Do accents put you at a disadvantage? (credit, employment)
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I was looking at the Favorite Accents thread and noticed that the Wisconsin and Upper Midwest accent is frequently considered unpleasant. I'm from Wisconsin and have the accent of this area. I'll be graduating from college in a couple years and then plan to move out of state. Hearing that the Wisconsin/Upper Midwest accent is so unpopular makes me self-conscious. Will I be at a disadvantage moving somewhere outside of the Upper Midwest? Will people make negative judgments about me just by hearing my accent? Will I have a harder time getting a decent job just because of the sound of my voice? I'd love to lose my accent, but I haven't a clue on how to do that.
I think discriminating against someone based on their accent is horrible. It doesn't reflect how well they will do their job. Some accents people like, others will dislike. Even accents that I find less pleasant than others would not make me dislike the person who has it. Wouldn't it be pretty boring if everyone sounded the same?
Wear your accent loud and proud. It's part of what makes you YOU. It's nothing to feel self-conscious about. I doubt in most professional fields that you will run into any discrimination based on your accent, especially if you have the right qualifications for the job.
If any accent is hated, it's probably southern accents.
It's true. If you go to NYC or anywhere in New England and ask for directions in an Appalachian accent, they will speak r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w as if you aren't expected to be able to fully comprehend English. Many also assume you are by default a racist. It's kind of odd...and ironic with the whole prejudice thing.
I was looking at the Favorite Accents thread and noticed that the Wisconsin and Upper Midwest accent is frequently considered unpleasant. I'm from Wisconsin and have the accent of this area. I'll be graduating from college in a couple years and then plan to move out of state. Hearing that the Wisconsin/Upper Midwest accent is so unpopular makes me self-conscious. Will I be at a disadvantage moving somewhere outside of the Upper Midwest? Will people make negative judgments about me just by hearing my accent? Will I have a harder time getting a decent job just because of the sound of my voice? I'd love to lose my accent, but I haven't a clue on how to do that.
Does your college have a drama department? One of the most important aspects of the art is acquiring/losing accents. Think Russell Crowe in Gladiator, or Nichole Kidman in Cold Mountain, no Aussie twang there!
If you do not want to take a full-fledged course (at 100+ per credit hour), then I suggest you find someone in that department who is willing to/capable of tutoring.
In the alternative - most large, large cities have people you can hire to help you lose your accent. Look under "voice coach" in the phone book. If there is no voice coach there, again turn to your community little theatre for assistance.
If you do not have the time/money to pursue this. Then I suggest that you buy a recording device and LISTEN to yourself. The upper midwestern accent is characterized by very long vowel sounds and a certain nasal quality when speaking. You can learn how to speak without any accent or any accent you choose.
For most of my life people have asked me if I'm from "back east" or New York, and I've never been there. I think what they're hearing is a European accent that I picked up from my parents, although I'm born here.
Oddly enough, I don't mind it at all.
I think it's pretty damned assinine that people would prefer for everyone to sound the same.
I found this observation interesting on West Virginia accents, from a telephone agency profile.
Quote:
Initially, Chilton had some concern about their employees' West Virginia accents adversely aff ecting its telephone surveys but has found that the softness of the accent is appealing for interviews, especially with business people.
BACK OFFICES AND WEST VIRGINIA (http://www.polsci.wvu.edu/ipa/par/report_9_2.html - broken link)
If you can present yourself in a manner that puts you heads above the competition, selling yourself as the right person for a certain job that will benefit that company then I would like to think that accent would play no role in qualifications nor discrediting a person from employment.
Think of it this way, if an employer were to say discriminate against you for an accent do really want to work for such a company or individual as such, I’m sure there are some out there that may do so but the percentage is so slim I wouldn’t let it bother me.
I have a southern accent and some things I say are somewhat out there as compared to the accents where I presently live, I get funny looks, get asked multiple times what you say, I get the huh, and some just as soon as I start talking it’s obvious in their minds first thing they think is this is some hick hillbilly, I go to southeast MO often and when I get there I go ahhh finally people I can communicate with, it gets aggravating at times but employment wise I’ve never had any real problems, when push comes to shove I can pull of the north accent but the hillbilly in me still wants to slip out , would I change it heck no it’s me it’s my roots and if folks don’t like it’s their problem not mine, no person should feel any less a person just because of an accent or in reality for any reason, your still in college so your young yet you haven’t been punched about yet, don’t get caught up in complexes or stereotypes just be you go with the flow, accept life and what it throws at you.
I think strong regional dialects can put people at a disadvantage (at work), thats' what this youtube video brings out. I don't think you need to get rid of your accent.
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, would I change it heck no it’s me it’s my roots and if folks don’t like it’s their problem not mine, no person should feel any less a person just because of an accent or in reality for any reason, your still in college so your young yet you haven’t been punched about yet, don’t get caught up in complexes or stereotypes just be you go with the flow, accept life and what it throws at you.
