Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[vinteuil]

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... well, we shall have to disagree. I find certain kinds of arrogance amusing, even beguiling; I appreciate the dandy.

I find unsought-for chumminess "universally unattractive"...

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[gurnemanz]

As with sports commentary, trying too hard - arrogance or chumminess -is usually an intrusion, in that they are drawing attention to themselves rather than illuminating the sport/music. Cliché, but less is more.

[Stanfordian]

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... well, we shall have to disagree. I find certain kinds of arrogance amusing, even beguiling; I appreciate the dandy.

I find unsought-for chumminess "universally unattractive"...

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Hiya vinteuil,

You mention chumminess. Yeah, presenters wanting to be your mate!

[vinteuil]

Hiya vinteuil,

Yea, presenters wanting to be your mate!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As with sports commentary, trying too hard - arrogance or chumminess -is usually an intrusion, in that they are drawing attention to themselves rather than illuminating the sport/music. Cliché, but less is more.

"Arrogance" and "chumminess" aren't mutually exclusive - Patricia Hughes in days of yore always managed to sound "chummy" to those of her "circle" and made it seem abundantly clear to me that I wasn't welcome to join it.

SK's manner is different - it reminds me of nothing other than quite a few Supply Teachers I encountered in my working life (and, indeed, as a schoolkid): they'd done quite a bit of work preparing a lesson that they were convinced the kids would really like, and when said kids found it less than whelming, those teachers would react with defensive and petulant passive aggression - it was the pesky kids' fault, not their own.

Fellow enthusiasts of Terry Pratchett's oeuvre will perhaps also be reminded of aspects of Annagramma from the wonderful Tiffany Aching novels.

https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Annagramma_Hawkin

[french frank]

... well, we shall have to disagree. I find certain kinds of arrogance amusing, even beguiling; I appreciate the dandy.

I find unsought-for chumminess "universally unattractive"....

We are of fundamentally different natures, so I think it's more a question of 'feeling the same' or 'feeling the opposite.

The problem with 'chumminess' is that, again, it depends how one individual responds to another individual. You might respond positively to an arrogantly amusing dandy - whose 'chumminess' would be of a different style (and certainly be called something different) - inviting you to join his [sic] exclusive club where you would enjoy his [sic] company.

[Sir Velo]

inviting you to join his [sic] exclusive club where you would enjoy his [sic] company.

Definitely sick (sic) making...

[LMcD]

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... yes, that grated. It's "beever" castle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belvoir_Castle

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If she can't pronounce the names of English castles correctly, it's hardly surprising that she struggles with other languages. She should take a lesson from Alexander Armstrong on 'Pointless', who effortlessly deals with French, German, Italian and, as far as I can tell, more exotic languages. (Come to think of it, he'd make a better job of 'EC').
I suppose the question is: Should a Radio 3 announcer (or any other BBC announcer) be expected to pronounce foreign languages correctly, or at least seek advice if in doubt or difficulty?
I would have thought it was a Sinny Kwar Nun.

[french frank]

I would have thought it was a Sinny Kwar Nun.

Or Synee Kway Nohn.

Not much point in the BBC having a Pronunciation Unit if it's not consulted by on-air staff. The problem presenters are those who 'think they know' or can 'make a jolly good guess'. Though the producer has a duty to ensure that, preferably, mistakes aren't made; but that if they are, they're quickly corrected.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Time Traveller slot was to do with Christmas gifts in 1817, and mentioned pictures of Belvoir Castle, pronounced 'Bellvwahr'(ie french style). I had always understood it to be 'Beever', or is that only as in Vale of....?

"The castle's name means beautiful view. The name Belvoir is, in fact, a Norman import by the French-speaking invaders, but the native Anglo-Saxon population was unable to pronounce such a foreign word, preferring to call it "Beaver Castle" – a usage which persists today."

[underthecountertenor]

If she can't pronounce the names of English castles correctly, it's hardly surprising that she struggles with other languages. She should take a lesson from Alexander Armstrong on 'Pointless', who effortlessly deals with French, German, Italian and, as far as I can tell, more exotic languages. (Come to think of it, he'd make a better job of 'EC').
I suppose the question is: Should a Radio 3 announcer (or any other BBC announcer) be expected to pronounce foreign languages correctly, or at least seek advice if in doubt or difficulty?
I would have thought it was a Sinny Kwar Nun.

It was not Suzy Klein, but a Dr Alun Withey (BBC New Generation Thinker, god help us) who perpetrated this.

As to Alexander Armstrong - well, anything to keep him out of mischief (i.e. recording albums) I suppose.

[vinteuil]

The problem with 'chumminess' is that, again, it depends how one individual responds to another individual. You might respond positively to an arrogantly amusing dandy - whose 'chumminess' would be of a different style (and certainly be called something different) - inviting you to join his [sic] exclusive club where you would enjoy his [sic] company.

... no : I think the 'problem' with chumminess is that it is fake, a spurious assumption of friendly intimacy that has not been earned and is not desired. If I am amused by a certain dandiacal arrogance it is not at all that I wish to be 'friends' with such a person: 'chumminess' does not enter the equation.

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[BBMmk2]

... no : I think the 'problem' with chumminess is that it is fake, a spurious assumption of friendly intimacy that has not been earned and is not desired. If I am amused by a certain dandiacal arrogance it is not at all that I wish to be 'friends' with such a person: 'chumminess' does not enter the equation.

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Just need presenters to be themselves/

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just need presenters to be themselves/

I think that some of them are "being themselves" - that's the problem.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... no : I think the 'problem' with chumminess is that it is fake, a spurious assumption of friendly intimacy that has not been earned and is not desired. If I am amused by a certain dandiacal arrogance it is not at all that I wish to be 'friends' with such a person: 'chumminess' does not enter the equation.

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Of course it's fake.

"Thank you for your company."

Er... no. I'm hundreds of miles away; you don't know me from Adam, and the only company you have at at the moment is a technician and possibly the presenter of the next programme.