The cadences and vocal inflections with which people speak can have a direct bearing on the ways they are perceived by others. While some accents are thought to convey intelligence and sophistication, others are looked upon as being evocative of less positive traits. This is most readily observable in media portrayals. Characters who speak with French accents are frequently portrayed as worldly and sophisticated, while characters that speak with Russian accents are often depicted as being harsh and authoritarian. Here, then, is a look at some of the favorite accents around the world, and why they are grasped in the ways they are.
Upper Class British
Also referred to as Received Pronunciation (RP), the upper class British accent benefits from the perception that it is reflective of clear enunciation and precise articulation. Held also to radiate formality and refinement, the RP British accent is closely associated with royalty, classic literature, and high culture. According to a large-scale study conducted by language-learning app Babbel and Ipsos MORI found that the British accent is the most popular globally, with 45 percent of respondents from around the world stating they enjoyed hearing their native language spoken with a British accent.
In media, characters employing this accent are often portrayed as being intelligent, sophisticated and elegant, which is exactly what the study found. Survey respondents found the accent sophisticated (32 percent), stylish (30 percent), and professional (29 percent).
Parisian French
Perceived to be melodic and fluid, French, and more specifically Parisian French, is closely associated with style and romance. Consonants are enunciated softly, while the lilt of this speech pattern is seen to ascend and descend gracefully. Words flow into one another with a specific fluidity many people consider to be appealing. Parisian French is grasped as being elegant and sensual. These perceptions are thought to emerge from the image of Paris as a global epicenter of fashion, cuisine and art.
Northern Italian
The Northern Italian accent is considered to be evocative of passion, culinary excellence and expressive communication. A certain musicality, warmth and emotion are also closely associated with it. Delivered with a rapidity and crispness perceived to exceed that of Southern Italian, the Northern Italian accent (such as might be encountered in Milan) tends to be considered the more sophisticated of the two. This is thought to result from the fact that the largely industrialized Northern Italy was considered more sophisticated than the primarily agrarian Southern Italy. The Roman accent (Central Italy) tends to blend the two dialects.
Latin and Castilian American Spanish
Delivered with a softness and fluidity not found in Castilian Spanish, the distinct cadence and vowel enunciation of Latin American Spanish is considered less formal. Think Penelope Cruz (Castilian) vs Sofia Vergara (Latin American).
With that said, both iterations are looked upon favorably around the world. Castilian Spanish is known for employing a “th” sound for the letters “C” and “Z.” Meanwhile, Latin American Spanish speakers enunciate the “s” at the end of a word, while Castilians Spanish speakers do not. Either way, Spanish is delivered with a fluidity and melodiousness that many people find easy on the ears. Additionally, countries in which the Spanish language is dominant are often associated with passion and vivacity.
Accents and the Legacy of Colonialism
Students of history may have observed a connection between the legacies of colonialism and the perceptions of accents. Concerted efforts were made to ensure the customs, cultures and languages of colonizers replaced those of the people over whom they asserted dominance. A key aspect of those endeavors was the inculcation of native populations with the beliefs that the ways of the colonizers were superior to their own.
The vestiges of this are evident to this day, in that certain accents are seen as being indicative of cultural superiority, even though we know such perceptions are fallacious. In its own way, Tomato.ai is working to eradicate those stereotypes. The company’s accent smoothing platform makes the speech patterns of offshore call center agents easier for callers to comprehend, while preserving the accent of the speaker. In addition to helping counter stereotypes, this undertaking broadens employment opportunities, while simultaneously improving customer experiences.
