The ability to speak or understand multiple languages has been shown to positively impact a person’s academic performance, communication skills, and overall cognitive abilities. However, people often have preconceptions that affect how they perceive certain accents and languages. This can lead to prejudice and discrimination, especially when intertwined with other racist stereotypes.

For example, grammatical errors, limited German skills, or difficulties with reading and writing are often interpreted as indicators of a lack of competence in other areas. Similarly, regional accents and dialects can carry negative connotations regarding an individual’s social class or educational background – resulting in people feeling pressured to speak in a certain way in order to be taken seriously. Insufficient language skills can result in individuals being denied access to certain offers and services – something that may be justified objectively in certain situations but can constitute unjustified discrimination in other situations.

Discriminating against a person based on their verbal or written communication is prohibited – not only at Freie Universität Berlin but also as per the Berlin State Anti-Discrimination Act (Landesantidiskriminierungsgesetz Berlin, LADG). This includes forbidding discrimination based on a person’s pronunciation (e.g., accent) or level of literacy and making (official) services inaccessible to those without certain language skills. The use of sign language as a recognized, independent language is also protected under the LADG. Those who experience discrimination due to limited knowledge of German, an accent, or other linguistic reasons can experience exclusion from society.

For example, the language in which education is conducted can exclude others and is an issue that is particularly relevant for the university context. In formal education in Germany, there are expectations surrounding how language should be used. The ability to communicate in a certain way is considered the key to academic success and often determines whether an individual is granted access to higher education. Linguistic barriers to education exist not only for prospective and current students for whom German is not a first language, but also for those who do not or cannot easily communicate in this specific form of “High German,” be it because of their social or educational background.

Freie Universität Berlin is a diverse place where people from all over the world work and study. These people speak multiple languages and have a range of accents. The university aims to create an environment for teaching, studying, and working in which everyone feels safe and respected, where they know they can play an active role in university life and further develop themselves through equitable participation. This means providing support whenever discrimination occurs on an individual level as well as implementing sustainable structural measures to promote equal opportunities for everyone.

Freie Universität Berlin strives to provide information for potential students, students, and employees in language that is clear and easy to understand. It also aims to make all of the information on its website and the content of official university communications available in both German and English. Some departments also communicate in additional languages where necessary or relevant.