Dr. Kokovah Zauditu-Selassie

The way we speak-our accent and the type of language we use-doesn't always leap to the front of some people's minds when thinking of first impressions, but it does shape people's perceptions, for the benefit or to the detriment of the speaker.

"One of the prejudices we have especially as Americans, is if we don't hear English-the King's English-we naturally tend to write people off as not being intelligent and that's the biggest mistake we can make," says Charles Ramos.

Sheilah asks Charles Ramos if there is a pressure to conform to 'mainstream' English.

Zauditu-Selassie-not the same allowance for African-American accents.mp3

Dr. Zauditu-Selassie on the first time she realized she didn't speak 'standard' English.mp3