Some accents ‘sound guiltier than others’ – see what people think about yours
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New research has revealed that some accents sound ‘guiltier’ than others – and stereotyped as more likely to have committed a crime. The study found that northern accents, including those from Liverpool and Bradford, are seen as more likely to behave in ‘criminal ways’.
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Researchers asked 180 participants to listen to recordings of 10 male voices with different accents and rate a series of statements on social traits and behaviours. The accents included in the study were from Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newcastle and standard Southern British English.
Participants who listened to the accents were asked to rate statements about potentially criminal behaviour and then rate which ones sounded the most likely to commit the crime. The London and Liverpool accents were rated as most likely to touch someone sexually without consent.
Participants thought the standard Southern accent was more likely to commit a sexual assault than any of the other offences tested. Researchers noted there was a significant correlation between accents rated as working class and perceived likelihood to commit crimes.
Received pronunciation was perceived as the highest status accent and least likely to commit crimes overall, with the exception of a sexual offence. Lead author Alice Paver, of Cambridge University, said: ‘This may indicate shifting perceptions of the ‘type’ of man who can and does commit sexual offences.’.
