Some people seem to automatically pick up accents they hear around them. Is this you? Have you ever thought about why (or why not) you inadvertently mimic dialects you’re around? There are several reasons why this might occur.
What is a dialect chameleon?
This is a term for people who, typically non-consciously, slip into the accent of those around them. You might start saying “y’all” after a trip to the American South, ordering “caw-fee” after visiting New York, or using different inflection patterns after a trip to London.
Why does this happen?
There are a couple of possible reasons why someone might start adopting the dialect of those around them, but is seems to boil down to a desire to connect and relate to whomever you’re talking to. Even though this is typically unintentional, there are probably subconscious mechanisms at work.
It might make others feel more comfortable if you sound like them. This could show empathy, which makes you appear trustworthy, safe, and supportive.
The flip side of this is a survival instinct. Language and dialect is one of the main ways humans decide who is Us and who is Them. Assimilating to sound like your conversation partner might feel like it gives you a shared foundation of humanity, and might make you feel safer as someone who “belongs”.
Trevor Noah describes this phenomenon is his wonderful book Born a Crime (I recommend you listen to it as an audiobook because of all the different dialects and languages discussed so masterfully in it). My post Yep, you have an accent. Embrace it. also goes into some more detail about this.
Can I stop it from happening?
While the tendency is typically harmless (or even charming), it can be annoying to some. And in other cases, it could even end up being offensive. If someone were to feel you were mocking their way pf speaking, particularly if they are of a different ethnic background than you, it might be something you want to keep in check.
The key here is literally just being aware of your tendency, and making a point of consciously using your regular accent. We don’t typically think about our own dialect, but this is an occasion where it would be helpful to understand your own baseline so you can get back to it when you choose.
Is this a disorder?
Being a dialect chameleon itself is certainly not a disorder, but there is a related neurologic condition known as echopraxia. This is an involuntary mimicry of someone else’s actions, sounds, behaviors, and words. It isn’t connected to meaningful communication, so it is in a different category and is often associated with other neurological conditions (like Tourette’s, autism, and schizophrenia).
If you’d like to do some deliberate dialect work, reach out for a session!
