Current projects
Articles in Academic Journals
Speaking to Power: How Linguistic Minority Accents Shape Voter Perceptions of Party Leaders
Submitted
Co-author: Florence Laflamme (Université de Montréal)
Abstract: In countries with multiple linguistic communities, does the way minority group members speak the majority language pose a barrier when they seek the highest political office? Can their accent undermine their claim to represent all citizens? Is it associated with certain stereotypes? We aim to address these questions through a randomized survey experiment conducted in Canada, a country with two official languages: English and French. Specifically, we examine how a perceptible “Québécois” accent in English influences Anglophone Canadians’ evaluations of federal party leaders outside Québec. Participants (n = 1,200) listened to a 30-second audio recording featuring a fictional party leader speaking in English. The content of the message was identical across conditions, but respondents were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the first heard a candidate with an Anglophone name and a “standard Canadian English” accent; the second heard a candidate with a Francophone name and a “standard Canadian English” accent; and the third heard a candi date with a Francophone name and a “Québécois” accent. Participants were then asked to evaluate the can didate’s competence, intelligence, and trustworthiness, and to answer questions exploring whether the candidate’s accent evokes stereotypes about their political orientations. They were also invited to assess the candidate’s capacity to represent the interests of all Canadian citizens. Results show that accents can sig nificantly shape voters’ perceptions: candidates with a “Québécois” accent are rated lower both in terms of personality and representational abilities. Moreover, respondents report a lower likelihood of supporting a party led by someone whose accent is identifiable as originating from Québec.
Public Priorities in Health Policy: Comparing Québec and Ontario
Under review
Co-author: Olivier Jacques (Université de Montréal)
Abstract: Public preferences for healthcare relative to other policy priorities remain understudied, especially in Canada. Existing research on health policy reform often focuses on socio-demographic factors, overlooking partisanship and ideology. We address this gap using original survey data from 2,000 respondents in Québec and Ontario. Our findings show that economically left-leaning views and liberal social values are strongly associated with support for increased healthcare spending—both in absolute terms and relative to other priorities—and for tax increases to avoid cuts. Older individuals show similar tendencies, though this relationship appears driven primarily by respondents in Ontario. Partisan divisions are also sharper in Ontario, particularly regarding taxation for healthcare funding, while Québec exhibits broader cross-party consensus.
Are Regional Accents an Obstacle for Political Candidates? Language-based Judgments and Voters' Attitudes
Data collection completed
Abstract: Coming soon.
Speaking Like Ordinary People, Representing Ordinary People? Language Registers, Populist Attitudes, and Voters’ Evaluations of Political Candidates
Data collection completed
Co-author: Richard Nadeau (Université de Montréal)
Abstract: Coming soon.