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010 | Accents in a System

  • Writer: Tarang Saxena
    Tarang Saxena
  • Dec 26, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jan 19

"O nauurr"

(Aussie, exaggerated but recognisable)

"Bo-o-wo-a"

(ok this one is definitely over the top British, lol)


and finally the classic Texan accent:



Accents in Practice

Did you know that how someone sounds can influence how capable they’re perceived? It’s true! Research shows that this perception can happen independently of what they actually say. The Harvard Business Review summarises this in Research: How Speech Patterns Lead to Hiring Bias. It highlights how accent and speech patterns can trigger quick judgments about someone's status during evaluations.


This dynamic isn't just limited to the workplace. In education, the Sutton Trust’s report, The Speaking Trap, reveals how accents shape perceptions of intelligence, behaviour, and credibility in schools. Isn’t it fascinating? Research on language attitudes suggests that these ideas form early. Some students may participate less, not due to a lack of understanding, but because they anticipate judgment based on their accents.


These patterns extend into media and public life. Authority roles often amplify a narrow range of accents, reinforcing what credibility is expected to sound like. Cognitive research from the University of Chicago shows that unfamiliar accents can be perceived as less truthful. This is because they are harder for listeners to process. As a result, many people adapt how they speak depending on the context. This is often referred to as code-switching. It’s like navigating a world where some voices are treated as “default” and others as “marked.”



How Professionals Treat Accents

Accent training exists because communication is treated as a skill, not just a trait. Isn’t that interesting? Fields like film, theatre, broadcasting, and public speaking have approached voice this way for decades.


Take Christian Bale, for example. He is Welsh-born, yet many associate him with American roles such as American Psycho or The Dark Knight. His accent shifts are purposeful. They support clarity and help the audience understand his character better.



Similarly, Damson Idris adopted an American accent for Snowfall. This choice allowed him to convincingly operate within a different cultural context without erasing his identity.


The Importance of Understanding Accents

Understanding accents can help us navigate our interactions more smoothly. It’s not just about how we sound; it’s about how we connect with others. When we learn about the nuances of accents, we can foster better communication.


Accents can reflect our backgrounds, experiences, and identities. They can also create barriers. By being aware of these dynamics, we can approach conversations with empathy and openness.



Closing Thoughts

You don’t need to change how you speak. But it helps to understand how systems listen. Once we view accents as learned and context-dependent, it becomes easier to separate communication from comfort and clarity from bias.


The goal isn’t to sound like someone else. It’s to be understood—on your own terms. In my research for this, I was guided towards a Key & Peele skit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgYfRGDiPDs
Why British Actors End Up with All the Good Roles

I’m sure there's some background on why this happens. In saying that, there is always a Key & Peele skit you haven't seen!



Professional Pathways

In my research, I was curious about what further opportunities may look like with the concept of accent and linguistics in mind. Here's what I found locally and globally:


Speech & Language (Clinical / Professional Communication)

Linguistics & Phonetics (Academic Study)

Performance & Dialect Training (Voice for Public Roles)

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