Why is Accent Still Strongly Associated With Class?
The concept of class is one of the most commonly discussed topics of our society. To many people, it seems that their place in society is determined by their class, whether this is true or not. And when it comes to class, one of the biggest issues is that of accent. It’s no secret that even today, accent is still strongly associated with a person’s social class. But why is that the case?
The Remnants of the Class System
To understand why accent is still so tightly linked to class, it’s important to look at the historical origins of the class system. Historically, the class system was divided into the three distinct social classes of Upper, Middle, and Lower. Historically, Upper and Middle classes were distinguished by their use of “High-Standard British English”, while the Lower class spoke in a variety of dialects. In the past, these accents were used to differentiate between classes, and today this practice continues, albeit to a lesser degree.
The Power of Our Accent
It’s impossible to ignore the power of our accent. Our accent can reveal our social class, our level of education, and even our level of cultural sophistication. Even today, a person’s accent can still directly influence their success in life. Whether it’s in the job market, in the school system, or in everyday conversations, a person’s accent can lead to them being treated differently.
The Role of Media
Along with the remnants of the class system, the media has also played a significant role in keeping accent and class so closely linked. The media has become a major influencer in how we perceive certain accents. For instance, high-status characters tend to speak with a certain accent, while lower-status characters speak with an entirely different one. And this perception continues to persist even today, with many thinking that certain accents are more suited for certain classes.
Globalization and the Link to Class
Over the past few decades, globalization has led to an immense change in our society and the way we view social class. Our society has become increasingly diverse, and so our attitudes towards different accents have also changed. With this newfound diversity, people have become more open to different accents and have started to see different regional and national dialects as a source of pride.
However, this newfound acceptance has not necessarily led to the breaking down of the link between accent and class. Although the accent relation has become more fluid, there are still many people who make class-based judgments based on a person’s dialect or accent.
Educational Effects
One of the biggest effects of accent on class is education. Children from different social classes are exposed to different accents at an early age, and many believe that this can act as a barrier to education. Studies have shown that students from poorer social backgrounds are less likely to be given the same educational standards as students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds because of the accents they use. This can lead to a wide gap in educational opportunities for children from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Accent is still strongly associated with class, even in our modern society. The historical class system and the power of the media are two of the main factors that have kept this relation close, even in this age of globalization. Different educational opportunities based on accents have also contributed to this relation, making it so that class is still an issue in our society even today.