Societal norms that dictate certain forms of communication are key to being taken seriously in professional circumstances. As a result, we tend to speak differently in business situations than we do in casual settings. This is known as code switching. While the benefits of this practice are palpable, it’s important to recognize certain lines shouldn’t be crossed. One such boundary is using a fake accent. With that in mind, here’s why you shouldn’t fake an accent.
Why Accents Matter
The desire to belong is one of the fundamental aspects of human nature. Psychiatrist Joanna Cannon, in an article for Psychology Today explains, “We all want to fit in, to belong. Because of this, we often present slightly different versions of who we are, depending on the environment and whose company we are in. “ In business situations, engaging in the form of communication considered “normal” marks one as an individual whose ideas and opinions should be taken seriously. However, communicating in this manner in social settings can have the exact opposite effect.
Similarly, adopting a fake accent in an effort to appear worldlier can mark you as someone who cannot be trusted. Accents serve as key markers of cultural identity. They are also looked upon as points of pride within certain cultures. So, while you’re likely to be viewed favorably by trying to communicate with someone in their native language, trying to mimic their accent can strike the listener as being insincere or deceitful.
People Are Sensitive to Accents
A recent study, the results of which were published in the journal Evolutionary Human Sciences, found people are far better at detecting fake accents than was previously thought to be true. Researchers at the University of Cambridge found people who reside in the northernmost regions of the UK and Ireland are very good at detecting fake accents. The author of the study, Jonathan Goodman, of the university’s Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies says, “We think the ability to detect fake accents is linked to an area’s cultural homogeneity, the degree to which its people hold similar cultural values.”
Faking Accents Can Be Insulting
The natural acquisition of an accent as a result of lived experiences marks an individual as a member of a certain group. The rhythms of speech, the styles in which certain words are spoken can serve as measures of the authenticity of individuals. Native speakers of a given language—whether consciously or unconsciously—are aware of this and respond accordingly. Trying to fake their ways can be seen as insulting.
This is even truer when you try to mimic an accent while speaking your native tongue. Often, in an attempt to exert dominance, people will mock the patterns of speech of groups they feel are “beneath them.” As you might well imagine, people who have been treated this way view it as insulting.
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The Role of Accent Smoothing
There is a huge difference between accent smoothing and faking an accent. The best platform – such as Tomato.ai’s accent softening and neutralization solution – preserves some elements of the native accent of a speaker, while making them easier to understand by non-native speakers of their languages. This can be particularly beneficial in customer service call center environments. In addition to facilitating easy communication between customers and call center agents, these platforms expand the pool of viable candidates for call center positions. Michael Thomas, CEO of LBF Travel says, “Tomati.ai has massively grown the pool of candidates we can hire.“
To Thine Own Self Be True
One of the best pieces of advice parents give children who are nervous about fitting into new situations is “Just be yourself.” You will more likely be viewed as trying to be respectful if you have command of a second language, but speak it with your native accent. “Faking it ‘till you make it” will not cut it in situations such as these.