Why do we all have an accent? And why do some people face bias because of theirs? Sociolinguist Prof. Rob Drummond joins Kadija to explore how accents shape our identities, signal belonging, and carry stereotypes we rarely question. Together, they unpack what “accentism” looks like and why embracing linguistic diversity is not just fair, but essential.

Prof. Rob Drummond is Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University and author of You’re All Talk: Why We Are What We Speak. He is a regular commentator on language and identity across BBC Radio, TV, and international media.

• Rob’s latest book: You’re All Talk: Why we are what we speak.
• The accents, dialects and identities of people in Greater Manchester: www.manchestervoices.org
• Accent/language prejudice: www.accentism.org