Ep87. Accents, Identity, and Discrimination: Why Do Some Accents Have More Prestige?

Languages Pedagogy Podcast · Feb 28, 2025 · 20m

What does your accent say about you? More importantly, why do some accents carry social prestige while others are stigmatized? In this eye-opening episode, we take a deep dive into the world of accents—how they shape identity, influence perception, and impact real-world opportunities.

🔍 What you’ll discover in this episode:

✅ The science behind accents – How they form, why they persist, and what they reveal about cultural identity.

✅ The history of accent bias – How colonialism, media, and class structures created hierarchies of “prestige” accents.

✅ The psychology of accent discrimination –…