Prejudice against Students’ Accent at Jordanian Universities
Wael Zuraiq, Moh’d Al-Omari, Sabri Al Shboul, Anas al Huneety, Bassil Mashaqba

Abstract
The basis of the analysis is to examine the reaction towards comments which are used by students to disapprove of each other’s local accent and thus rejecting certain identities. This study reports on a representative sample of nine representative students (out of 40 students at four universities). The researchers interviewed the students using open-ended questions. Interviews lasted from 20 to 30 minutes. Forty participants (20 males and 20 females) were interviewed. About 70% of the interviewees supposed that comments on accent implicated sociolinguistic prejudice. And only 30% did not believe that comments were subjective, and assumed that such comments do enhance the successful communication process by trying to accomplish using a homogenous accent that is appropriate for all students. The study shows students’ identities as associated with both institutional contexts and group affiliations. And the findings are discussed within Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner’s, 1986) and Communication Accommodation Theory (Giles 1980 and works after).

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