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People with strong Northern accents seen as ‘less intelligent’ than southerners
It turns out the Mancunian accent isn’t as beloved as we once thought…
In news that will undoubtedly infuriate one half of the country, a new study is claiming that those with a Northern accent are deemed as ‘less intelligent’ than southerners.
Research by a team at Northumbria University in Newcastle (of all places) has shown that prejudice still exists when it comes to regional accents, with Northerners faring worse than southerners when it comes to judgemental ears.
The four-year project questioned more than 350 people from all walks of life, and played a mixture of Northern and southern speech samples.
Then, recipients were asked to associate positive traits – such as whether they sounded educated or friendly – with those voices.
Channel 4
Sadly, the study found that while Northerners are deemed as ‘friendly and trustworthy’, their accent can also make them appear as ‘less educated’ than their southern counterparts.
It was also found that ‘accentism’ is rife, with most recipients being completely unaware of their ‘unconscious bias’ towards a southern accent.
The project lead, socio linguist Dr. Robert McKenzie, said he was ‘disappointed’ with the findings – a reasonable reaction considering he’s from Glasgow.
Dr. McKenzie explained: “Disappointed is the word that I would use. As a linguist we have been looking at language in this way for the past fifty years.
“People still think others sound stupid, lack intelligence or ambition or sound unfriendly from the way they speak… It is not based in reality – it is based on social judgements in the wider community.”
Stockport-born MP Angela Rayner has previously spoken about the judgement she faces regarding her own Northern accent, noting how she has been criticised for it by politicians in the past.
Writing on social media earlier this year, the deputy Labour leader said: “I’ve been on the media this morning so my accent and grammar are being critiqued.
“I wasn’t Eton educated, but growing up in Stockport I was taught integrity, honesty and decency.”