The psychology of accents
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Have you ever been told you speak with an accent? Perhaps, to you, the person who asked that question was the one with the accent? Have you ever heard of "own-accent bias"? While you can't hear my accent as you read this, you are probably reading it in an accent familiar to you. This Braincraft video, along with this lesson, are intended to get you thinking about why and how accents exist within languages.
Let's talk. As I mentioned at the start of this lesson, you can't hear my accent or lack thereof while you read. Whether I have one or you do, the point is that language is only made better by its subtle and regional differences. There is nothing like a Buffalo, New York accent. As I live and teach in Canada, I am privileged to be near one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, Toronto. I love listening to the variety in all of the voices represented in our communities. And then there's the Rock, not the actor, but the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador where the accents and vocabulary can be difficult to understand at first. It is so unique, they even have their own Newfoundland English dictionary. Have fun. I hope you enjoyed this lesson!
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TED-Ed Best of Web are exceptional, user-created lessons that are carefully selected by volunteer teachers and TED-Ed staff.
Meet The Creators
- Video created by BrainCraft
- Lesson Plan created by Will Gourley