Presenters - Again

[Nick Armstrong]

More controversially I think poor presenters should be hammered.

I completely agree. Talking like an infants teacher (or an infant) or a pompous ass is perfectly fair game for criticism if presenters are promoted as ‘features’ of the programming or ‘curators’ of the content

[french frank]

Eh?

See #105 for the corrected version. I meant to edit before posting but posted before editing :-)

[drjad]

One of the irritating things in 'presentation', apart from the inane chatter between musical items, is the tendency for announcers to elongate the sibilant 't' into 'tss' at the end of phrases. This appears to be contagious, with several who previously did not so speak apparently catching it from others.

Some are able to illuminate with cogent, and short, comments - other witter on to no apparent purpose or interest.

Furthermore, I can't, surely, be the only listener who deplores the 'playlist' element. Well curated, intelligent music is all that is requred.

Radio 3 does seem to have departed from its 1946 prospectus.

[Nick Armstrong]

the tendency for announcers to elongate the sibilant 't' into 'tss' at the end of phrases. This appears to be contagious, with several who previously did not so speak apparently catching it from others.

Agreed. Can’t stand it.

(Though there’s only one I’ve been aware of, and avoid)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

One of the irritating things in 'presentation', apart from the inane chatter between musical items, is the tendency for announcers to elongate the sibilant 't' into 'tss' at the end of phrases. This appears to be contagious, with several who previously did not so speak apparently catching it from others.

Some are able to illuminate with cogent, and short, comments - other witter on to no apparent purpose or interest.

Furthermore, I can't, surely, be the only listener who deplores the 'playlist' element. Well curated, intelligent music is all that is requred.

Radio 3 does seem to have departed from its 1946 prospectus.

Agree with all of this. The playlist mentality is what drives the BBC Radio 3 philosophy (copying CFM and popular music channels). I wonder whether sibilant excesses might have more to do with microphone placing than deliberate intent. It think this was the cause of apparent presenter breathlessness in recent times. This now appears to have been fixed.

[antongould]

Agree with all of this. The playlist mentality is what drives the BBC Radio 3 philosophy (copying CFM and popular music channels). I wonder whether sibilant excesses might have more to do with microphone placing than deliberate intent. It think this was the cause of apparent presenter breathlessness in recent times. This now appears to have been fixed.

So Petroc is no longer breathless …… ?????

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So Petroc is no longer breathless …… ?????

I can’t comment, as I no longer punish myself with that particular programme.

[gurnemanz]

the tendency for announcers to elongate the sibilant 't' into 'tss' at the end of phrases.

I can't follow that point. Surely t is not a sibilant but a stop or plosive.

[Serial_Apologist]

So Petroc is no longer breathless …… ?????

I know poeple here don't agree with me on Petroc, but I still do find ridiculous his way of stating the most mundane things and making them seem unusual and exceptional. It doesn't sound sincere and I can't believe he takes what he says seriously: it's almost as if he is sending himself up. I find myself saying after him "Oh yes, that would NEVER have occurred to me. How SIGNIFICANT; and how RIGHT you are, MISTER Trelawny, Sir".

[drjad]

Well, the sound only seems to occur on the final 't', and usually only at the end of a phrase or sentence.

It would be good, on the other point raised, if R3 eschewed all copying of CFM and 'popular music' channels. While they're about it, they could broadcast complete musical items, not single movements from symphonies, for example, which distort the composers' intent. (As used to be the case.)

[Nick Armstrong]

I can't follow that point. Surely t is not a sibilant but a stop or plosive.

That is the point, I think - turning the latter into the former… So a sentence ending with it would sound like it’ssss

[Nick Armstrong]

I know poeple here don't agree with me on Petroc, but I still do find ridiculous his way of stating the most mundane things and making them seem unusual and exceptional. It doesn't sound sincere and I can't believe he takes what he says seriously: it's almost as if he is sending himself up.

I agree with you. It sounds patronising to me.

(Sadly Hannah French tends to do something similar…)

[gurnemanz]

That is the point, I think - turning the latter into the former… So a sentence ending with it would sound like it’ssss

What baffled me was the use of the word "sibilant" and the transcription tssss, which would be as the sound in the word "cats". I'm used to the phenomenon which I presume is being referred to here being called an aspirated "t".

[MickyD]

I used to know someone who always pronounced the 'T' in 'Christmas' - "what are you doing for ChrisTmas?"
I'm not sure if it is incorrect, but she used to drive me crazy when she did it!

[smittims]

Maybe she was emphasising her religious beliefs. But I don't like 'subtle hints' if that sort, so I'd be irritated too!

I don't like the way Sarah Walker says 'Bate Heauven' and 'Chay Cheeleya Bartoli'.