The Effect of Perceived Region al Accents on Interlocutors’ Attitudes and Judgments
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Date
2025-07-09
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UNIVERSITY OF MOHAMED BOUDIAF- M’SILA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The manner in which individuals speak often has a greater impact on social perceptions than the actual content of their speech. Regional accents, in particular, serve not only as markers of cultural or geographical identity but also as social signals that influence how speakers are judged. These accents can trigger assumptions about education, intelligence, or trustworthiness, shaping interactions in subtle yet significant ways. This study explores how university students perceive and respond to regional accents in M’sila, focusing on how these perceptions shape social attitudes and judgments. A descriptive quantitative approach was adopted through a structured questionnaire completed by 50 participants from diverse backgrounds. The instrument included both closed and open-ended questions to capture both measurable trends and personal experiences. The findings reveal that many students associate specific accents with traits such as warmth, professionalism, or social standing. Accents like that of Bousaada were perceived as friendly and familiar, while more neutral ones were linked to authority. Some students also reported being treated differently because of their accent, suggesting the presence of bias even within the same region. By focusing on a rarely studied Algerian context, this research offers a meaningful contribution to understanding the link between language and social perception. The results underline the importance of raising awareness about accent-related prejudice, especially in
educational and professional settings
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Keywords
Keywords: Regional Accents, Accent Perception, Social Judgment, Language Attitudes, Sociolinguistics, Accent Bias