ACCENT: ITS IMPORTANCE AND FUNCTIONS IN COMMUNICATION AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC CONTEXTS
Keywords:
Key words: Accent, prestige accents, Phonetics, sociolinguistics, accent perception, identity expression, language attitudes, speech patterns, cross-cultural communication, linguistic relativity, accent modification, social identity theory, Ethnolinguistic vitality, Language stigma, Multilingualism, Communication barriers, Language proficiency, Dialect variation, Contextual meaning, Speech perceptionAbstract
Annotation: This article explores the roles and implications of accent in social interactions, identity formation, and language comprehension. Accents, as distinct features of spoken language, serve both practical and social functions: they affect listener perception, influence social categorization, and even impact access to opportunities. The research analyzes how accents influence social identity, create cultural solidarity, and can lead to biases in social and professional settings. By synthesizing linguistic, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives, the article highlights the importance of understanding accents not merely as variations in pronunciation but as complex markers of identity and social dynamics.
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