Hispanic people who speak English as a second language face discrimination in majority English-speaking environments based on their accents. When people who come to The United States from Latin America have to learn a new language, English, many of them try to pronounce well the words,  to have the best communication with native-english speakers, but some of these english speakers make fun of people who just want to express theirselves, we should remember that communication is a principal and important factor, because we need it for everything, to make understanding, to find jobs, to get healthcare, to have education, to socialize and more things which are part of our lives. We can see accent discrimination in many places and situations as: “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan, “My Spanish” by Melissa Lozada-Oliva and my personal experience when I arrived here. Although people often claim that accent judgments are “natural” or “harmless,” the texts show that accent discrimination creates real barriers in school, work, and daily interactions, proving that a person’s way of speaking should never determine their opportunities, and we should stop that.

Chinese American novelist and essayist, Amy Tan, in her personal essay “Mother Tongue”, published in 1990, addresses the topic of how language influences identity and perception and argues that all forms of English (regardless of grammar or accent) should be valued as valid expressions of intelligence and emotion. She supports this claim by sharing personal experiences with her mother’s “broken English,” then illustrating how the judgment of others affected their lives, and finally reflecting on how she embraced her mother’s language as part of her identity.  Tan’s purpose is to challenge linguistic prejudice and promote respect for language diversity in order to encourage readers to appreciate the cultural and emotional depth behind every way of speaking for her audience, the readers of literary essays and others interested in  language and identity. According to  “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan, “I am a writer. And by that definition, I am someone who has always loved language. I am fascinated by language in daily life. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language-the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth.” (2)  The author explains how deeply language shapes identity. Tan’s words show that language is more than grammar or pronunciation, it carries emotion, culture, and personal meaning. When people judge someone’s accent, they are not just looking at how they speak, but also how they think and who they are. This idea connects directly to my thesis because it proves that accent discrimination is harmful: it reduces a person’s entire identity to whether they sound “correct” to someone else. Tan’s point also matters because it shows that accents are part of the “power of language,” not mistakes to be fixed. Similarly, in “My Spanish,” Melissa Lozada-Oliva describes how her language shapes her sense of belonging, reinforcing Tan’s message that accents reflect personal history, not intelligence. 

In the poem “My Spanish” (2016), author Melissa Lozada-Oliva, a Latina poet and performer, asserts that language is deeply tied to identity and suggests that losing fluency in one’s native tongue can cause both pain and pride. She backs up this claim by doing the following: first, she narrates her struggle with forgetting Spanish words learned in childhood, next, she reflects on the pressure to meet cultural expectations, last she celebrates her mixed identity as proof of resilience and belonging. Lozada-Oliva appears to write for first and second generation immigrants in order to affirm that imperfect language skills do not diminish one’s cultural authenticity. According to “My Spanish” by Melissa Lozada-Oliva, “how my mother tried to tie her tongue to a post with an English language leash” (stanza 7) The poet describes the pressure to abandon one’s accent. This image shows how immigrant families are often pushed to control, hide, or “tame” their accents in order to fit into English-speaking spaces. This evidence matters because it reveals the emotional cost of accent discrimination, people begin to feel that their natural voice is something that must be incorporated. It directly connects to my thesis because it proves that accent discrimination harms identity by forcing individuals to choose between belonging and authenticity. This idea also aligns with Amy Tan’s argument in “Mother Tongue,” where she explains that language shapes how people see themselves and how others see them, showing that both writers experience pressure to “correct” their voices to be taken seriously. By comparing these two texts, we can see that controlling an accent is not just about pronunciation, it is about power, acceptance, and whose voice is valued.

When I moved to this country everything was different, but especially the change of language, it was always easy for me to express my feelings, my thoughts and opinions. But when I came here, I had to learn how to do all of that in English. High school started and it became harder each time, now I have to understand and learn new topics in an unknown language. But my grandmother who is in Peru told me, “Eres muy inteligente hijita, no te rindas nunca, saldras adelante y siempre estaré ahí acompañándote en cada paso que des” (“You’re very smart, my girl. Never give up. You will move forward, and I will always be there, supporting you every step you take.”) I think that many hispanic people or immigrants have a person for whom they would do anything, or they simply find peace in thinking about that person, which helps them overcome the shock of the big change when coming to a different country. Also when I started to go to the hospital to assist with my appointments or helped my family to communicate with the doctors. In the streets too, when we had to buy train or bus tickets. When people tried to ask me questions. And more, we need language for everything, communication is important for our lives, and many people who know English, sadly make fun of those who don’t, and that causes people who are learning a second language, stop trying because of the fair teasing.

Also in the academic article published in 2024 talk about the discrimination in the work environment, when workers who have different “non-standard” accents for example: regional accents, non-native speakers accent, or accents or accents perceived as different have interviews, evaluations or in the daily treatment, and help to understand less obvious but very real social prejudices in work or recruitment contexts. As stated in the article below, “Research on diversity in organizations has mostly focused on attributes that rely on visual cues (e.g., gender, race, age) and overlooked an important source of difference that relies on auditory cues – accents. However, workers with non-standard accents (i.e., non-native accents, regional accents) often experience discrimination and negative outcomes at work. We first review prior accent research suggesting that these negative effects can be explained by stereotypes/stigmatization or lower processing fluency. We then identify three emerging topic areas and suggest future research directions in each domain: intersectionality, organizational language policies and practices, and investigation of a greater range of accents and languages. This student article is important because it shows that workplace discrimination is not only based on appearances, but that accents can affect opportunities, perceptions, and fair treatment at work.

On the other hand some people argue that accent discrimination is a natural part of communication and does not have a significant impact on opportunities. For instance, in the article, Accents in the Workplace: Their Effects during a Job Interview by Anne‑Sophie Deprez‑Sims and Scott B. Morris, the authors emphasize that people not only discriminate against you for how you look, also for how you talk as we can see bellow, “Research on employment discrimination has traditionally focused on visual cues such as gender and ethnicity, but in an interview situation, the way the applicant speaks is also important.” This means that employers may pay attention to accents as a practical way to evaluate communication skills, rather than to intentionally discriminate. While this perspective claims that judging accents is simply part of assessing job readiness, it ignores the emotional, cultural, and identity-based consequences of accent bias. Even if employers are trying to assess communication, accent discrimination can discourage Spanish-speaking immigrants and other non-native speakers from fully participating in education, work, or social settings. In this way, judging someone by their accent creates unfair barriers that go beyond practical evaluation. This rebuttal connects directly to my thesis because, as Amy Tan in Mother Tongue and Melissa Lozada-Oliva in My Spanish demonstrate, language is deeply tied to identity and self-worth. Evaluating people by their accent does not measure their intelligence, skills, or potential, it only reinforces bias and exclusion. Therefore, even if some consider accent judgment “natural,” its harmful effects prove that accent discrimination should not be accepted.

In conclusion, accent discrimination is a real problem for Hispanic people and other immigrants who speak English as a second language. It is not just about how someone talks; it is about who they are, their culture, and their identity. Amy Tan and Melissa Lozada-Oliva show that language has feelings, history, and meaning, and judging someone for their accent is unfair and hurts people. Some people say that paying attention to accents is normal or practical, but it can make people feel less confident and stop trying. I know from my own experience that learning a new language is already very hard, and being judged for your accent makes it even harder. Everyone should be respected and understood, no matter how they speak. People should be valued for their ideas and skills, not how their voice sounds. Accents should never decide someone’s opportunities. We can fight accent discrimination by being patient and understanding with people learning English. Teachers, classmates, and coworkers should listen carefully and never make fun of someone’s accent. Schools and workplaces can make programs to teach respect for different ways of speaking and celebrate language diversity. People learning English should feel safe to practice without fear, and others should encourage them to keep trying. We can also speak up when we see someone being teased for their accent, because helping each other makes a big difference. By being kind, open-minded, and respectful, we can make communication fair for everyone and show that an accent does not define who a person is or how smart they are.