文字代替發言
An Ethiopian-accented staff member complained about frequent interruption during online meetings due to his foreign accent.
一名有著衣索比亞口音的員工投訴在開線上會議時因為有外國口音而頻頻遭打斷。
complain about sth.=投訴某事interruption(n.)中斷foreign(adj.)外國的foreigner(n.)外國人
His colleagues claimed they could not understand what he said and kept him out of the discussions.
他的同事聲稱聽不懂他在說什麼，並把他排除在討論外。
keep out=不參與;不捲入;排擠
He later became self-conscious and ended up using the chat feature instead of speaking up.
他後來感到不自在，最後選擇不開口發言，改傳文字訊息。
self-conscious(adj.)侷促不安的;不自在的conscious(adj.)有意識的end up V-ing=以…告終;最終處於…A instead of B=選擇A而非B
Apparently, online conferences have made accent discrimination even worse.
顯然線上會議加劇了口音歧視的問題。
bad-worse-worst
Some people may find American, British or Australian accents more desirable among other types of accents which have been considered to be less proper.
相較於其他被視為口音較不正統的英文，有些人可能更崇尚美式、英式或澳洲口音。
find sth. adj=認為…desirable(adj.)嚮往的;渴望得到的desire(n.)(v.)慾望;渴望be considered to be=被視為proper(adj.)正規的;正確的;適當的
In fact, there are psychological mechanisms at play behind this.
事實上，這背後有心理機制在作祟。
at play=起作用
Cognitively, it takes more work to understand a less familiar accent.
從認知上來說，理解不熟悉的口音需要耗費更多腦力，
familiar(adj.)熟悉的be familiar with=對…感到熟悉
People tend to hold a negative attitude toward a person who has a certain kind of accent different from their own.
而面對不同口音人士，人們往往會抱持著負面觀感。
hold an attitude to (toward)=對…抱持著某種態度或觀感
There are even studies that found a link between the way one speaks and how seriously that person will be punished.
甚至有研究發現一個人的說法方式與判決的輕重之間存在著關聯性。
link(n.)關聯(性)
Suresh Canagarajah, a linguist at Pennsylvania State University, points out that if hiring managers have a bias toward certain types of English, they may lose out on real talents.
bias(n.)偏見;偏袒biased(adj.)偏袒的;有偏見的a bias against=不利於…的偏見a bias toward (in favor of)=偏袒…lose out=處於劣勢;吃虧;損失
In November 2020, the French government passed a law to stop people from discriminating against others because of their accents.
美國賓州大學語言學家卡納加拉賈指出，若人資部經理偏好某種口音的英文，他們可能會錯失大好人才。
pass a law=通過某法規或法律discriminate against sb.=歧視某人discriminate in favor of sb.=給某人特別待遇
Those who go against the law could face a three-year prison sentence and a fine of up to €45,000.
2020年的11月，法國政府通過法案禁止口音歧視。
go against sth.=違反;違法;違規sentence(n.)判刑fine(n.)罰款