Why are Americans prejudiced against foreign accents?

Question

America is supposed to be the land of immigrants. Yet, in many places, more so in red states, Americans treat people with a foreign accent as though they have a disease. They offend them, shun them, or treat them like 2nd class citizens. They will not accept you or socialize with you if you have a foreign accent. The exception is people with accents from anglo countries like England, Ausie, and Canada. They treat those people much nicer.

In other countries, if someone speaks with a foreign accent, people actually get interested and want to welcome you into their homes and find out more about you!

Answer 1

I'm an American and I love all kinds of accents.

Especially the British accent.

Answer 2

Maybe because foreign accents are not uncommon in the US.

Answer 3

The answer, in a word or two, is fear and ignorance. Fear of the unknown is terrifying to behold. What we don't know can hurt us. For Americans who have never travelled outside the continent, their knowledge is confined to television news and coverage of buildings being blown up. They make no comparison to gangland style executions in major US cities and holy wars. They do not seem the sameness between waring factions of east vs west as they do between gangs on 59th street vs 36th street. While there always unholy alliances and grievances between occupations, they see US terror as a mater of small minds clashing. When they watch world news, they cannot relate to something being fought more than a thousand years over. After all, it's just a piece of ground, or a village. Here, in the US it might be a street corner! Where is the logic in that? And ignorance, as I said before. People are ignorant of customs and habits of foreigners. It is much easier to ignore or shun someone of a different society than to take the time to learn new cultural mores or mnake the istake and offend someone. Believe me, most Americans are really afriad of offending someone and will cross the street rather than make a societal gaffe.

Yes, we are the melting pot, but you are only a portion of the pot's contents after you undergo Americanization. Few Indians are left and they are the only true people of the land. We are basically all immigrants to this country it is true. But nobody has any tell tale signs (accent, different wardrobe, habits) so they do not stand out in a crowd. I know this appears to ber easy to write, but if I were you, I would not worry about what others think of you, but rather what you think of you. You are who you are, if others have no wish to know you, consider it their loss and find another who does. You will both be enlightened. And by the way, forget about that red and blue state c**p. I've found red necks in New York and members of the gentile race in Arkansas. h**l, right now I'm a yankee (chicago, we love everybody) in Texas.

Answer 4

virgil wrote: "I am just sick of your liberal n**i complaints about the red states who are real Americans."

Well well, look who's spouting vicious propaganda and who is doing the stereotyping right now?

Oh, it's our friend virgil!

Answer 5

English is the language here. at least make an effort to learn HOW to communicate.

Answer 6

I live in America, and I don't think I've really seen prejudice against people with accents... i'm not saying it doesn't happen, it probably does, but it isn't common, at least where i live. my grandparents are german immigrants, and they never seemed to have problems because of their accents.

Personally, I love guys with accents :-)

Answer 7

First of all, you can't speak for all Americans..

second of all, who said people were prejudice against foriegn accents...people are like that all around the world, not just America.

Answer 8

because immigrants are leading the nation into a depression... get it... there are too many people now!

Answer 9

This is not true of all Americans.  Languages other than English are used all the time in stores, on street signs, instructions, telephone services and so on.  Also, what about all of the popular kid shows that are aimed at teaching American children various languages.  I am not discrediting what you have observed as I am sure you have experienced this.  But at the same time even though there are people in America who are prejudiced it does not mean that the entire nation is.  I believe that the scenario you described is possible in every nation when there is one dominant language.  When there are communication barriers between people misunderstandings and misconceptions can easily occur.

Answer 10

That red state junk you have going on is a bunch of propaganda. There are tons of foreign people all over Texas and no problems. I just found out a good friend of mine is a Muslim. I have known him a while and kind of figured he was Muslim or Hindu with the accent and everything but I didn't know. We were hanging out the other day and he told me all about his Shiite faith. Anyway I am a conservative Christian fundamentalist. I am not the sweaty guy from Hollywood TV you try to stereotype me as. You are a very bigoted person for talking about the red states like that. My good friend the Shiite is also a Republican he doesn't have problems with people bothering him about his accent. He says that is mostly TV drama and not nearly as much in the real world as TV addicts think.

So you liberals can trash us Christians and Muslums all day I suppose. We know you are A-OK with the Buddhists and Jews for some reason as if they are so different than us. I am just sick of your liberal n**i complaints about the red states who are real Americans.

Answer 11

They're probably prejudiced against foreigners in general, and as soon as they hear the accent, they know you're from somewhere else. It doesn't mean the accent sounds bad, or even that the person doesn't speak English well, it's just ignorant people who don't like anyone not like them.

Answer 12

Americans speak English with that typical accent that sound similar to Irish speaking English. British speak the Queen's English. Aussies and Kiwis speak what I personally call flat English. But actually English is spoken at homes among family in non speaking English countries like Singapore, India, Philippines and elsewhere especially among the educated and well travelled people. They have their own way of speaking English. Like in Singapore, they love to call it Singlish; that is Sing from Singapore and lish from English. You should watch their local films to know how it sounds like.

I can agree with you because people assume that accents mean you are fresh out from that country. You have not totally assimilate yourself into the new society which you now belong to. Another point is these English speaking people are so used to talking to one another in their own accent that they feel uncomfortable listening to others knowing how to speak English but in another accent.

Probably speaking in American or British or Aus gives you that class. That is something to do with the way we see people, how they are classed, what status they belong to, and all that. Actually those are false. It does not mean that a person who does not know English is not intelligent. It does not mean someone who speaks so called perfect English is more intelligent. I go with wisdom rather than how a person commands a language.

Also, in many non English speaking countries, because of movies, young people find it easy to imitate that language. Young people speak good American even though they have not been to America because they are spending hours sitting in front of the t.v. and watching every single Hollywood film.

As for now, American English tops the list, followed by Aus English and then the Brit English.

Answer 13

That's just uneducated and backwards-thinking people who are that way. For those who are educated and have more experience with dealing with other people, an accent can actually be an asset. It makes that person unique and interesting.

Answer 14

Yes, they are even against people from other parts of the country. Like if someone has a real southern twang the thing the person is so dumb. If they say "Howdy" it just isn't acceptable to some people in the North.EDIT: sorry, I thought you question was Are they prejudice.Ok, why is the same reason they are predjudice against anyone. They fear competition. They are used to bullying anyone who is different from them.

Answer 15

they're not

Answer 16

I don't.  In fact, I think some accents are attractive.

Why do some people make broad generalizations about a whole population?

Answer 17

I like accents, unless it interferes with communication.

It's bad when it is someone paid to do customer service and you both have to continually repeat yourselves. It's stupid.

But I like a lot of accents. I have a slightly Southern accent.

Answer 18

I have no idea what you are talking about. I have never seen that happen and I have lived in several different states.

Answer 19

because many americans in red states are ignorant white trash..and they think they are better than everyone else, and probably wouldnt even know the country that accent is from anyways. i am so proud to be an american and i realize that what makes our country so amazing is the melting pot that it is, there is no america without the foreigners and all these different cultures! some people just want to act s****....ugh they are the ones without an education and probably cant tell you where england is on a map, dont let it bother you, just deal with different more educated people.

Answer 20

I have never though less of someone because they have an accent

Answer 21

in my experience not me but just from friends or others, well maybe i agree a tad....they are frustrated with loss of jobs and or communication issues. It's hard to allow people into your country and then have to change the way we live or work so that they might feel more comfortable.  Also, to not be able to find a job because some of us only speak english is harsh. I understand the business aspect of this, but it hurts to have a degree and not be able to find a job in your field because of the language barrier. It's not a predjudice at all, its life.