Accents Quote by Denise Mina
“In the 'Garnethill' trilogy, people always forget that Maureen O'Donnell's dad was a journalist and she did art history at uni and her brother did law, but no-one ever thinks they're middle-class - they're just working class because they speak with accents.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Garnethill Trilogy, early 21st century fiction
The narrative highlights class perception, noting that despite middle‑class backgrounds, characters are seen as working class due to accent and speech.
In simple terms: Accents shape how society classifies people, overriding their actual background.
Key Takeaway
Be aware of how language influences social judgment.
Themes
social class
identity
language
perception
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
sociological
literary
When to use this quote
- media analysis
- character study
- social commentary
Key Concepts
sociolinguistics
class bias
social identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you judge someone's background?
- Can speech patterns change perceived class?
A Different Perspective
Accents are not the sole indicator of class.