Accent and dialect bias: IELTS essay ideas

Speakers with regional accents or dialects are sometimes treated less favourably in workplaces and schools. I believe this is a negative development, although I understand some of the reasoning behind it.

Those who justify this treatment usually argue that a standard form of the language makes communication easier. In a large organisation or a classroom, a common pronunciation and vocabulary reduce misunderstandings, and clear speech is essential in jobs such as broadcasting, teaching or customer service. Employers may also feel that a standard accent suggests professionalism, and some people hope that learning it will improve their career prospects.

However, I think the disadvantages are much greater. Judging people by their accent is unfair prejudice, because the way someone speaks says nothing about their intelligence or ability. A candidate may be rejected for reasons unconnected with competence, and a child who is mocked for speaking differently may lose confidence at school. Studies in Britain have shown that people with working-class or regional accents are less likely to be hired for professional roles. Furthermore, dialects are part of local identity and cultural heritage, carrying their own words, songs and humour. If speakers feel ashamed of them, they may abandon them, and that variety will vanish. People who feel pressure to hide their background in order to succeed also suffer psychologically, as they feel they must be someone else at work.

A more sensible approach would be for employers and teachers to focus on whether a person can be understood, not on how closely they match a standard accent, and for schools to treat dialects as an asset.

In conclusion, a standard language is useful, but treating regional speakers unequally is unjust and harmful to diversity, so I regard it as a negative trend.