Is accentism a real problem?

Many Brits consciously tone down or 'posh up' during phone conversations (Corbis)

There are strict laws that tackle all kinds of discrimination in the UK, but is there still an insidious form of prejudice we're missing?

There is according to the linguist Dr Alex Baratta, who has said that "accentism" should be treated as seriously as sexism and racism.

Baratta has claimed that prejudice towards certain regional accents is forcing many people to change the way they speak in order to fit in, making them feel "fake".

It's also damaging people's job prospects, and should be protected against by law, says Baratta. "We should acknowledge that any form of workplace discrimination [...] should not be tolerated in a society which seeks to be more inclusive," he has said.

But is he right? Is accentism really a problem in the same way that sexism and racism are? Let us know by taking our poll below...