TikTok effect gives Brummie accent ‘exotic' edge
The rise of social media platforms such as TikTok have made seemingly 'unsexy' accents the hottest new trend.
The increased accessibility to regional accents has resulted in a 'perception shift' in their favour, according to a linguistics expert.
Brit Award -winning musician Jorja Smith's viral hit Crush left people worldwide celebrating the sound of the artist's Black Country twang.
Dr Danielle Turton, senior lecturer in linguistics at Lancaster University, said: 'What is different now is we're seeing a more sustained presence across different areas of culture.
'Not just TV and music, but sport, social media, things like TikTok just makes it more accessible, and we're just getting used to hearing a bit more diversity.'
The 27-year-old Smith, from Walsall, features in a rapping segment on the new track which resulted in thousands of social media users responding to what Americans deemed her 'exotic' accent.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Dr Turton explained: 'As soon as we start to have positive role models who speak with that accent, we see the perception shift, and we're seeing this with the West Midlands accent.'
The changing attitude on social media marks a distinct about-turn for the popularity of Midlands accents after a 2014 YouGov poll finding Birmingham to be the least attractive accent in the UK.
More recently, academics found that the 'Brummie monotone' is the least respected accent in the country and that 'pervasive accent bias' against it continues to act as a barrier to social mobility.
However, the increased 'exposure' of the Midlands accents globally has meant it is 'finally having its moment,' according to Dr Turton.
'With the success of Peaky Blinders and the rise of artists like Jorja Smith and other cultural figures, people are loving the West Midland accent,' she said.
The linguistics expert added that Smith's song is helpful in breaking down traditionally negative stereotypes associated with the accent.
And it is not just the Midlands' range of accents we're softening to, with the theory applying all across the country and beyond, according to Dr Turton.
She explained: 'Often what we hear in the media is a very certain type of accent, and when we do hear these more working class or regional accents, they might be unfairly portrayed as maybe criminals or negative stereotypes.
'So when we hear talented and charismatic people speaking with these accents, it challenges all stereotypes.'
Once Smith's song was released, thousands of fans worldwide asked where the singer's accent came from.
In response to the curiosity, Walsall-based TikToker Madson Hodgson said: 'Never in my life have I heard someone saying that Walsall is the most exotic accent in the UK.'
He added that the accent usually receives 'slander' and that this marked a positive change that locals are proud of.
Jorja Smith, who was born in Walsall in 1997, began writing songs aged 11 and was scouted by a music manager by the time she was 15.
Dr Turton added: 'There's always been individuals with Midlands accents who've been in the media. What is different now is we're seeing a more sustained presence across different areas of culture.
'We're just getting used to hearing a bit more diversity.'
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