07/09/2021

Accent Bias is an Unchecked Signal of Racism in the Workplace

Many non-native English speakers agonize over the sound of their accents

Many non-native English speakers agonize over training their tongues to sound more American or British. But it may be easier—not to mention more considerate—for native English speakers to start welcoming a range of accents instead.

That's an unexpected opinion coming from Heather Hansen, a Singapore-based American communications advisor and accent modification specialist. Her company, Global Speech Academy, is part of a vast industry of speech enhancement services geared to professionals who feel hindered by thick foreign accents. "Accent neutralization' or "accent reduction" classes are particularly popular among expats seeking a job at a multinational corporation or preparing for a big presentation.

Of course, speaking in a manner that’s understood by colleagues and clients is crucial to doing many jobs. But Hansen began questioning the premise of her profession after delving into the motivations behind wanting to adopt a new accent. She learned how self-consciousness about accents eroded people’s self-esteem and often prevented them from speaking their mind. This was true for even the most accomplished professionals in the top tiers of leadership, she said.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Quartz.