I'm sure many of us are familiar with the stereotype of the Latin lover, the dashing Spaniard, or the suave and sure Italian. In fact, studies have shown that Argentine, Spanish, and Italian accents are rated to be the most attractive. Sure, some of us may find the pure phonetics of a language to be appealing...but why is that phenomenon so? Why does the word "ciao" or "calor" sound so impressive? Why do we crave accents?
Like most any sociological musings, the phenomenon in question always has more to it than meets the eye. For example, if you were asked to picture someone who would have a, let's say a more Mexican accent, the image that comes to mind may be pleasant, unpleasant, familiar, or unfamiliar, etc. Every accent, for an individual, culture, community, etc. has stereotypes attached to it. It's just simple association. Over time, through media, real life examples or experiences, cultural shifts and diffusion, etc. these iconic ideas of people who have certain aspects develop. The culture of a region may also lend itself to the accent's perception. For example, many view South America as a place where love, sensuality, and boldness reign. And in some part, this is true, and becomes amplified. Certainly, there is also what I like to call the "foreign factor": liking something more than one might simply because it's...well, it's foreign, new, exciting...you get the picture.
So next time a Brazilian Romeo comes to the same corner as you in the dim, foggy nightclub, remember to keep your unconscious sociological training and reinforcement a bit more...conscious. That accent may make you want to hop on a plane and "carpe diem" like there's no tomorrow, but perhaps it's better to simply appreciate the lyrical qualities and diversity such an accent represents.
No comments:
Post a Comment