"How Accents Define Us"

This week I read a very interesting article on the San Jose Mercury News website. The article, titled, "How Accents Define Us" (http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_5672461), discussed how the various accents of non-native speakers of English can result in various social problems, as well as in discrimination. In the Silicon Valley, the technology industry has brought together many people of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Thus the only common language is English. However, many non-native speakers of English retain an accent from their native language. This can lead to difficulties in communication, as well as job discrimination.

The article explains that native speakers of English often associate accents with their own cultural biases. For example the movie star Antonio Bandares has a "sexy latin accent", while the Vietnamese restaurant owner has a "a rude and obnoxious accent". In the same way, a Japanese store owner may refuse service to a foreigner, regardless of that persons ability to speak Japanese, because of that person's own bias towards foreigners (this has actually happened to me before). I think sometimes people use language ability and accents to break off communication too afraid or too lazy. This article shows how our cultural perceptions can effect cross cultural communication even when speaking a common language. It is also an important reminder of how stereotypes can lead to discrimination.

Hi Everyone!

Hi Everyone, this is your new teaching assistant Rolf Siverson. I'm going to be blogging and commenting along with you as we learn about Cross Cultural Communication. I think this class will be a lot of fun, and I look forward to hearing what you have to say!