There's no such thing as a 'British' accent

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Today's horrible news about the apparent death of a US journalist is not being improved for me by the chronic news reports pointing out that one of the people responsible had a 'British' accent. It's bad enough when American networks use the meaningless expression. The man has an 'English' accent, surely?

I agree with other posters. This is a very odd and inappropriate post.

FFS a man has just been beheaded and this is what you start a thread on?

Whats RP accent?

Some Americans can tell the difference between different British accents,but most can't. American accents all sound different. People from the American Deep South think I sound like a Kennedy, but my own accent is more George H W Bush.

FannyFifer "Whats RP accent?"

It stands for Received Pronunciation en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Received_Pronunciation

I have no direct dealings with the OP but I know that she is a very well respected, sensitive and sensible poster - particularly on Relationships.

If you don't believe me, do a search.

She must have had her reasons for this post.

Give it a fucking rest and call off the dogs, okay.

I think most people know the OP, limited period. Its still a poor taste thread as far as I'm concerned.

It is a very concerning situation how many young men from the UK are involved

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/islamic-state-backgrounder-british-fighters-make-up-a-quarter-of-foreign-jihadists-9681547.html

Apparently a quarter.

So RP is what I would call a posh English private school accent then.

limitedperiodonly so it's impossible that she would start an ill-advised or ill thought out thread and wrong for any MNetters to be at all critical/disapprove of any of her posts? Wow. No doubt MNHQ will be along soon to ban any transgressors then.

There's no rent garments or dogs here

I actually do have huge respect for Cog and I agree with her 99% of the time on Relationships. I think the thread is ill-advised, that's all. Doesn't diminish my respect for her as a poster.

Grunt - Actually I do get pretty annoyed when people say something like that, because they're effectively saying they think they're more of an authority on being English (and often they've never even visited the UK) than me. The taxicab driver just made me laugh though, he was a total buffoon. I did have a coworker a while back who admitted he didn't think I sounded "English" to him until the day I came to work with a heavy cold, apparently having a raspy voice brought out my accent more... er okay.

So we know Cog as a generally good poster then?

Perhaps we can nicely ask her to explain then.

As I've said, I have few dealings with her. My one direct dealing was a disagreement. But everything else I've seen and heard has been good.

So why don't you give it rest for a while and give her a chance to return if she wants to?

Would that hurt you lot so much?

From my POV as a journalist, things should be reported as accurately as possible.

That includes saying where the person comes from or appears to come from. So in Britain it's relevant to pinpoint it. For an international audience, not so much.

Actually, isn't that what everyone who isn't a journalist says too? Or have I got that wrong? Do people here think it's okay when journalists are vague about facts?

Funnily enough, I've never noticed that. Unless, of course it suits people.

Anyway, once you make your minds up...

That includes saying where the person comes from or appears to come from. So in Britain it's relevant to pinpoint it. For an international audience, not so much.

I disagree. Pinpointing where he was from is irrelevant. The fact that he sounds like he was from Britain is sufficient. Not that you can actually tell where someone is from simply by their accent.

It's highly relevant seeing as he's wanted for murder owlcapone.

give her a chance to return if she wants to?

Given she's posted elsewhere since her last post here that seems rather unlikely.

YABU. The UK has a huge amount of geographical mobility (assuming we're talking this century), less so outside of the UK, and people from every sub-country of the UK can have an accent normally associated with another sub-country, and some regions can be more similar to sub-countries they are not part of than to the recieved pronunciation of their region. British is a good term to cover the entire UK and you cannot tell where someone lives or where they were born from how they speak ffs.

I thinkit's bern reported accurately.

Because for security/defence issues, the UK counts as one nation IYSWM under the Westminster govt, and Britishs therefore the accurate descriptor of the nation from which he came and the government who will lead in identifying him and seeing what, if anything, can be done now.

RP btw is a specific accent, rarely heard these days. Think cut glass 1950s newsreaders in black tie.

No, it is irrelevant where in Britain his accent appears to be from.

Do people here think it's ok when journalists are vague about facts?

Yes! Rather that than make things up and have to retract. Which is my whole problem with this thread. The murder only happened today. Or at least, evidence of it was released via footage. What the fuck does it matter, today, whether the 'British' accent is narrowed down to a region? We all have to absorb the absolute horror of the situation and what happened. Surely the minutiae details can wait until tomorrow when there's been a chance to investigate further? It's not a thread for today of all days, IMO.

And Limited, the OP who is not a newcomer to MN has chosen to post about a sensitive news story in AIBU. It's not surprising that posters have been honest about their thoughts.

From a reporting POV it is entirely irrelevant and "British" is accurate enough.

Speaking of accuracy.... he is not 'wanted for murder'. No one has any idea who he is yet or who might have jurisdiction, no charges have been filed anywhere, etc.

Is the idea that we need to know his precise accent so, what, your average person on the street might ID him? With no idea what his name is, what he looks like, what country he's from, etc?

Bowler is right, cautious journalism is in order here. We'll know more within a couple days.

What Bowlersarm said.

I think some people are confusing accuracy and precision. It is accurate to say he sounds British. If they'd tried to be more precise, there'd be more danger they were inaccurate.

I think this might be the first thread on here I actually hide. I'm sorry OP that the description of a British accent as 'British' has upset you so much - what a terrible loss for you.

I'm in NZ and it's been described as a London accent on a news source here.

HTH.

I think this is completely the wrong time to bring this up, in light of what you are referring to. However I COMPLETELY agree with you OP. Surely the American's are not stupid and can hear that each different country that makes up Britain sounds different. OP is not quibbling about not being able to pinpoint the exact area, but come on, everyone can hear the difference in Scottish, English and Welsh accents!