Your accent may influence whether people think you are guilty, according to a new study that reveals deep-rooted biases in how we view different ways of speaking. People with accents considered “working class” are more likely to be judged as potential criminals, research has found, raising concerns about the fairness of the justice system.
The study, published in Communication Frontiers on January 17, surveyed 180 British listeners on their reactions to 10 different regional accents across the UK. The findings suggest that assumptions about social class, rather than perceptions of trustworthiness or honesty, have the greatest impact on judgments of criminal behavior.
“We found a strong link between perceived social status and perceived likelihood of committing a crime,” said lead author Alice Paver of the University of Cambridge. “That connection is more important than how trustworthy, nice or honest a person is perceived to be.”
experiment
The team created speech samples from recordings of men with accents in cities including Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Liverpool, London and Standard South British English (SSBE). To ensure a fair comparison, they standardized the recordings for factors such as tempo and pitch.
Participants were divided into two groups – one rated the voices based on social characteristics such as intelligence and friendliness, while the other assessed the speaker’s likelihood of engaging in a variety of behaviors, including criminal and ethical behavior, such as being a victim of harassment defend.
Complex patterns of bias
The results revealed subtle patterns of bias. It is generally believed that people who speak in a standard Southern accent (SSBE) are less likely to commit most crimes. However, this advantage did not extend to sexual assault cases, suggesting changing perceptions of who commits such crimes.
Regional accents from the north of England, particularly those from Liverpool and Bradford, tend to be judged more harshly. However, non-English accents from Belfast and Glasgow often receive more positive reviews.
Interestingly, sounding less likely to commit crime does not necessarily mean being seen as more prosocial. While SSBE speakers were thought to be the least likely to commit most crimes, they were also thought to be the least likely to stand up for someone who was being harassed.
impact on justice
The research is part of a larger project aimed at improving speech recognition programs in the legal system. The findings highlight how unconscious biases about accent can affect everything from jury decisions to witness credibility.
“These stereotypes can have real-life legal consequences,” Paver noted. The research team is currently developing new phonetic alignment guidelines and recommends testing for accent bias when collecting phonetic evidence.
Looking to the future
The researchers acknowledge that more work needs to be done, particularly looking at women’s voices and how the intensity of accent affects perception. However, their findings already indicate the need for increased awareness of accent bias in legal settings.
Unlike some forms of bias, currently jurors are not warned about accent bias. The researchers believe this may need to change to ensure fairer treatment by the justice system, especially given their finding of a strong link between perceived social class and presumed criminal behavior.
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