All Talk: How Dialects and Diversity Enrich the Culture of the UK
Jan 7, 2024
58:17
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Rob Drummond, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses the diversity of spoken language in the UK, accent bias, the popularity of different accents, the importance of accents in social indicators and identity, multicultural London English, language adjustments for effective communication, and the challenges and role of understanding accents.
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Quick takeaways
Language reflects and shapes social identities, and accents/dialects can lead to discrimination and judgment.
Accents are often associated with social class, race, ethnicity, and gender, resulting in biased judgments.
Language-based prejudice is often a cover for other forms of prejudice, and addressing it requires awareness and education.
Deep dives
The Relationship Between Language and Identity
Socio-linguist Rob Drummond discusses the profound connection between language and society, focusing on how language reflects and shapes our social identities. He emphasizes how language varies between individuals and social groups and how our speech is influenced by various factors and contexts. Drummond highlights the ongoing issue of language-based prejudice, noting that accents and dialects can lead to discrimination and judgment. He also addresses the role of language in different cultural contexts, such as multicultural London English, and the challenges faced by women in terms of how their voices are perceived.
Prejudice and Judgments Based on Accents
Drummond explores how accents and dialects can lead to prejudice and negative judgments, highlighting the impact of regional accents on perceptions of intelligence, education, and professionalism. He emphasizes that judgments based on accents are often influenced by social class, race, ethnicity, and gender. Drummond also discusses studies showing that individuals, particularly students, have experienced criticism and mockery for their accents. He warns against language-based prejudice, suggesting that it is often rooted in class-based bias and calls for increased awareness and challenges to these prejudices.
The Varying Popularity of Accents in the UK and the US
Drummond examines the perception of accents in the UK and the US, noting that certain accents are viewed more favorably than others. He discusses the relationship between accent and social status, explaining how accents associated with Received Pronunciation (RP) tend to be seen as more prestigious in the UK. Drummond also highlights the variability of accent preferences, noting that accent perceptions can differ from survey to survey. He further discusses the negative perceptions associated with certain accents, particularly African American English and accents from Southern states in the US.
Accent Discrimination and the Role of Prejudice
Drummond explores accent discrimination as a form of prejudice and the challenges individuals face due to accent-based biases. He explains that language-based prejudice is often more accepted compared to other forms of discrimination. Drummond argues that language-based prejudice is often a cover for other forms of prejudice, such as class-based bias or racial/ethnic discrimination. He emphasizes the need to recognize and address language-based prejudice on par with other forms of discrimination, stressing the importance of understanding the social and cultural aspects of accent perception.
Addressing Prejudice through Education and Awareness
Drummond suggests two approaches to addressing accent prejudice. Firstly, he recommends engaging individuals in conversations to encourage reflection on their own language attitudes and biases. This approach aims to foster awareness and challenge views related to language-based prejudice. Secondly, Drummond advocates for increased language education that includes discussions on language variation, multilingualism, and the complex relationship between language and identity. He also stresses the importance of dismantling social structures that perpetuate language inequality and asserts that language study should be embedded in school curricula to promote understanding and appreciation of linguistic diversity.
The Journey from Pedantry to Understanding Language
Drummond presents a chart illustrating the journey individuals often go through regarding language pedantry. He explains that as individuals gain some knowledge about language, they may become pedantic and critical of others' language use. However, as they continue to learn and understand more about the complexities of language, they often move away from pedantry and develop a deeper appreciation for linguistic variation and diversity. Drummond argues that increasing language knowledge and challenging pedantic attitudes can contribute to a more inclusive and understanding approach to language diversity.
Rob Drummond is Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University. His recent book You’re All Talk explores the enormous diversity in our spoken language across the UK to reveal extraordinary insights into how humans operate: how we perceive (and judge) other people and how we would like ourselves to be perceived. Joining Drummond in conversation for this episode is Intelligence Squared’s Executive Producer, Hannah Kaye.
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