benjykusi
Region: GB
Tuesday 21 July 2026 20:04:38 GMT
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Ziggie :
I have a broad Yorkshire accent and regularly have to switch to a much more diluted “posher” version in professional settings, especially when going down south but also within Yorkshire. If I speak in my natural accent people think I’m much less intelligent, it’s “unprofessional” and I know people who have been denied jobs and opportunities because of their accent. I can appreciate why in the US it may only be applicable to Black people, but classism runs so deeply in the UK and there isn’t any other term to describe what I do.
2026-07-21 20:25:24
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pyrit :
the similarity between code switching and unmasking/masking is really striking, especially the weight that performance can have on the person forced to conform for their own wellbeing. it's not the same thing, but I'll bet the impact is similarly exhausting and frustrating
2026-07-22 07:46:43
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Theo14 :
I’m Welsh. It’s deep rooted in history that in order for Welsh people to climb the socio economic ladder, they have to relinquish their Welshness and blend in. Many a time in interviews, social settings whatever I’ve removed my accent, to the point now where I don’t sound Welsh at all. It’s so strange isn’t it? No one’s actively said to me I have to be less Welsh, but I still feel it.
2026-07-21 20:32:21
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Elsie :
I’m Scottish and grew up on a scheme originally (parents poor). I’m now university educated and have a professional graduate job - I code switch too. Speak one way with one accent at work - and speak in another fashion when at home.
2026-07-21 20:57:51
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Lady Catherine :
I literally knew people who had elocution lessons to get rid of regional accents back in the day. This is not a new thing.
2026-07-21 21:03:42
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MJ :
Other people are saying this but class and accent is a massive one.
2026-07-22 06:56:33
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Bakero :
Anyone who grew up working class and moved into more middle class circles experiences this
2026-07-22 11:38:57
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Gareth :
As a gay working class man, I grew up code switching
2026-07-22 13:02:41
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Ana :
I'm Scottish and I code switch. I'm especially careful if someone has English as a second language, they get my best telephone voice! I live in England now so my real accent is for at home only or on the phone/voice messages with other Scottish people.
2026-07-22 07:19:06
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ButteryBiscuitBased :
works both ways with accents. Depending on who I'm with, I'll either go posher or get more "common". I'm not doing it consciously, it's subconscious. and I would say in the UK it's more a class thing. at least in my experience. I live in a pretty homogenous white area, but wide variations with class even at our state school
2026-07-22 09:12:00
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Burke Hobbies :
Irish and a teacher in England. Have had my accent imitated by other staff members and over time have just lessened my accent when in work to avoid this. I suppose this is code switching.
2026-07-22 08:52:55
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✨🌸geminisgroove 🌸✨💖 :
As a woman with a working class north Essex accent, people assume I'm uneducated.
2026-07-22 12:00:24
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Dave :
I grew up poor, but had a much posher sounding accent than where I grew up because my mum corrected how we talked a lot. I always got teased so definitely adapted my language where I could. Then I went to a private music school for a few years on a full scholarship so was around a lot of richer/upper middle class kids and families so I inadvertently went the other way.
2026-07-22 18:59:34
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so anyway :
Work, friends, family. Professional vs personal. Hell being a customer vs just chatting.
2026-07-22 15:45:32
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Hime :
mainly hinges on the accent of the white person and the perception of that accent by society
2026-07-21 20:22:38
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NaviSprite :
I'm autistic so was mocked most of my young life for speaking clear and enunciating well because I was raised in a rural area, people took it as me thinking I was better in some way, so I learned to code switch to the accent of people around me because I never did think I was better, I just had a different language processing style.
2026-07-22 12:48:48
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Cara Wynne 💛💙🇮🇪 :
I code switch constantly, brought up in an Irish family in London now living just outside Glasgow. My accent back at home in Ireland or speaking to family is completely different as to when I’m at home with my husband, it changes again when I’m out and about or on the telephone. 😁
2026-07-22 10:25:57
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Wyvernsrose :
we totally code switch... you don't want to hear how thick my accent gets when around territorians...
2026-07-22 06:53:13
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FoxSmol 🇵🇸🇸🇩🇾🇪🇨🇩 :
Women will often speak differently at work too, to try to make sure they're taken seriously and not seen as too feminine
2026-07-25 20:24:37
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365diva :
Every gay guy I know has a voice for speaking to tradesmen
2026-07-22 14:31:50
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Dr. Collin Swallows :
Must be exhausting
2026-07-23 11:46:37
0
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