Is it normal i can't take people with a different dialect seriously

43% Normal
8 Comments

I am from a small european country and I study econometrics. A couple of months ago I changed universities and moved from the capital to a more southern region.

People there speak noticeably different compared to where I am from, and I cannot help that when interacting with locals that have this (much softer) dialect they just seem dumber to me.

My education is entirely in English and many foreign students attend my university. When I hear that they are unable to speak proper English and constantly struggle to communicate, and even when they lack the ability to speak without an obvious accent I see this as a sign of a lack of potential or intellect.

Is this normal?

Voting Results
43% Normal
Based on 23 votes (10 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 8 )
  • SDDA
    11 years ago

    They have it all in their head, in their own language, but getting out their ideas in another language can sometimes just be harder for foreigners. Or if they can speak fluent English, for example, but have an accent, well, that's just the way they are used to moving their mouth, and they shouldn't appear dumber.

    I'll have to admit though, some accents are hard to take seriously. Sometimes they can appear dumber and lazier to learn the language (especially those foreigners who publicly talk to other foreigners in their own language. Ugh). But sometimes they just sound funny

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • Francophile22
    11 years ago

    But don't you see, you seem dumber to them too!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • peterr
    10 years ago

    Especially fucking grubby Muslims

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • squeallikeasacofpigs
    11 years ago

    Normal dude. It's the same with accents, which is what I think you meant because a dialect is a language alteration, but anyway, yea. For instance someone with a broad jersey accent wouldn't be taken seriously in LA because he may come across as a bit of a imbecile.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • plum6
      11 years ago

      This is exactly what I mean. I am pretty sure every country has different dialects depending on the geographical location of the regions within the country. I am also convinced that people who interact with others who do not share the same dialect, and therefore most likely not the same cultural background (even when born and raised in the same country) will always be somewhat prejudiced towards eachother.

      It is comparable to how I view people who are not able to speak english without their regional dialect showing. The fact that there is a definitive norm regarding the correct pronounciation (whether this involves british english or american english is not important in this case) which some (highly educated people) do not manage to be able to adapt to seems strange to me.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • dinz
    11 years ago

    I attended university myself and have come across alot of foreign students who actually performed marginally better than native speakers in alot of fields.

    Their strive to not only study a major in university but also in a foreign language shows extreme intelligence in my opinion. Kudos to them.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • plum6
      11 years ago

      I agree with you and I admit that some of the most intelligent people I have met do not seem to be able to get rid of their accent. But don't you understand that this is something that really puzzles me? If a person is really very intelligent, then why would he or she be unable to familiarize themselves with the proper use of the english language?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • kelili
    11 years ago

    You are dumber. You can speak how many languages? I think that you choose to think they're dumb because you fear that they might actually be smarter than you.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0