Make my DH speak properly!

[fatlip]

Arrgh, flame away if you must but you have to help me out with DH who is driving me mad.

When we met (a long time ago) he was fairly well spoken (about as well spoken as me) - certainly not posh but non-descript.

However recently we have moved back closer to his parents and his speech is now AWFUL!!

It's not a lovely regional accent or anything, but his THs have been replaced with Vs and his Ts have disappeared completely. That and the aint's and the summat (instead of something) is all too much to take.

It is really starting to grate and, to be quite honest, affecting how much I fancy him.

It is also rubbing off on DS1.

I know I'm a snob but you have to help me.

[Lynli]

I have no ideas but if you get any I will be interested.

My DS said last week DGD could be the national elf as she is short enough. What is this national elf anyway?

He said I heard Dad talking about the national elf. Obviously the National Health.
I feel your pain.

[ItsGraceActually]

I fink you're bonkers!

But, then, I would. I've never lived anywhere very long, and tend to take on accents by osmosis. Why on earth does it matter? (Or ma''a )

[fatlip]

I know it shouldn't matter but it does because I am shallow and judgemental.

However, DH knows I am shallow and judgemental and therefore it is unfair of him to change after all these years.

[MrsMopple]

My DH is a bit like this - his parents speak very correctly, as does his sister, but he has picked up all the local bits and although I don't exactly speak the Queen's English myself, I do try and form all my words so that ds has a good basic language to build on. The way I have tackled it is when dh says something along the lines of 'do it li'at ds' I will then say, 'do it like that ds'. Another real grater is 'it doesna (or duuna) work' wtf can't he just say doesn't? Aargh! Once or twice I have pointed out to dh that if was taught to speak well by his parents and now is lazy with pronunciation, what chance has ds got if he starts dropping letters and sounds now - he'll be unintelligible by the time he's an adult!!
Do I sound a bit snobby?

[ItsGraceActually]

Heh! Yes, you all sound a bit snobby!I agree that children need to learn to speak clearly. If there's a strong regional accent where they go to school, I think you'll be more or less stuck with that - though they WILL learn your accent as well. So, even if DS speaks in rapid Estuary throughout his normal life, he will have the capability to speak properly (as you define it) when necessary

As to your glottally-challenged DH, it might be that all you can do is channel Meg from the Queen Vic: give him a load of "cor blimey, strike a light, guvnor" whenever he seems to be overdoing it!

[Lotkinsgonecurly]

Send him to elocution lessons, it would really wind me up