Nigel Balfour has been active in English language teaching and training since 1992, building a career across diverse roles and countries, including Thailand, Japan, Oman, the UK, France, and Spain. As a teacher, CELTA tutor, assessor, and examiner, he has collaborated with educators and learners from numerous cultural and professional backgrounds. Passionate about the role of new technologies in ELT, he likes to stay up to date with innovations in teacher development and language research. Based in Barcelona, Nigel is dedicated to advancing the future of English education. Email: nigel.balfour@gmail.com

 

Editorial

The text originally was published on tl;-dr-ELT

 

 

Do you ever try & mimic an accent? Do you manage to pull it off? It turns out that our ability to detect fake accents varies greatly depending on where we’re from, as shown in a study by researchers at Cambridge.

The study, the largest of its kind, analysed over 12,000 responses from participants across the UK & Ireland. Interestingly, people in regions like Belfast & Glasgow excelled at spotting mimics, with accuracy rates reaching 85%, while those in Essex & London scored much lower, hovering near 50%–65%. The participants were tested on brief 2-3 second clips, yet still performed better than chance overall, especially if the accent was their own.  

Why the difference? The researchers suggest it’s tied to cultural cohesion. In areas with stronger social identity (like Belfast), accents evolved as markers of belonging amidst historical tensions. These “accent detectors” may have been fine-tuned over centuries to spot outsiders—useful for maintaining social trust. In contrast, more diverse areas like London, where accents mix freely, have less of this evolutionary pressure. This doesn’t mean urbanites lack the ability to spot fake accents—it’s just that their linguistic “radar” is calibrated differently due to their environment.

 

The strategic sound of money

Our sensitivity to accents extends far beyond evolutionary biology, however—it's now big business in customer service. Scotland has become a call centre nation with over 108,000 employees in over 400 contact centres, including major financial institutions like HSBC, Santander, & Tesco Bank. This shift occurred when companies brought call centres back from offshore locations, & studies found that Scottish accents score highest for both trustworthiness & competence, making them a convenient choice for banks eager to sound cautious & dependable.

This ties in rather neatly with the Cambridge research on accent detection. As companies increasingly rely on Scottish voices to convey financial prudence & trustworthiness, customers like the frustrated caller to HMRC are becoming more aware of these calculated choices. The irony is that our evolved ability to spot "outsiders" through accent—originally developed for social cohesion—now makes us suspicious of corporate accent strategies. Those regions that excel at detecting fake accents (Belfast at 85%, Glasgow at similar rates) might be the very places where accent-based marketing backfires most spectacularly.

Why do accents exist? Accents likely began as a way for early human groups to signal belonging, reinforcing identity within tightly knit communities. Over time, as populations spread geographically, different accents emerged, shaped by local environments & social interactions. Accents also reflect the cultural history of a region, evolving through language drift, prestige bias & even conflict. They’re powerful markers of identity, trust & social connection.

How many are there?  Around 160 distinct English accents, including regional ones in the UK (e.g., Scouse, Geordie, Cockney), the US (e.g., Southern Drawl, Bostonian) & international varieties like Australian or South African English.

Obviously, every language spoken around the world has its own set of accents, reflecting regional, social & cultural differences.

Teacher Takeaways:

Discuss: Highlight how accents signal regional & social identity, linking this to sociolinguistic discussions in class.

Authentic materials: actively expose learners to subtle phonetic shifts across accents to enhance students’ auditory skills—critical for understanding native speakers.

Have you ever incorporated accents into your lessons? What strategies worked best for you?

 

 

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