How long before we start seeing strong Northern or foreign accented presenters on the news?

Lysander said:
I was just watching BBC News 24 and thinking how nice it is that the presenters all speak clearly with Middle Class accents. But knowing this country, do you think there might be a time - in the interests of equality and diversity - when we start seeing black dreadlocked presenters with heavy Jamaican accents, or working class people with heavy cockney/Northern accents dropping consonents left, right and centre?

Will the BBC - and similar large national institutions - one day adapt to the "multiculturalism" this country enjoys over its airwaves? Or will it always keep two feet firmly on the floor of its own traditions?
Click to expand...

What?

Dumb.
 
Freefaller said:
We won't I hope (no offence) as it makes listening to the news so much easier having clear concise English enunciation.
Click to expand...

This. Having those who talk with good clarity and the slightest hint of their regional accent is fine too, but heavily accented would mean subtitles.

For the 'northerners not friendly/get jealous of the south/get boxing stance after 'troll stick'/other ********', have you nothing better to do?
 
Last edited:
There's a reason why "standardised speaking" became popular in media in the same way that standardised grammar became established in print... it just makes things more comprehensible!

I've got no problem with presenters having an obvious regional 'seasoning' to their voices, in fact nothing gives me more pleasure than hearing grass instead of grarse and glass instead of glarse. But I want a pinch of salt and pepper, not the top unscrewed and the whole pot dumped in my media consumption. Then the delivery becomes a distraction.

The worst offender at the moment for me is the woman who does the business news on BBC Breakfast. I'm sure I'm being totally unreasonable, but her heavy accent just gets in the way of the message.
 
Andrew_McP said:
I've got no problem with presenters having an obvious regional 'seasoning' to their voices, in fact nothing gives me more pleasure than hearing grass instead of grarse and glass instead of glarse. But I want a pinch of salt and pepper, not the top unscrewed and the whole pot dumped in my media consumption. Then the delivery becomes a distraction.
Click to expand...

I agree with this completely, you need to have a good balance.
One persons pronunciation could **** off another and vice versa.

That thing with grass/grarse, glass/glarse and the general elongation of vowels. What's all that **** about.

Some people seem to try too hard, to the point of being pretentious.
 
I think people should strive to speak correct English, so despite being northern I don't want us presenting the news.

However high house prices and too many Conservative voters makes me prefer the North.
 
Hey, sorry guys, this question is a bit OT and random.
This thread reminded me of the saying: "Surrey girls don't suck".

I wondered if there was any truth to this?
 
SS-89 said:
It's funny you should mention this! I was at a client a couple of weeks ago and they asked me where I was from as I had a very 'neutral' accent (others say its posh but I found it refreshing that she used that term as that's how I would describe it). Anyway she said I assumed you would say Surrey/Oxford, I was like 'West London born and raised y0!'

Neutral accents are good for news reading as everyone can understand it. A slight accent is fine but a thick scottish/geordie etc accent isn't going to be much use if some people can't understand.
Click to expand...

People ask me where I'm from, and I tell them France/Cyprus and the UK - that leaves them somewhat perplexed! :D
 
Efour said:
How is it thick :confused: you really have no idea do you. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Lol. I think he means thick as in a very broad accent. :p

Edit: Having said that though, is there such a thing as an intelligent cockney accent?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom