New Books Network

Pooja Rangan, Akshya Saxena, Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan, Pavitra Sundar eds., "Thinking with an Accent: Toward a New Object, Method, and Practice" (UC Press, 2023)

Jun 2, 2025
In this discussion, Pooja Rangan, an English professor at Amherst, Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan, an academic at Rice University, and Pavitra Sundar, a literature expert at Hamilton, explore the intricacies of 'accent' as a mode of perception. They challenge traditional views, advocating for an inclusive understanding that impacts identity and knowledge production. The talk delves into 'accented reading' in literature, collaborative authorship, and the socio-political dimensions of accents, emphasizing their role in shaping narratives and fostering collective well-being.
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INSIGHT

Redefining Accent as Perception

  • Accent is redefined as a mode of perception affecting thought, reading, listening, and acting rather than just a speech attribute.
  • This concept challenges the idea that accents belong only to speakers and highlights their relational nature in knowledge and perception.
INSIGHT

Accent as Expertise and Relation

  • The book reframes accent as expertise, not only stigma, and views it as an event and relation.
  • It bridges disciplinary divides, linking legal, linguistic, and identity studies through the concept of accent.
INSIGHT

Interdisciplinary Approach to Accent

  • The volume engages racial linguistics, literary studies, media studies, and sound studies to explore accents.
  • Approaching accent interdisciplinarily enriches understanding across media and language modalities.
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