Sensitivity to accents

The perception of an accent is entirely relative, and a direct result of exposure to different cultural and ethnic linguistic groups. In the urban multicultural societies where a plethora of accents exists, the sensitivity of the average person to accents and geographical identification is much higher. Thus through interaction the general discernment between closely related accents is more profound. While in more remote locations, the difference between a Jamaican accent and a Trinidadian accent would be less profound. Accent perception and degree of amalgamation on the part of the listener is thus a function of their exposure. Airport workers who deal with many accents have a high degree of accent discernment and some may be even able to identify not only national accents but regional accents within 'specific communities.'[citation needed]