Whether you say “tomato” or “tomato,” your accent is a unique part of who you are. Everyone has an accent, and even animals like goats have their own regional ways of making sounds! But what exactly is the science behind how we acquire language, and what does your accent reveal about you?
In a survey conducted in the United States, 47% of adults thought British accents sounded sophisticated, while 51% felt New York accents seemed rude. Southern accents were often seen as friendly but possibly uneducated, whereas New England accents were perceived as intelligent. This shows that people tend to have biases towards others who share a similar accent to their own.
It’s important to understand the difference between a native language accent and an accent in a language you learn later. Native English accents can vary based on where you live and your social background. For example, a Cockney accent from London is quite different from the Queen’s Received Pronunciation. However, if you learn a new language, like Spanish, as an English speaker, you might always have an English accent when speaking Spanish, even if you live in Spain for many years. Research suggests that after the age of 12, the time spent in a new country has little effect on changing your accent. The best age for learning a new language is around 6 years old, and the ability to learn diminishes after that.
Interestingly, some people who have had a stroke wake up with a completely different accent. This rare condition is called “Foreign Accent Syndrome” and happens due to damage in the brain’s insula region, which is crucial for language processing.
A key part of language is the phoneme, which is a distinct sound unit used to form words. Different languages have unique phonemes. For instance, the “th” sound in English words like “the” and “thing” doesn’t exist in German, making it hard for German speakers to pronounce these words correctly. Similarly, English speakers might struggle with phonemes from other languages.
In an interesting study, 32 American and 32 Japanese six-month-old babies listened to a recording that repeatedly played “la la la.” When the sound changed to “la la ra,” a toy would light up and play music. Both American and Japanese babies could tell the difference and expected the toy to light up. However, “la” and “ra” are not distinct sounds in Japanese. When the study was repeated with 10-12 month-old babies, the Japanese babies couldn’t distinguish between these English sounds, suggesting that the critical period for recognizing phonemes is around six months old.
Learning a language at any age helps form new synaptic connections in the brain, leading to denser gray matter and stronger white matter networks. People who grow up in bilingual households are more sensitive to language differences than those who speak only one language. Brain scans show that bilingual babies have stronger responses in brain areas related to focus and problem-solving.
Have you ever wondered why many people dislike the sound of their own voice? Explore the science behind this and more in our AsapTHOUGHT video. Check it out through the link in the description, and subscribe for more weekly science videos.
Research different accents from around the world. Create a map that highlights where each accent is commonly spoken. Include audio clips or videos to demonstrate each accent. Present your map to the class and discuss how accents can influence perceptions.
Choose a language different from your native one and learn to pronounce five challenging phonemes. Record yourself saying them and compare your pronunciation to a native speaker. Share your recordings with classmates and discuss the difficulties you encountered.
Participate in a debate about accent biases. Split into groups and argue either for or against the idea that accents influence how we perceive intelligence and friendliness. Use examples from the article to support your points and reflect on how biases can be challenged.
Conduct a mini-experiment by trying to learn a few phrases in a new language. Document your progress over a week and note any changes in your ability to recognize and produce new sounds. Share your experiences with the class and discuss the challenges of learning a new language.
Research the cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Create a poster that illustrates how bilingualism affects brain development and function. Present your findings to the class and discuss how learning multiple languages can be beneficial at any age.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Whether you say “tomato” or “tomato,” it’s clear that your accent is a defining feature of who you are. Everyone has an accent (even goats have regional ways of saying “BAAH”), but what’s the science behind language acquisition, and does your accent say something about you?
In an American survey, 47% of adults found British accents to be sophisticated, while 51% thought New York accents were rude. Southern accents were considered pleasant but possibly uneducated, while New England accents were viewed as intelligent. It turns out that humans have a bias towards others who sound like them or share the same accent.
It’s important to distinguish between a native language accent and an additional language accent. Native English accents depend on factors such as geographic location and socioeconomic status. For example, a Cockney accent from working-class London is markedly different from the Queen’s Received Pronunciation. However, when it comes to non-native language accents, things are more complicated. If you move to Spain and learn Spanish as an English speaker, you will always speak with an English accent, even if you stay there for decades. After the age of 12, the length of residence has almost no effect on your accent. Studies suggest that the ideal age for language acquisition is around 6 years old, with diminishing ability from that point forward.
Interestingly, some stroke patients wake up with an accent completely different from their original voice. This condition is known as “Foreign Accent Syndrome” and results from damage to the insula region of the brain, which is responsible for language processing.
An integral aspect of language is the phoneme. Phonemes are the different sound units we use to form words, some of which are unique to different languages. For example, the phonemes “th” (as in “the” and “thing”) do not exist in German, making it difficult for German speakers to pronounce these words correctly. Conversely, there are many phonemes in other languages that English speakers cannot pronounce or even hear properly.
In a groundbreaking study, 32 American and 32 Japanese six-month-old babies listened to a recording that played “la la la” repeatedly. When the recording switched to “la la ra,” a toy to the side would light up and play a musical tune. The babies were primed to understand that recognizing the difference between “la” and “ra” led to an audio-visual reward, and both the American and Japanese six-month-old babies were able to tell the difference and anticipate the toy reward when necessary. However, “la” and “ra” are phonemes that do not exist in the Japanese language. When this study was replicated with 10-12 month-old babies, the Japanese babies could not distinguish between these uniquely English phonemes, indicating that a critical period for recognizing phonemes and brain development occurs around six months old.
If you try to learn a language, regardless of your age, synaptic connections are made, which ultimately create denser gray matter and stronger white matter networks. In fact, those who have grown up in bilingual households are consistently more sensitive to subtle language differences compared to their monolingual counterparts. Brain scans have shown that bilingual babies have stronger brain responses in their orbital and prefrontal cortices, which are areas linked to focus and problem-solving abilities.
Have you ever wondered why so many people dislike the sound of their own voice? We break down the science and challenge some individuals to come to terms with their own voice in our AsapTHOUGHT video. Check it out with the link in the description, and subscribe for more weekly science videos.
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the original content’s meaning.
Accent – A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, often associated with a particular region or country. – When she moved to England, her American accent made her stand out in her new school.
Language – A system of communication used by a particular community or country. – English is a language spoken by millions of people around the world.
Phoneme – The smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish one word from another. – The words “bat” and “pat” differ by only one phoneme.
Bilingualism – The ability to speak and understand two languages fluently. – Bilingualism can enhance cognitive skills and improve job opportunities.
Perception – The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. – Her perception of the science experiment changed after she reviewed the data carefully.
Native – Associated with the place or environment in which a person was born or raised. – She is a native speaker of Spanish, having been born and raised in Mexico.
Foreign – Relating to or originating from a country other than one’s own. – Learning a foreign language can open up new cultural experiences.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – Science helps us understand the world around us and solve complex problems.
Learning – The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching. – Learning about the laws of physics can be challenging but rewarding.
Babies – Young children, especially those who are not yet able to walk or talk. – Babies are naturally curious and begin learning about their environment from a very young age.
