Re enunciating the 't's' in words?

[JimbosJetSet]

My accent isn't the best but I generally enunciate the t's at the end of my words. DH doesn't, never has done, and it's never bothered me before.

However, DD (3.5) is now dropping her t's, including the t at the end of her baby sister's name. It drives me crazy, I hate it, and I am constantly correcting her (and mostly being ignored).

DH thinks I'm being absolutely ridiculous to be constantly correcting her, and to get so wound up by it. AIBU and a snob? And if I try to let it go, is there any chance her enunciation will get better in time anyway (clutching at straws)?

Thanks!

One point to make is that for some reason, Estuary English is spreading way beyond the Estuary, very recently too. Why?

Gerard Butler and Robbie Coltrane are both from Glasgow, Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt are both Northern Irish. They all have accents but they all speak clearly...

An affected accent tends to make me snigger a bit, and that's often (these days) a put-on Estuary English.

But surely no-one thinks a small child is putting on an accent, except in fun? So what's the issue?

toad - but that's basically saying 'accents are fine so long as they are close to RP,' isn't it? You might as well say 'I love a French accent, especially when they don't speak so much French to me.'

hester - because it is trendy and frequently featured in popular media. These are amongst the reasons every regional accent that's become trendy has done so, so far as I know.

Gosh everyone's being terribly PC on this thread. Guess that's MN for you.

OP, in RL there are plenty of people who will probably judge your daughter negatively for dropping her Ts. And it might make it harder for her to get into certain jobs - for example I have never come across a barrister or high court judge, or any City professional, who drops their Ts. You could say - well in that case those careers are all bastions of prejudice (probably true) and I wouldn't want my daughter working there. Or you could decide you'd rather keep her options open, and persuade her to pronounce her Ts.

I know which I'd do.

Chipped, those actors have an RP version of their regional accents

LRD,

No it isn't. RP, for example is really bad for pronouncing R. An American accent it's better in that respect.

(runs for cover)

Hester, accents change and are influenced by factors other than region, notably age. Professor of Linguistics Jean Aitchison says that there is no such thing as lazy speech. Unless you are better qualified than she is, I'mmore inclined to go with her.

Oh, mini.

You are being terribly idealistic. In the real world, don't you think you'll be judged for the way you write?

See ... I post that, and it looks rude. How is it less rude to offer 'advice' about employment based on accent?

Well, if it's discrimination you're worried about minipie, I'd tell her to dress as a man while she's at it

toad - no, what isn't?

I meant, surely a cockney accent is less strong if it's not using all the typical features of that accent.

I know different accents pronounce letters in different ways.

Liam Neeson is from quite near where I am from. He has taught himself to speak that way - the rest of his family don't sound like him. Nothing wrong with that at all, his voice is his livelihood, but its not an accurate reflection of what people sound like where he is from.

And bloody no one in N Ireland sounds like Nesbitt

I go selectively deaf when ds does this. and a pardon? usually gets him to repeat the word properly loudly whiningly but properly

OK ignoring Liam Neeson, my DM is from Dublin and has an accent. She still speaks clearly and sounds nothing like RP.

Sorry chipped, wasn't having a go. I am a big fan of the regional accent and I agree with you that its perfectly normal to be able to make yourself understood whilst having an accent.

You sassanechs and your weird voices.

I am originally from the Thames estuary area. I consider this (ie the glottal stop) part of my regional accent. Feel free to judge away, but I'll think less of you for it, just as you choose to think less of me because of the way I speak. I've never struggled to make myself understood in court, or any other professional situation.

There is no place like England for inverted snobbery.

Mmm. Wouldn't inverted snobbery have to involve being snobbish about RP accents? As opposed to just disliking ordinary snobbery?

If people say maer, lile, wa-er bo--le. et al. they are not going to spell them correctly, or recognise them when reading. And as for 'I could of wrote this myself'; it was a joke? Please?

PUMPKIN! I though people just said sassenachs in books!

Oh, that's daft. Sorry, but it is.

There isn't good correlation between spelling and sound in English already. It's normal. We cope.

Besides which, most people do use a glottal stop, don't they? Wa'er sounds different from 'waer' or 'water', but so long as you know there's a medial sound there, why does it matter?