😀 Research from the UK and US shows that accents from certain regions are often seen as less attractive or even linked to negative stereotypes.
• 😀 Children's cartoons often reinforce negative associations with foreign accents, especially British accents, casting them on villains.
• 😀 Media portrayals of villains with foreign accents contribute to a learned bias against certain accents.
• 😀 Even teachers and journalists show bias against certain language features, like using American terms such as 'trash' and 'vacation'.
• 😀 The root of accent-related self-hate is a crisis of identity, not just a lack of confidence, as language shapes how we express our identity.
• 😀 Learning a new language means rebuilding one's identity, and it can be uncomfortable to lose the confidence one had in their native language.
• 😀 The key to overcoming self-judgment is recognizing the value in your own language and accent, just like the perceived value of a piece of art.
• 😀 The way you speak reflects your identity, and once you value your language, that value becomes real and cannot be taken away from you.

Q & A

Why do many English learners feel shame or embarrassment when speaking English?

Feelings of shame or embarrassment when speaking English are common because many learners are self-conscious about their accents. These negative feelings often stem from cultural judgments and stereotypes about accents, which are ingrained from a young age through media and social influences.

What does the 2023 survey about English accents reveal about people's perceptions?

The survey revealed that foreign accents, such as Australian, Scottish, and French, were rated as more attractive than local American accents like New York, Boston, and Southern. This highlights the tendency for people to negatively judge their own accents while favoring foreign ones.

How do children learn to associate accents with certain characteristics, like being a hero or a villain?

Through exposure to children's cartoons and films, children learn to associate accents with character traits. For example, villains often speak with foreign accents or nonstandard dialects, such as British English, which subconsciously teaches children to view certain accents as negative.

Why are specific accents in the UK, such as those from the north, negatively perceived?

Research shows that accents from the north of England are often viewed less favorably compared to accents like French or American. This stigma is so serious that 41% of students from northern England worry about how their accents may affect their career prospects.

What does the concept of 'accent discrimination' refer to in the context of the UK?

Accent discrimination refers to the negative judgment and bias people face based on their accents. In the UK, certain accents are deemed less prestigious, which can impact people's social and professional lives, as seen in the case of northern English accents.

What did the 2019 research on American children's cartoons show about accent use?

The research revealed that in American children's cartoons, accents were often used to distinguish heroes from villains. Villains typically had foreign accents, especially British English, which reinforced the stereotype that foreign accents are associated with negative traits.

How do developmental delays among UK children relate to language use, according to The Guardian article?

The article highlighted that some teachers linked the use of Americanisms, such as 'trash' and 'vacation', to developmental delays. This reflects the prejudice against non-local vocabulary, suggesting that speaking with certain terms can be wrongly seen as a sign of deficiency or disability.

What role does the 'self-hate' about accents play in a learner's behavior?

Self-hate about one's accent acts as a defense mechanism. It allows learners to preemptively criticize themselves to avoid judgment from others. This creates a false sense of control over how others perceive them and stems from internalized negative biases about their accents.

What does the linguistic saying 'you talk like who you talk with' mean?

The saying means that the way you speak reflects your background, education, social status, and other aspects of your identity. When you learn a foreign language, you essentially have to rebuild your entire identity in that language, which can be uncomfortable for adults.

How does the story of the banana artwork by Maurizio Cattelan relate to how learners should view their accents?

The story of the banana artwork, which was sold for millions, illustrates that value is subjective. Just as the banana's worth is based on perception, the value of your English and accent is determined by how you perceive it. When you recognize the value of your own English, others' judgments no longer hold power over you.