Your accent is not a mistake: speak and be heard.
Be honest: have you ever wanted to say something but kept silent because “I have an accent,” “I’ll say it wrong,” or “people will laugh”?
This fear is familiar to thousands of people who learn foreign languages, move to another country, or communicate with foreigners.
But let’s look at an accent from another perspective.
An accent is not a mistake and not a sign of “inferiority.” It’s proof that you are a brave person who speaks another language! It’s like the spice in the dish — others may sound plain, but your speech carries its own unique flavor and is proof of your effort and experience.
The problem is not that we speak “the wrong way,” but that society puts labels on us. And while we are afraid of those labels, we remain silent. But silence never leads to growth.
This article is about why you don’t need to get rid of your accent — but rather accept it and turn it into your strength.
When an accent becomes a stigma
Accent stigma is the prejudice or negative attitude toward a person because they speak with an accent that differs from the “norm” of a given society.
A 2024 study interviewed 15 international students from China, South Korea, India, and Pakistan. It identified four forms of accent stigma:
- Verbal disapproval – direct negative comments and mockery:
“I had no idea you would be mumbling like that.”
“You sound really funny.”
“Can you even talk normally?”
“Is your English good enough to be my TA (teaching assistant)?”
“You cannot present our paper because you have an accent.” - Verbal avoidance – deliberately reducing communication, avoiding questions, keeping distance.
- Nonverbal disapproval – eye-rolling, strange looks, sighs, sounds like “Ugh!”
- Nonverbal avoidance – closed body language, minimal eye contact, indifferent expressions.
This is how stigmatization works in real life: an accent becomes a “label” that hides a person’s identity and competence.
You can read the full study here.
Interesting fact: nearly 300 apartment-viewing requests in Bremen, Germany, showed that callers with Turkish accents had significantly lower chances of being granted viewings in prestigious neighbourhoods compared to those with Standard German or American accents (Inke Du Bois, Pragmatics of Accents).
Other research also shows that accented speech is often associated with negative qualities such as incompetence, low intelligence, laziness, lack of education, lower loyalty, and even lower attractiveness (Gluszek & Dovidio, 2010).
Many people stop speaking or expressing themselves not because of “mistakes” but because of fear of criticism, mockery, or labeling.
Why even teachers say such things
You might wonder: how is it possible that even teachers or people in positions of authority can say things like:
“I had no idea you would be mumbling like that.”
“You sound really funny.”
“Can you even talk normally?”
“Is your English good enough to be my TA?”
There are several reasons why this happens:
- Norms and “standard” ideals
In many educational systems, there is a strong belief in a “correct” or “standard” accent (such as Received Pronunciation in the UK or General American in the US). Anything that deviates from this model is judged as “wrong,” even if communication is perfectly clear. - Hidden bias and stereotypes
Research shows that accented speech is often unconsciously associated with lower intelligence, laziness, or incompetence (Gluszek & Dovidio, 2010; Fuertes et al., 2012). Even highly educated people, including teachers, are not free from these biases. - Frustration and shifting responsibility
When a teacher finds it difficult to understand a student’s accent, instead of admitting “I need to adjust to this way of speaking,” they may blame the student: “You are speaking wrong.” It’s easier to place the burden on the speaker than to recognize one’s own limits in listening. - Power and control in the classroom
Teachers hold authority. Pointing out an accent can be a way to reassert power: “I decide what is correct here.” Accent becomes a tool of control rather than just a feature of speech.
In short, such comments are rarely about language accuracy — they are about social labels and power dynamics. Accent becomes a symbol of “otherness” rather than a natural variation of speech.
Acculturation strategies: what to do with an accent
Psychologist John Berry (2005) identified four strategies of cultural adaptation:
- Assimilation — rejecting one’s heritage culture and trying to fully merge with the host culture. Trying to erase an accent = assimilation, which often leads to stress and inner conflict.
- Separation — maintaining one’s heritage culture while avoiding the host culture.
- Marginalization — losing one’s heritage culture and rejecting the new one.
- Integration — maintaining one’s roots while participating in the host culture.
Integration doesn’t mean blending in perfectly. It means standing in two worlds at once — your heritage and the host culture — and building bridges with your accent, not in spite of it.
Here are a few ways to practice integration:
- Keep speaking, even if it feels uncomfortable. Every conversation is a brick that builds your confidence. For example, practice small talk with neighbors, chat with colleagues during coffee breaks, or order food in the local language even if it feels risky.
- Join local groups or communities. Use your accent in real interactions — it will quickly stop feeling like a barrier. You might join a book club, attend local workshops, take part in language exchange meetups, or volunteer at community events.
- Share your culture. Bring your background into the conversation: cook a traditional meal for friends, tell stories about your hometown, or share your holidays. People respect authenticity and are often curious to learn.
- Learn the local culture actively. Show that you want to participate — accents are welcomed more when paired with openness. Go to local festivals, watch local TV shows, read newspapers, or take part in neighborhood traditions.
Reframe your accent as a strength. Remind yourself: it’s proof of your effort, resilience, and bilingual skill. Think of it as your personal signature — the thing that makes your voice unique and memorable.
Personal stories
From my family and friends, I’ve seen different approaches:
- My father-in-law wrote his doctoral dissertation in German, but after retiring and moving to Germany, he never spoke the language. Fear of mistakes and shame about his accent were stronger than his knowledge.
- My mother-in-law, on the other hand, embraced her accent and kept practicing. She speaks freely and confidently — proof that communication is about connection, not perfection.
- My friend decided to work with a tutor to “fix her accent” because her colleagues at work sounded perfect. She joked: “They speak beautifully but don’t do any work. I want to sound like that too — and also not do any work!”
Accent and status
Studies show that people tend to judge accents through three lenses: friendliness (solidarity), social position (status), and energy (dynamism). Local or “prestigious” accents are usually rated more positively in all three — not because they are truly better, but because of stereotypes (Zahn & Hopper, 1985; Fuertes et al., 2012; Montgomery & Zhang, 2017).
Charisma in accents: famous examples
The most powerful thing is to accept yourself as you are, instead of trying to fit into someone else’s “norm.” What often follows is what people call charisma — that unique presence which makes someone unforgettable.
Many public figures have embraced their accents, and far from limiting them, it has become part of their charm and success:
- Nuria from Barcelona, who speaks Russian on her YouTube channel, captivates her audience not despite her accent but with it.
- İclal, who speaks in many languages on her channel, shows how an accent can be a bridge across cultures.
- Actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sofía Vergara, Penélope Cruz, and Jackie Chan have all turned their accents into trademarks, admired worldwide.
These public figures did not simply “accept” their accents — they turned them into part of their image, a performative resource: a tool rather than a hindrance.
These examples show that people don’t just “tolerate” accents — they often celebrate them. An accent can become your signature, something that makes you stand out and shine.
Conclusion: it’s important to speak
The fear of an accent is a challenge. But it is through speech that we grow. We blush, we reflect, we lose sleep — but we become stronger. We learn to depend less on the opinions of others.
Yes, an accent can feel like a burden. But research shows it is not the accent itself that harms us — it is the stigma attached to it (Gluszek & Dovidio, 2010). When people internalize this stigma, they withdraw and remain silent. When they accept their accent and keep speaking, they open doors to growth, connection, and resilience.
An accent, then, is not a weakness to erase but a bridge between cultures — evidence of effort, adaptability, and courage.
And when it feels especially hard, remind yourself:
“This too shall pass. The night will end, and a new day will begin with the sun rising.”
