Perception of French, Belgian and Swiss accents by French and Belgian listeners

Abstract

This article addresses the perceptual identification of French regional accents by listeners from the Paris region and Belgium. It is based on the geographical localisation of about thirty speakers from seven French-speaking areas: Vendee (West of France), Languedoc (South of France), Alsace (East of France), Romand Switzerland, East, Centre and West of Belgium. Contrary to the speakers' age bracket (older or younger than 60) and speaking style (read or spontaneous speech), listeners' region of origin and speakers' degree of accentedness (also rated by the listeners) have a major effect. Confusions are frequent among the Belgian areas, but taken as a whole, the Belgian accent is remarkably well identified, especially by Belgian listeners. The Southern accent remains identified best.