Science

How much control do we have over picking up an accent? A lot, study finds

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 22/10/2026, 15:25:24 UTC.

Briefings

Research from The Ohio State University reveals that individuals possess significant control over adopting or suppressing foreign accents, contradicting the belief that this process is purely automatic. The study indicates that people can consciously decide to mimic or avoid specific linguistic patterns, suggesting a level of agency over accent acquisition that was previously underestimated.

Key points

• People can consciously decide to mimic or avoid foreign accents, challenging the notion that accent adoption is purely automatic.
• The study suggests individuals have considerable control over when they adopt or suppress someone else's accent.

Context

This finding challenges the common belief that accent acquisition happens automatically. It highlights the role of conscious decision-making in language learning and accent adoption.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single study from The Ohio State University published in October 2026. Results may vary across different populations and contexts. The study does not specify the duration of accent adoption or the specific methods used to measure control.

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