'I didn't speak the Queen's English': Why people worry about their accents
A new poll reveals that many British workers experience anxiety regarding their regional accents in professional settings, with some feeling it has hindered their career progression. The research highlights that accent bias remains a persistent issue, particularly for those from Northern England, London, and Wales.
Why it matters
This underscores ongoing social inequality and workplace discrimination issues related to class and regional identity in the UK.
Image caption, Mia Tanswell says she became conscious of her accent when she started university
Growing up in Manchester, Mia Tanswell didn't give her accent much thought - until her first week at university in Loughborough.
"I knew people were going to notice that I was northern and that I didn't speak the 'Queen's English'," the 22-year-old says.
"Definitely in seminars I would sometimes feel like my accent would sound a bit less intellectual than other people, especially if I was the only northern student in the classroom."
She's not alone. Fresh polling seen by the BBC suggests many workers still see so-called "accent bias" as a problem.
The survey found one in 10 people in Britain feel anxious or self-conscious about their accent in high stakes professional settings such as speaking up in a business meeting.
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