The Accentism Project

Uncovering and challenging language-based prejudice and discrimination in everyday life. Visit for stories, info & links to research.

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

Radio presenter 'replaced because of accent' loses race claim https://t.co/PExcNtFZ5F

[Elisabeth Barakos @Barakos_E]

The endless stories of #accentism and being judged based on the way we speak and sound. So much of this is about perceived and constructed identities, belonging, class, and race #sociolinguistics

[Vijay Ramjattan @Vijay_Ramjattan]

A "foreign accent" is not a sign of failing to fully master a target language.

Instead, it is a sign that one's linguistic repertoire has expanded.

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

New story on the site https://t.co/GPNn4jcsyq

[Scally ️ 🐱 🏳️‍🌈 @Scally__]

@Positivteacha I have a broad Yorkshire accent and my accent was criticised by my mentor in a middle class school in York. Not sure the kids noticed and didn't impact anything but it was written as a point of development. I think I said "us" instead of "ours."

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

How accent bias can impact a person’s job prospects https://t.co/fEPvK0jbk2

[Rob Drummond @RobDrummond]

Nothing wrong with this in spoken English. Totally fine.
What’s more problematic is a post that begins with ‘not picking on her in particular’ and then follows up with classist/sexist insults a bit later (and encourages more of the same from others) based on how she speaks 🤷🏻‍♂️

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

Assumptions
https://t.co/auav5BDbOk

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

Good to hear The Accentism Project get a mention on this excellent @BBCRadio4 episode of #AntiSocial with @adamfleming. Thanks @the__chez! https://t.co/RPf5dA4953

[PattyBee @Woldslinx]

@LizKershawDJ I absolutely cringe when I hear English being spoken in this way. I’m northern and originally from a Council estate not that far from Manchester. We didn’t use sloppy English like this.
Does she just speak in this way for ‘effect’? If so, it’s not working.

[Liz Kershaw @LizKershawDJ]

Dropping "n"s "t"s and "h"s from your speech is not a Northern thing. It's just plain lazy and sloppy.
Watchin_ the #ITV #Election Deba_e

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

I trained myself to drop my Welsh accent - it's the biggest regret of my life https://t.co/vEZomCCd5H

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

New story on https://t.co/bqYwElcAqM
https://t.co/kSgrmK4P9a

[Prof Sandy O'Sullivan @sandyosullivan]

I've never thought of myself having a 'broad' Australian (make of that what you will) accent, but someone just mentioned that I do. Years ago I tried to adjust it to make it more discernible, and I assumed I had or that it means something (problematic, pragmatic). But also, WTF?

[Natalie Braber @NatalieBraber]

Interested in accent discrimination? Here's our research what is happening at the Bar:
https://t.co/y2J9kXUYwb

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

Lorraine Kelly told she’d never land TV career due to accent | The Herald https://t.co/IrZwDruqDJ

[Ian Cushing @ian_cushing]

today i found out that this work has won the best early career article in the British Journal of Sociology of Education for 2023. dedicated to all teachers who have experienced hostile pressure to change their accents, especially those that are marginalised in different ways 💖

[Fesshole🧻 @fesshole]

Lived in Birmingham and the Black Country for 23 years, I am not thick or ashamed of my roots but when I hear a Brummie or Dudley accent on the TV I understand why people think we are all stupid. I speak completely neutrally now. Ozzy being on TV really didn't help.

[The Accentism Project @AccentismProj]

‘For the longest time, I felt like I had no voice, because the one I had would get ridiculed.’ https://t.co/Tp2zA9mQbh