Have you changed your voice?

[BomboChipolata]

I come from the South West and moved away to London to university and never returned to live at home. I haven’t changed my accent per se, (I still say fahst instead of farst) but I’m conscious of how I enunciate words. Some people picked up how I tend to mumble and so I have to consciously correct myself.

When I’m speaking with my parents, the thing I notice is that they drop h’s and other sounds. So my parents will say:

”We were goin’ ‘ome”.

I can easily slip into it and then I feel I have to correct myself, but then I feel conflicted about doing so.

have you changed your voice and feel odd about it?

Yes, I changed my voice in my late teens when I left home - I had a strong accent which was often commented on and I didn't have the confidence to push back but I am happy with the voice/accent I have now and many people comment on how it is very difficult to 'place' me.

I had quite a posh accent but now I sound more normal. I was sick of being mocked

My voice changes depending on the people speaking around me.

Not necessarily an advantage