A recent study by the University of Birmingham, along with Cardiff University and the University of Novi Sad, has looked into how people react to grammar mistakes, based on whether the speaker has a foreign accent and the personality of the listener. The study found that English speakers are usually more forgiving of grammar errors when they hear them in a foreign accent—unless the listener has a highly conscientious personality.
As English continues to spread globally, misunderstandings around grammar and accents can easily lead to snap judgments. But while there’s plenty of research on accent alone or grammar alone, this study is one of the first to look at both together.
Judging our speech
The researchers asked 60 native British English speakers to listen to recordings of short passages in English, sometimes with and sometimes without grammar mistakes, read in both British and Polish accents. The listeners rated how natural the sentences sounded and how easy they were to understand, then filled out a survey on personality traits like openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness.
The study found that errors made by native speakers stood out more and led to sharper reactions, while foreign accents seemed to set a lower expectation for grammatical accuracy. However, listeners high in conscientiousness rated foreign-accented speech as less acceptable across the board. Other personality types, like openness and agreeableness, showed mixed results, suggesting that reactions are personal and not one-size-fits-all.
The findings offer practical advice. English language programs might focus more on helping learners communicate effectively rather than nitpicking grammar. Understanding listener biases may also help reduce misjudgments in interviews and other high-stakes situations. For the study’s participants, who hail from the diverse city of Birmingham, the results show a general tendency to accept language as long as it’s understandable, reflecting a kind of kindness and understanding that researchers see as a positive takeaway.
