If you have a Twents accent in Dutch, you're in bad luck. You'll be subtitled on national television. Even when you speak perfect Dutch. You get imitated or laughed at for it on a weekly basis (happened to me on NYE), or even denied jobs.
Two years ago, Dutch TV aired a game show on dialects. After the Twents representative said a sentence, the show host asked Patricia Paay (of all people) what she though of it. "Dumb", she said. Our representative was never asked what he thought of her accent.
I talked about all this to a friend who works at the discrimination hotline. He said it is flat-out discrimination, especially if it diminishes your chances at job openings. Though we can't pull that card, because we're not considered an ethnic minority.
So yes, having a non-standard accent in this tolerant multi-cultural country is still a disadvantage. But it's not the speakers' fault. It's because it's so blatantly ignored all the time, people never get used to it.
So rather than giving up our accents and languages, here's what we must do. Use it as much and wherever you can. On social media, in the streets, at work, in schools. Let people finally get used to the cultural richness of this country.
The indigenous languages here are so similar, we'll be able to understand each other with only a little training. A whole barrage of studies proves being bilingual or even bidialectal is good for the brain. We've got a linguistic treasure trove in our backyard. Use it!
