why do people have accents?

An accent, the way we see it or hear it, pertains to a different sound produced by a speaker given the same word. It is very relative. Using my standard, people have accent, on other's standards, they see the same thing. Because we use ourselves as the standard accent. Which can be really problematic. We see people having different access because they are speaking a non-native language. They carry with them a different writing and speaking form that affects their manner of speaking. And languages have a long evolution time. Also, with how globalized we are, we are exposed to different languages through different media - internet, radio, tv, etc. it affects our manner of speaking. we adapt. A lot of things really to mention in this aspect. What is important is that we respect differences and we try our best to communicate and understand each other. The world will be a much better place. Good day, yaknell.

Well, I understand why people from Mexico have a Mexican accent when they speak English; it's because of their tongues being used to talking with Spanish sounds, so I wouldn't expect them to sound "American," but I wonder why British people seem to have an accent, and Americans have a few different ones, when it's the same language. I think dialect just kind of happens somehow. It gets passed on in generations, it's not genetic, sop people learn to do it.

Because some people are born and raised in an area all of their lives.. Or some people just happened to visit a place, and ended up living there, and then they took upon an accent. There are others whom have just grown to acquire an accent from another person.. I mean like, if they find themselves being around another person and then catching on to their voice tone.