(I) We can often tell the country or region someone is
from simply by hearing them speak. (II) We do this,
usually unconsciously, using cues such as accent and
vocabulary, which characterize regional dialects.
(III) We can also frequently discover clues about
someone’s social identity, based on hearing them
speak. (IV) Such shared vocal characteristics also occur
in animal species that are capable of vocal learning.
(V) People from different socioeconomic classes or age
groups may use different inflections or intonations even
if they have the same regional dialect.