Sorry that my English is not good. Do you have a translator?

Over and over again, I’ve witnessed many people, most of whom are new immigrants, tourists, or English language learners apologize for their ability to speak English before starting a conversation. From their words, it is apparent that they truly feel bad for causing such inconvenience—an inconvenience grounded in the sense of helplessness to communicate in a language that they don’t grow up using. 

This inconvenience simply belies the messages behind Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which can be seen proliferating in American society and media. The pursuit of diversity in the workforce, classroom, and community is largely accentuated, but how can it be realized if, at the very least, people have to apologize for their command of the English language?

The act of apologizing is a blatant contradiction to the standards set by DEI. When there is accent discrimination and a standard for English speech, we cannot aim for DEI. This exclusion is not what we aim for when applying this concept to a larger social context that highlights DEI ideals, which explicitly stresses “act or practice of behaviors and social norms that ensure people feel welcome.”  The worst part is that, even when this issue originates from regular conversations, we frequently fail to recognize it. 

When they think they are bothering other people by not speaking the mainstream language fluently, people apologize for not speaking excellent or flawless English. This phenomenon is extremely troublesome because it creates an ideal that our society only accepts people who can speak the language of our founding fathers, thus directly marginalizing a particular population. 

Research has shown that people who have an accent are at a  strong disadvantage in finding a job, and even in the job force, they will be perceived as less qualified, professional, or educated. 

There are numerous tutorials, and articles available online that demonstrate a step-by-step process on How to Get Rid of an Accent or How to Sound Like a Native English Speaker, while discussions about speaking English without an accent are common on platforms such as Reddit. 

While the desire to improve English is laudable, it is critical to recognize that this desire is indeed fueled by the marginalization non-native English speakers will face. Speaking English to native speakers causes fear in many people, as they fear being judged, which suggests exclusion and the sense of superiority held by some native speakers. In short, this actuality does not seem to welcome non-native English speakers. 

The most popular methods for getting rid of foreign accents involve listening and imitating, which define an accent for what is acceptable and unacceptable. And in my opinion, the idea behind these steps is unacceptable: it not only rejects diversity, but instills a narrow definition of acceptable speech. It promotes assimilation, in a way that glorifies native speakers and mistakenly languishes one’s own culture and identity. 

As a first-generation immigrant, I get compliments on not having a foreign accent. This suggests the possible exclusion I might experience if I did. And this type of praise recognizes my achievements in eradicating my ethnicity, culture, and diversity. 

According to data released by American Community Survey in October 2023, the estimate of the total population speaking a language other than English at home remains at approximately 68 million; Of this population, 29.6 million are classified as having limited English proficiency (LEP). 

Discrimination against non-native speakers, or those who incorporate their accents into English speech, implies that 68 million people are expected to lose their sense of individuality. Even though the U.S. claims to be a nation that embraces diversity, basic linguistic discrimination against people is still practiced there on a daily basis. Racism, discrimination, and xenophobia—the darkest chapters of American history—remain. 

Companies that emphasize diversity still abound accent discrimination, schools that emphasize diversity education still prevail negative stereotypes against English as a Second Language (ESL) students, a country that emphasizes diversity still upholds a label that people who don’t speak english are “illegal aliens.”  

Speaking poorly in English is not a problem in a DEI setting that is inclusive. People won't ever have to apologize for their poor English if DEI is truly attained and inclusive.