Do we judge people who fake an accent?

Maybe. No, certainly. I used to think of people with accent as “wannabe.” Trying too hard to fit in with a particular set of people. Despise them.

But soon after migrating to Australia, I caught an accent too (sometimes I do). Argh, I know.

I do not know how it happened. Actually, I do, I know why it happened, I just didn’t realize when I caught the accent.

Humans have evolved from apes. We love to copy. We copy words, pronunciation, and entire languages from our family and friends while growing up. That’s how we learn to speak before we learn to write. It’s the same even when we mature as adults. We pickup accent from people around us — it’s only natural to pick up their words, intonations and pronunciation. It makes the conversation flow more naturally. It’s not repugnant.

It becomes distasteful when people disown their identity and belongingness. When I am with my friends and family, I am back to my normal self. The problem isn’t to do with accent but with the attitude.

We judge them for their shallow mindset and superficiality not for the accent.