The article I have examined was a topical language article written in The Independent by internet journalist Rose Troup Buchanan in December 2015.
The article outlines the results of a 2014 YouGov study of 2000 people where they asked which was the most attractive accent and are reflected upon by language expert Robert Cauldwell.
The main issue in the article is that some accents sound more attractive than others as many are linked with negative or positive stereotypes. However, Cauldwell argues that these views are waning as the use of received pronunciation is decreasing due to the perception of RP being used by "toffs" who "are seen as having privileges they don't deserve".
Coming from Norfolk, an area with a strong regional accent, I would agree with much of what Cauldwell is trying to say - those with a stronger Norfolk tone tend to be seen as rural, uneducated and farmers. This accent is especially prominent in older people, however conversely,many older people from the area use received pronunciation instead. This could be a reflection of their background or wealth may want to seem of a higher prestige than those with a regional accent.
Cauldwell also said that there is no 'best' accent but rather "it depends on the social group you want to impress or work with", which I believe is correct. Depending on the company we are in, we tend to alter our accent to match theirs in order to impress or to try to form a mutual bond through language. For example, when I am at work and I serve somebody who uses RP, I tend to speak with higher prestige and use less colloquialisms; whereas when I see someone with a regional accent I tend to relax and speak a lot more naturally.
So far in A-Level English, I have learned how we alter our language in order to fit in around particular company, and this has helped inform me on why some people use the accents they do. It has also informed me about the subtext surrounding received pronunciation and how the perception of it has changed over time from "well-educated" to a more negative light.
Though I don't believe that accents are indicative of a person's class or social status, I do agree that there is all manner of prejudice towards every accent in the English language and these long-held perceptions are unlikely to change in a hurry.
Very interesting post. Fascinating about class and accent here and prejudice. Very thoughtful about how long you think it takes to change attitudes. I think you are right. It takes conscious action to change attitudes but I think the BBC has been trying hard to do so by employing people who speak Standard English but with all sorts of regional accents. It's certainly better than it used to be, anyway. Great to see what you're interested in here, Jake.
ReplyDelete