Why People Switch Accents

Priyanka Chopra and other celebs get flak for their 'fake' accents, but people change the way they speak all the time. We give you the lowdown on code-switching, the survival skill behind switching accents.

[baishalibhattacharya]

Humans want to fit in so they consciously or unconsciously pick up an accent.

[stressbytheidiotsaroundme]

Let me tell you a psychological fact:
People who speak two languages, may unconsciously change their personality when they switch languages

[zl]

I think this is a really good video. Even Katrina Kaif picked up Indian accent while speaking English. Accent is a very interesting thing.

[Amanda-vlcb]

This is so true! I studied abroad in Europe where I picked up an English accent without even realising it and when I came back to India, I was extremely criticized for having one. This lead me to gradually drop my accent. After this when I came to North America, I automatically switched to my acquired accent from Europe and from the first day on was criticized by the fellow Indians who came with me.
I just want everybody to understand that we are not showing off or faking it, just doing what we feel the most comfortable in.

[anandiganguly]

It bugs me so much when people criticize her changing accents in different movies. Dude, she's playing a character. Her character in American films is that of an AMERICAN. she can't speak in a Desi accent. And when she plays a typical Desi role here, she changes her accent accordingly, its literally her job. And when it comes to her doing that in interviews, it happens because she's constantly switching between 2 different parts of the world. When I went to UK for a mere 10 days I developed an accent for the last couple of days. I didn't think of doing so, it happens organically, it's subconscious. And when I came back, it slowly faded. So if this happens with people in mere 10 days, obviously the person who's switching across continents every Tuesday isn't going to have 1 fixed accent + she spent her entire high school in the states, her American accent has always been there since she was a teenager. It just shows according to context. People just want to hate on her for no reason at all Kyunki itna success jo milgaya.

[kennethpinto]

a lot of British actors switch to American accent when the do Hollywood movies, nobody has a problem then !
Also Priyanka Chopra is not a Russel Peter joke where she has to stick with an Indian accent.

[sahebapanchhi]

Dude she literally travels across different countries it’s natural that her accent changes... My accent literally changes for a few days depending on the type of show or movie I am watching🤣🤣 If I am watching Harry Potter... Boom.. British accent... If I am watching American series... Boom.... American accent😂😂😂

[ravsss_]

My mom does that. She switches her Hindi accent according to the person she is talking to. I am not even kidding, I have heard her talking in like 4 different accents. And that actually makes the conversation smoother and more relatable to the other person.

Fun fact: I always know whom she’s talking to on her phone just by listening to her accent.

[manjirachakrabarti]

When I stayed in Chennai I used to speak English with a Tamil accent. It was an unconscious switch. I am a bengali, my husband is from Lucknow. Nowadays my hindi accent has also changed. Celebrities are easy target for internet bullies.

[shreya]

code-switching shouldn't be seen as a betrayal of one's own roots but rather, simply as a survival mechanism. the person who practices it does so to gain certain advantages, and there is absolutely nothing wrong about that. they shouldn't have to feel bad about it just because their countrymen have deep-rooted insecurities. it's up to them to deal with it.

[bingo.]

Actually the problem is not with ACCENT, its with picking up ENGLISH ACCENT, priyanka chopra and any actor changes there accent as per the role and place and many things, she has done many movies where she had to speak hindi in different way, but that was not a problem . There is no harm in any accent and using it where you think it 's applicable . Hey! we live in country where there are so many languages, cmon don't point in everything . WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

[SoVidushi]

I love how everyone else is talking about going to different countries, and my dumb ass got an accent after watching 10 seasons of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

[senjuti]

Criticizing ppl for their clearly shows how jobless we human beings are🙄 it's entirely the person's choice speaking in such an let's not be so harsh on each other and try to embrace each other with their flaws

[Mahrukh]

I grew up speaking English because I was born deaf and my parents were asked to train me in one language only. By the time I got my hearing aids (and cochlear implants later) my parents had decided that my mother tongue would be English. There are more opportunities that are available to you if you speak this common and unifying language. My accent is also slightly different because I attended an international school abroad. My Hindi is a little broken. Hence when I came back to India for further studies, people always used to ask me "Are you from Kashmir?" or "Where are you from?" I don't think I faced open prejudice from others but there was certainly some invisible wedge somewhere.

[shubhayubhowmick]

Honestly i don't find anything absurd or peculiar about Priyanka's accent

[granola]

I studied in the UK for 6 years.When I returned, I had acquired a good British accent without knowing it. It's so normal. You need to chill out.

[sakshikakkar]

You guys have done a great work with the video! Love it!

[sarangtamirisa]

Omfg. I had the same clip play in my head when she said " what's the problem"
2:06

[___]

So she's supposed to talk like:
You want to drink WaTeR AaAA

[Arniqua]

Some people need to raise their heads above the narrow mindedness and grow up tbh..