Southern American English ranked as the most attractive accent in the United States. This accent is common in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Arkansas. It is known for its slower pace and elongated vowel sounds, which many listeners describe as warm and welcoming. The popularity of country artists such as Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson has also kept the Southern drawl highly visible in popular culture. 

Louisiana or Cajun English ranked second. This accent developed in southern Louisiana, especially in a region known as Acadiana, where French heritage has shaped local culture for generations. Cajun English blends Southern American speech with French linguistic influence, creating a rhythm that sounds distinct and melodic. In the 1960s, more than one million people spoke Cajun French, but today fewer than 20,000 speakers remain, making this cultural background increasingly rare. 

The New York City accent took third place in the ranking. Miami English, which reflects strong Spanish and Latin American influence, followed in fourth position. General American, often described as a neutral accent heard in the Midwest and parts of the West Coast, completed the top five. Other accents on the list included California English, the Boston or New England accent, and the Inland Northern or Great Lakes accent spoken in cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis. 

At the lower end of the ranking were the Philadelphia accent and Appalachian English. Appalachian English is spoken in a large region stretching from Pennsylvania to northern Alabama. It has deep historical roots and follows its own grammatical rules, like all dialects. Linguists often stress that every accent carries cultural value, even if public perception ranks some lower than others. 

The survey highlights how strongly accent influences dating behaviour. Sixty percent of singles said an accent would affect whether they swipe right or left on a dating app. Twenty-six percent described a “bad accent” as an instant dealbreaker. At the same time, 22 percent said an appealing accent is more important than physical appearance, and 18 percent said multilingual ability matters more than looks. 

Voice can also increase the chances of a second date. Forty-five percent of respondents said they would agree to meet someone again mainly because they liked their accent. Among Millennials and Gen Z, that number rises to 51 percent. These figures suggest that attraction may begin with a photo, but it can deepen once someone starts speaking. 

The data also points to insecurity around speech. Twenty-four percent of singles said they feel embarrassed or judged because of their accent. Among Appalachian English speakers, 42 percent reported feeling judged for the way they talk. Younger adults between 18 and 24 were more likely to report accent-related anxiety than those over 65, showing how dating apps may increase pressure to present a certain image. 

Some singles admit to adjusting their speech in romantic settings. About 24 percent said they consciously soften or change their accent on dates to sound more attractive. This behaviour is often called code-switching, which means adapting pronunciation or vocabulary depending on the situation. In dating, it can reflect a desire to fit in rather than a lack of authenticity. 

The survey also compared American and European accents. Thirty-two percent of respondents said they find American accents more attractive, while 31 percent preferred European accents. Among European voices, Italian ranked first, followed by French and Spanish, while British English placed fourth despite its long-standing romantic image in American film and television. Dutch from the Netherlands, Romanian, Belgian and Ukrainian accents appeared in the middle of the ranking, while German and Polish ranked lowest on the European list, showing how varied perceptions are across the continent. 

Esteban Touma, cultural and linguistic expert at Babbel, said the findings show how powerful voice has become in modern dating culture. He explained that accents carry history, identity and emotion, and that they shape how confident people feel when meeting someone new. Rather than something to hide, accents reflect personal background and experience. The study suggests that in a dating world built on fast judgments, the sound of someone’s voice can open doors or close them in seconds. 

L’article Which US and European accents do Americans find the sexiest and the most off-putting? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

As AI begins to spread its tentacles into nearly all forms of human endeavour, from travel planning to essay writing, to avionics, or the preservation of ancient artefacts, the public reaction remains split between those who view artificial intelligence as just another tool for productivity and creativity, and others who are wary of its impact on the human ability to spot AI-generated content, as well as its effect on jobs and even company valuations, leading to what is being called an AI financial bubble.

On both sides of the argument, the term AI slop can be understood, the Dictionary panel noted. But what exactly is it? Macquarie’s group of experts has almost said the term is self-explanatory. “We understand now in 2025 what we mean by slop – AI-generated slop, which lacks meaningful content or use,” said the group of experts, including Macquarie’s editorial team, broadcaster ABC’s language specialist Tiger Webb, and TV host, writer, and cryptic crossword creator, David Astle.

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Meanwhile, the UK’s Guardian newspaper has previously attempted to describe the “staggering” scope of AI output from the “banal and pointless” to “pornified” content, to “rightwing political fantasy,” arguing that “the result is not just a blurring of reality, but a distortion of it.”

Commenting on the winning entry to the dictionary, Astle has compared AI slop to another scourge that invaded what many believe could have been a utopic online realm: “spam,” a term which emerged in the nineties to describe large quantities of unsolicited email advertising sent en masse by businesses.

Astle also highlighted the way the word can easily be made into a portmanteau or combined with other words to create new meanings or further neologisms, such as “slopaganda” or “slop music” – something likely to contribute to its growing use.

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Like Astle, the rest of the committee expressed confidence that the term AI slop would be just as enduring as spam, making it an epoch-defining, if negative, choice and one that has changed the behaviours of internet users. “While in recent years we’ve learnt to become search engineers to find meaningful information, we now need to become prompt engineers in order to wade through the AI slop. Slop in this sense will be a robust addition to English for years to come,” they said in a statement.

Unsurprisingly, AI slop was not the only artificial intelligence-related entry in the year’s shortlist. “Clanker,” which describes an AI-bot trained to perform human tasks, received an honourable mention from the committee, too. The fact that “clanker” is a pejorative term or slur is another indication that the tide of opinion could be rising against AI.

L’article What is AI slop and why experts are sounding the alarm? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Dr Su Jionglong, deputy dean of the School of AI and Advanced Computing at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou, is leading the project. Dr Su’s main research focus is applying technology to social causes to help reduce discrimination, provide emotional support, and speed up medical diagnoses.

His latest AI-powered platform translates written text to and from sign language in real time using digital avatars to perform the signs. The tool aims to foster inclusion for people with hearing impairments and bridge everyday communication gaps. It is part of a start-up called Limitless Mind, which Dr Su is currently developing with his students. They describe it as a “socially responsible, freely accessible academic initiative”.

This approach not only optimises data efficiency and reduces dependence on high-end hardware, but also enhances translation accuracy, positioning Limitless Mind as one of China’s most advanced sign language AI initiatives.

According to XJTLU, the team now boasts China’s largest sign language translation dataset, comprising the most extensive video vocabulary and 3D skeletal point collection.

China’s vast population makes it the perfect place to develop and test AI technologies. It also has access to high-quality datasets from hospitals across the country, which often share anonymised medical data for research purposes.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Su described Limitless Mind as “an inclusive communication platform to help overcome barriers between people who use sign language and those who do not”. He said the lightweight model could be used as an app on mobile phones – essential for everyday access – but could also be integrated into smart glasses.

Su added that his team was “innovating technologies to meet real demands in society”. “Disabled students can learn better in class, patients can have more succinct and meaningful conversations with doctors, and workplace discrimination can be minimised,” and reportedly expressed interest in supporting the commercialisation of the project. Su argues that the platform could make classrooms more accessible, improve doctor–patient communication, and reduce workplace discrimination.

The team is also exploring next-generation assistive technologies, such as lip movement to text and brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) capable of translating EEG brain waves into written language.

Su is collaborating with Mind with Heart Robotics, a Shenzhen-based company that specialises in electronic pets and childlike humanoid robots designed to provide emotional support. These tools have been successfully trialled with autistic children, as the machines can assess their emotional state and share this information with their caregivers.

This new app follows a study published in the peer-reviewed journal the Chinese Medical Journal, which predicts that, by 2060, 240 million Chinese people will suffer from some degree of hearing loss – twice the number recorded in 2015.

L’article Chinese AI platform translates text to sign language for the hearing impaired est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Preply survey, conducted in June 2025, asked over 1,500 US adults aged 18 and over about their international travel experiences and their holiday plans for 2025. It found 39% of respondents were planning to make a trip abroad this year, and 32% intentionally select places where they know English will be spoken widely.

What’s more, while 80% of Americans surveyed said it’s important to learn a few words before travelling abroad, only 58% actually make good on that intention. And of those, only 25% begin any language preparation months ahead of their trip, while 40% said they cram at the last minute, “at the airport or en route.”

Asia suffers from negative perceptions when it comes to the “most intimidating” countries in terms of language-learning for US visitors, with China (37%), Japan (34%), and South Korea (23%) topping the perceived difficulty list. Thailand comes fourth (13%), and Preply points out that the list is dominated by languages that use “non-Latin scripts, which can make reading, pronunciation, and comprehension more difficult for English speakers.”

Preply’s analysis shows that the five biggest barriers to language learning are a widespread belief (among 37% of respondents) that it’s too difficult, closely followed by the assumption (by 35%) that they will be able to speak English at their destination, and a lack of confidence (33%) in their own language-learning ability. Lack of time to study (32%) and a fear of making mistakes for 31%, round out the most common reasons why Americans avoid learning languages, Preply says.

The language hesitancy means that US travellers are missing out on cultural and gastronomic experiences, Preply says, foregoing “the chance to connect more deeply with the places they visit.” The learning platform notes that as many as “one in six (17%) choose American-style or fast food while abroad to avoid potential language slip-ups.”

Advantages of linguistic prep before travel reported by Preply’s interviewees include easier navigation and logistics, being treated more positively by locals and having richer interactions, as well as discovering hidden gems and authentic dishes.

Yolanda Del Peso, a spokesperson for the platform highlighted that “Language learning isn’t about mastering every rule, it’s about being open to the experience and willing to make mistakes,” but, for those keen to avoid embarrassment, a good place to start is with the survey’s summary of the most common faux pas made on vacation.

In number one spot for what not to do comes pointing at menus to show what you want to avoid pronouncing foreign words. Relying on travel companions and translation apps instead of learning useful menu vocabulary also featured on the list of shame. And among those who did at least try to speak another language, 12% admitted to speaking the wrong one altogether. Quelle honte.

L’article Five reasons Americans travel without learning languages est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

To delve into these perceptions, Answering Service Care recently commissioned a Censuswide survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults. The study aimed to identify which regional and international accents Americans find most friendly, trustworthy, and persuasive, and how these perceptions impact customer service interactions and career opportunities.

The survey revealed a clear pattern: over 38% of respondents rated Southern American accents as the most welcoming. This perception likely stems from the widespread association of the Southern U.S.—including states like Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and South Carolina—with hospitality.

The second place, according to the participants, was given to people with Hawaiian accent, which gathered 34% of the votes. The island is a place often associated with a more laid-back lifestyle, which also points to its ranking and why respondents thought it the second most friendly.

Additionally, from all Southern accents, the Texan was voted as the third friendliest, with 31% of survey respondents seeing it as pleasant.

Additionally, the Hawaiian accent was rated as one of the least annoying accents. Similarly, the Alaskan accent was perceived as one of the least bothersome, with only three respondents finding it unpleasant.

To take the research a step further, the respondents were also asked whether they felt proud of their cultural or regional accent. Residents of Vermont expressed the highest level of their accent, with 67% agreeing with the statement. This aligns with Vermont’s goal to preserve its heritage, suggesting a strong link between regional identity and accent pride.

New Mexico ranked second, with 57% of residents expressing pride in their accent. This finding underscores how accents in New Mexico often reflect the area’s diverse cultural blend, including Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences.

Other states with high levels of accent pride included Kentucky (56%) and Tennessee (45%), both regions where accents are recognized as a significant component of local identity.

With regard to international accents, the American public finds the Italian accent the most attractive (31%), followed closely by the French accent (29%). When it comes to charm, French accents lead (33%), while Australian accents are considered the most humorous (24%).

L’article New survey unveils Americans’ most preferred accents est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“To put passengers first, we have to speak their language. That goes for all of us. Whoever we’re talking to, whatever the situation,” said Andrew Haines, CEO of Network Rail.

The new guidance is laid out in a document titled “Speaking Passenger”, which aims to encourage staff to adopt a more conversational and less formal tone, particularly during service disruptions. This happens in light of growing passenger dissatisfaction, following 370,000 cancelled or partially cancelled train services in 2024, according to The Office of Rail and Road.

The “Speaking Passenger” paper urges employees to see things from the perspective of the commuter – potentially tired, cold, frustrated, and stranded – during delays and cancellations. Therefore, the goal is to reduce passenger frustration by using more human and empathetic language. Additionally, the documents also underscored the importance of inclusive communication, calling staff to “eliminate discriminations, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people.”

Several formal terms such as “purchase”, “obtain”, and “rest assured” are being fully removed from the company’s vocabulary. Gender-specific language is also discouraged. Words like “mother” and “father” to be changed to “parent”, while “pregnant woman” will be replaced with “pregnant person”. Similarly, words using the prefix “man” such as “manpower” will be changed to people. Network Rail employees are also advised not to assume that passengers are observing certain holidays. Instead, they are instructed to say, “Merry Christmas to those who are celebrating” or “Happy holidays”, which are more inclusive greetings.

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New announcements are expected to sound “less formal, simpler, and more relatable”. For example: “I’m really sorry everyone but we’ve had to cancel all the trains this evening. A tree’s fallen across the tracks just outside the station and it’s going to take a few hours to clear.” This contrasts with the previous formal tone: “All services are currently cancelled due to recent storm events. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause to your journey.”

“Passengers are at the heart of our tone-of-voice guidelines, which have been in place for several years and are common practice in customer-facing organisations,” said a Network Rail spokesman.

L’article UK Network Rail bans terms like ‘passenger’ and ‘pregnant women’ in new guidelines est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In 2007, the results of a study conducted by the University of Arizona caused quite a stir. After analysing data from 500 participants, scientists discovered that there was no difference in the number of words spoken daily by men and women. Both spoke an average of 16,000 words each day, and thus, the myth of women talking more than men appeared to be debunked.

Researchers from the University of Arizona are disrupting the status quo. The original study relied solely on conversations among college students in Arizona, which did not accurately represent the general population. In a new study, they analysed data from 2,197 participants aged between 10 and 94 to gain a clearer understanding of the situation. The results were published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

“There is a strong cross-cultural assumption that women talk a lot more than men,” said co-lead study author Colin Tidwell, a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona. “We wanted to see  whether or not this assumption holds when empirically tested.”

This analysis demonstrates that there is indeed a difference in the number of words spoken by men and women, but only between the ages of 25 and 65. During this period, it was found that women speak an average of 3,000 more words per day than men (21,845 words daily versus 18,570). However, both earlier and later in life, there was no discernible difference between the two sexes.

“Gender-linked differences in child rearing and family care are one possibility that could account for this difference,” states psychologist Matthias Mehl, senior author of the study and a professor in the U of A Department of Psychology. “If biological factors like hormones were to be the main cause, a sizeable gender difference should have also been present among emerging adults. If societal generational changes were to be the driving force, there should have been a gradually increasing gender difference among older participants. Neither, though, was the case.”

Do women really talk more than men?

In conclusion, the question of whether women talk more than men does not have a straightforward answer. While women between the ages of 25 and 64 may exhibit higher word counts than their male counterparts, this pattern is not consistent across all age groups. Factors such as caregiving responsibilities and the increasing prevalence of digital communication play crucial roles in shaping these behaviours. As we continue to navigate a rapidly changing communication landscape, it’s essential to approach such topics with nuance and an appreciation for the complexities involved.

This research underscores the need to move beyond oversimplified stereotypes and consider the multifaceted influences that shape human communication. By doing so, we can foster a more accurate and empathetic understanding of how we connect with one another across different stages of life.

L’article Do women talk more than men? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“Hwyl is more than just a word; it’s a concept deeply rooted in Welsh culture. It describes a sense of exuberance and well-being that comes from being completely engaged in an activity or moment. Hwyl is about losing yourself in the joy of the present. Whether you’re exploring the rugged coastlines, delving into ancient traditions, or sharing a meal with friends and simply enjoying the warmth of Welsh hospitality, Hwyl is a feeling that can transform your visit into an unforgettable experience”, Visit Wales explains.

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Being completely absorbed in the moment is a rare thing these days. With technology, social media and so on constantly asking for our attention, it can be quite a challenge to not get distracted. Even when we’re doing something unforgettable, we still feel the urge to capture it on camera in order to share it on social media. However, being present in the moment can have a lot of benefits.

“Hwyl comes to life in both relaxing and energetic environments. On one hand, hwyl can release dopamine, fire neurotransmitters and raise the heartbeat, creating a prolonged sense of euphoria. Alternatively, it can slow it right down with endorphins reducing stress, causing the entire body to relax. Essentially, hwyl is your own particular form of happiness”, Awel Vaughan-Evans, of the school of psychology at Bangor University in north Wales, said in an interview with The Guardian.

With its tourism campaign for 2025 named ‘Feel the hwyl. Only in Wales’, Visit Wales is trying to attract visitors by appealing to the urge of integrating a little hwyl into their lives. Over a dozen Welsh locations have been filmed for the campaign, which uses real-life sounds instead of music in order to completely submerge the viewer into the Welsh surroundings.

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“2025 will celebrate the joyful things that make us distinctively Welsh and can only be experienced here in Wales. We want to share our warm ‘croeso’ and unique ‘hwyl’ with the world and invite them to not just see but feel, taste and truly experience the ‘must do’ things we have on offer. We’re also very proud to be championing our wonderful language by using a Welsh word for the first time in our communications with global audiences. Everyone can help us take even more of Wales to the world in 2025 by sharing the campaign and feeling the hwyl for themselves,” the Welsh Economy Secretary, with responsibility for Tourism, Rebecca Evans, said about the campaign.

Throughout the year, several partner organisations will be sharing their hwyl moments. Wrexham AFC, Transport for Wales, Wales Coast Path and National Trails are just some of those taking part in “Feel the hwyl. Only in Wales”. Wether or not hwyl will become as successful and well-known as hygge remains to be seen but the concept behind it is worth considering.

L’article What does ‘hwyl’ mean in Welsh and why should you adopt the philosophy? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Even though many Ukrainians have sought refuge in Belgium since the beginning of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, no Ukrainian audio guides were available in the country up until now. 

“Since the beginning of Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine, many Ukrainians have fled their country to save their lives, as the enemy demolished and looted their homes. Simultaneously, Ukraine continues to fight for its identity, freedom, democratic values, and culture,” the Ukrainian Embassy in Belgium said in a statement.

La présidente du Sénat @ValerieDeBue a assisté à l’introduction des audioguides en ukrainien aux Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts
Un geste de solidarité culturelle et de soutien à la souveraineté de l’Ukraine pic.twitter.com/oavQghNKaj

— MR Sénat (@MRSenat) September 30, 2024

Since 2020, Olena Zelenska has been spearheading a project aiming at launching Ukrainian audio guides in some of the world’s biggest museums. So far, 80 Ukrainian audio tours are available in 44 countries across the globe. The Louvre in France, Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom, the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery in Italy and the Albertina Palace in Austria are some of the museums which already have a Ukrainian audio guide available. 

The timing for the launch of a Ukrainian audio tour at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels is not by chance. “Recently, this museum hosted the ‘In the Eye of the Storm’ exhibition, which highlighted early 20^th-Century Ukrainian modernism and featured works by Kazymyr Malevych, specifically presented as a Ukrainian artist,” said Zelenska. “The time has come to make the exhibitions at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts more accessible to Ukrainian visitors through these audio guides.”

According to Zelenska, it is currently of utmost importance to make as many Ukrainian audio tours available as possible, at a “time when Ukraine is still fighting against invasion, and when the Russian invader is destroying our museums”. Moreover, according to the First Lady, art becomes ever-more accessible when different language tours are available.

Even though Ukrainian might sound a lot like Russian for outsiders, the two languages present have differences between them, which are largely due to the peculiarities of the formation of the two nations.

L’article First Belgian audio guides in Ukrainian launched at Royal Museums of Fine Arts est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In an apparent clash of generations that is generating amusement and headlines, venues that might be seen by some as old-fashioned or particularly “Boomer-oriented”, are being given a Gen Z makeover, with museum curators and family hoteliers joining in the trend that sees adverts “translated” into Gen Z speak.

“Slay”

Mark Murry-Flutter, a 65-year-old military expert and curator at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds features in a viral video where he greets viewers as “besties” and tours the museum delivering a stream of Gen Z terms such as “understood the assignment” to describe the gift shop tote bags. It has amassed millions of views.

Charged with promoting suits of armour with large appendages and historical military dioramas, the new internet star told Sky News his favourite Gen Z term was “Slay”.

@royalarmouriesmuseum Serving curatorial realness fr #armsandarmour #royalarmouries #museum #history #genz #historytok #museumtok #marketingscript ♬ Jazz Bossa Nova – TOKYO Lonesome Blue

“So much rizz”

Meanwhile, at Fyfield Manor, an 880-year-old family-run guest house in Oxfordshire, UK, the owners have gone viral with a TikTok scripted for them by their daughter, in which they tour the 12^th century property describing it in Gen Z terms. “The medieval dining room has so much rizz,” declares mum, Christine, in the TikTok clip, liked by over 2.3 million users on the platform. The large windows are “very mindful, very demure”, she points out, adding that the Manor is the perfect place to stay “whether you’re recovering from a brat summer or a menty b.”

@fyfieldmanor I can confirm she understood nothing she said #staycation #bedandbreakfast #snallbusiness #genz #oldhouse #uk ♬ original sound – Fyfield Manor B&B

Commenters have raved about the advert, with one calling it “the best advertising I’ve ever seen.” The strategy relies on the attention-grabbing disconnect between the brand in question and its use of language, which is why it appears to work so well when the Gen Z speak is delivered by an older person in a “heritage” atmosphere. As one TikTok user said, “SLAY” in a very posh accent has me.”

But it remains to be seen whether that surprise factor can last, as big firms too start to get in on the act.

“Offers that hit different”

Presumably having figured out that some lucky Gen Z are of an age to buying their own devices and even equipping kitchens, electrical retailer Currys has released a clip telling “my guys” that “our offers hit different af”.

And in order to be “always on point and totally in sync with your incredible generation”  Nestlé has even put out a call inviting Gen Z to pitch marketing ideas and “Show us your deep understanding of Gen Z preferences, behaviors, and values”. Entrants have the the chance of winning $10,000 “if your idea is selected by the esteemed Nestlé Executive Leadership Team during the Phase 2 Pitch Session.”

L’article Gen-Z slang increasingly used in tourism advertising est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.