One important part of para-linguistics is accent, which describes those features of pronunciation that identify a person either

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问题     One important part of para-linguistics is accent, which describes those features of pronunciation that identify a person either geographically or socially. Each one of us speaks with an accent. It is not possible to do otherwise. Our accent quickly tells the listener where we come from, for unless we make a conscious effort to use another accent, we speak with the accent of those with whom we grew up or presently live amongst.
    Some studies have focused on stereotyping as a source of this linguistic prejudice against nonstandard forms. The speech of ethnic groups seen as occupying a lower socio-economic position in American society was assessed by members of higher status groups using semantic differential scales. Not only were the assessments broadly negative but also the mere assignment of an ethnic label to a particular speaker was sufficient to trigger a stereotyped response. While speakers may vary in their own speech across dialect boundaries, often subconsciously, they were easily aware of slight differences in the speech of others. A form of linguistic prejudice emerges in that group may arbitrarily define their own speech as better than those of others.
    Indeed, a deeper process is going on. Judgments about standards of speech, dialects, and accents might appear to revolve around notions of esthetics, or even pragmatics, but these are only symbolic representations. At a deeper level, they are not only markers of social identity but also the process by which that identity is realized. Accents give us direct information about the speaker, even though the information we decipher is, not always accurate. Accents tend to reflect existing prejudices towards people we hear using them. All of us tend to judge each other in this way, whether it is a stereotypical response—positive, negative or neutral—to the place where we assume a person is from, or a value we hold based on our perception of that person’s status in society.
According to the text, the process of linguistic prejudice is deeper than it seems because

选项 A、accents may be viewed as forms of social identity
B、accents are key ways to indicate class and prosperity
C、accents are typically most distinct among minority groups
D、there is really no one accent that should be thought of as superior

答案A

解析 属事实细节题。第三段第三句明确指出,在更深层次上,口音是社会身份的标志。
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