EVALUATIVE REACTIONS TO ACCENTS

Abstract

Lambert's use of the “matched‐guise” technique to study stereotyped impressions of personality characteristics from contrasting spoken dialects and languages has been extended to investigate three other evaluative dimensions in relation to British regional and foreign accents. 177 Ss were required to rate the “aesthetic”, “communicative” and “status” contents of various accents presented both vocally and conceptually. Although a generalised pattern of ranking accents across these dimensions emerged, the factors of age, ser, social class and regional membership were found to be important determinants of evaluation. The social and educational significance of these findings were discussed.