Regional accents- the last straw.

[Mary Chambers]

Politically incorrect it may be, but I dislike strong regional accents on the radio or television. Stephanie McGovern is an example, and so is the poet Ian MacMillan. I don't listen to what they have to say, because of the sound they make. I see no reason why they shouldn't learn to modify their accents. I know people from Teesside (like S. McG) who, although recognisably northern, sound perfectly all right to my ears. It's a matter of degree. I realise this is not a fashionable point of view, but I am unapologetic.

When people refer to 'South-East accents', do they really mean RP? South-East accents can be just as hideous as northern ones!

[MrGongGong]

I see no reason why they shouldn't learn to modify their accents.

You can't even think of one reason why people should be allowed to speak in the way they do on the radio?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When people refer to 'South-East accents', do they really mean RP? South-East accents can be just as hideous as northern ones!

It's all a matter of perception. It is, after all, just a different accent, but RP doesn't belong to the South-East, or Oxford, or the BBC. My 3 year old granddaughter now speaks with an RP accent, and sings (impeccably) "Ba, Ba, Bleck Sheep".

[Mary Chambers]

It is, after all, just a different accent, but RP doesn't belong to the South-East, or Oxford, or the BBC..

I do know that, but very many people seem to think that RP is a South-East accent.

[french frank]

When people refer to 'South-East accents', do they really mean RP?

I think so. I don't think many accents which I think of as 'south-east' are heard from BBC presenters. There is (to my ears) a Lahndon tinge which I've heard in people from Portsmouth up through to Hertfordshire - that's what I would call 'south-east'. It ranges from very, very slight to East End.

I'm not sure that people should be expected to 'deliberately' modify their accents, but those who leave home, live in other parts of the country, mix with different people do tend to lose or subconsciously 'modify' the way they speak.

A very broad accent gives the impression of either someone who hasn't had a very broad experience of life, never left their home street; or the 'professional' Scotsmen, Yorkshiremen, Lancashire lads &c who take a defiant 'I'm proud of me accent, and why not' attitude.

Roger Wright had (no doubt still has) traces of a Mancunian accent; Alan Davey still slightly north-east. For broadcasters, recognisable regional origins are (I agree with AD) 'attractive'. But one would expect national broadcasters not to positively draw attention to themselves, and remember that for the majority of the nation they just sound 'peculiar' - at best.

[jean]

There is (to my ears) a Lahndon tinge which I've heard in people from Portsmouth up through to Hertfordshire - that's what I would call 'south-east'. It ranges from very, very slight to East End.

That's what they call Estuary, isn't it?

[jean]

My 3 year old granddaughter now speaks with an RP accent, and sings (impeccably) "Ba, Ba, Bleck Sheep".

Which very few RP speakers do any more!

[teamsaint]

That's what they call Estuary, isn't it?

spoken in the east of the county, And Known in the better parts of 'ampshire as " Mockney"

[cloughie]

It's all a matter of perception. It is, after all, just a different accent, but RP doesn't belong to the South-East, or Oxford, or the BBC. My 3 year old granddaughter now speaks with an RP accent, and sings (impeccably) "Ba, Ba, Bleck Sheep".

I hope you put her right - that's dreadful pronunciation! And it will tempt poor spelling!

[french frank]

That's what they call Estuary, isn't it?

Is that what it means? I always vaguely thought it was something to do with Essex - a county with which I am unfamiliar …

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But one would expect national broadcasters not to positively draw attention to themselves,

Which they might do if they tried to adopt RP?

and remember that for the majority of the nation they just sound 'peculiar' - at best.

Which is all the more reason for regional accents to feature more regularly in national broadcasting, so that they become less "peculiar".


How would Forumistas describe the accent/pronunciation of the R3 "presenter" (a present I'd gladly take back to the shop) with the same initials as Kenny Dalgleish - is this a standard to which other presenters should aspire?

[vinteuil]

How would Forumistas describe the accent/pronunciation of the R3 "presenter" (a present I'd gladly take back to the shop) with the same initials as Kenny Dalgleish - is this a standard to which other presenters should aspire?

... I wd describe it as fake, synthetic, plastic. My Roget can supply other adjectives if necessary.

[jean]

I see no reason why they shouldn't learn to modify their accents.

People who posts on this board is likely to be able to do that should they wish, because they are self-selected as practising musicians, or at least very sensitive listeners, and probably have a very good 'ear'.

Don't underestimate the difficulty that would pose for others, for whom it would be almost impossible to 'modify' their accents in the way you suggest.

[jean]

... I wd describe it as fake, synthetic, plastic...

How could the speaker of adoptive RP as recommended above avoid falling into that particular trap?

[Hornspieler]

I think so. I don't think many accents which I think of as 'south-east' are heard from BBC presenters. There is (to my ears) a Lahndon tinge which I've heard in people from Portsmouth up through to Hertfordshire - that's what I would call 'south-east'. It ranges from very, very slight to East End.

I'm not sure that people should be expected to 'deliberately' modify their accents, but those who leave home, live in other parts of the country, mix with different people do tend to lose or subconsciously 'modify' the way they speak.

A very broad accent gives the impression of either someone who hasn't had a very broad experience of life, never left their home street; or the 'professional' Scotsmen, Yorkshiremen, Lancashire lads &c who take a defiant 'I'm proud of me accent, and why not' attitude.

Roger Wright had (no doubt still has) traces of a Mancunian accent; Alan Davey still slightly north-east. For broadcasters, recognisable regional origins are (I agree with AD) 'attractive'. But one would expect national broadcasters not to positively draw attention to themselves, and remember that for the majority of the nation they just sound 'peculiar' - at best.

A very good summary, FF, with which I basically agree.

It is a fact that anyone - even our transatlantic cousins, can understand what is delivered as Received Speech (shades of Lord Reith) or SSE (Standard Southern English) but try conversing with a switchboard operator of a certain Glasgow-based Insurance Company

If a presenter or "our on-the spot reporter" tells me about hoises costing thoisands of poinds when talking about property prices in London, I wonder why he/she has been chosen; but I have no objection to a Bristolian reporting on a find of cobrals and boal constrictals found in a freighter at Avonmouth Docks, or Joodges voting in a popular dancing competition.

What does irk me is "presenters" presenting the information with their hands, like a waiter proffering a tray of nouns, verbs and adverbs to the viewer, as if to emphasise the importance of particular words in the statement.


This, I am sure, is what they are encouraged to do by the producers of TV news bulletins and I find it very distracting.