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Original poster

Are accents snobbish

327 replies

678somean · 08/09/2023 09:19

I know this is going to get me a lot of backlash. But I love a good debate so thought I'd pose the question....
I hate regional accents. I know they can't be helped but they sound so thick.
There was an article in the Guardian recently where they mentioned that people with regional accents go to speech therapy before moving to London in order to apply for jobs!
I think it's a smart move. But of course not a popular opinion.
I've worked with lots of people in high profile roles and honestly, whether people like it or not, the ones with RP are definitely taken more seriously and respected.
I've noticed all over England that the ones who are highly educated with good jobs rarely have their local accent and most have admitted that it's undesirable to have a regional accent and they are middle/upper class so don't speak with one.
Do others feel the same when applying for high status roles?

OP posts:
WanderingWitches · 08/09/2023 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Mrsjayy · 08/09/2023 09:22

Right you are then so everyone in the UK has to sound Posh English so you want Welsh ,Scottish or Irish people to have an English Accent so you just want the UK to be Southern England? I'm just here for the deletion tbh.

LubaLuca · 08/09/2023 09:23

Do you hate foreign accents too?

LaaDeeDa321 · 08/09/2023 09:23

Wow. People like you really do exist. Are you racist too OP?

WetBandits · 08/09/2023 09:25
Biscuit
Beezknees · 08/09/2023 09:25

Yes, you are a snob.

TheGirlFromTomorrow · 08/09/2023 09:25

Thick as in heavy or stupid?

I don't think every single regional accent can be lumped into categorisation like that, whichever you meant

piglet81 · 08/09/2023 09:27

Good grief

BarbaraofSeville · 08/09/2023 09:28

Ah, classism. The acceptable face of bigotry.

No-one would admit to being racist, homophobic or sexist, especially on here.

Yet people are happy to openly state that they assume that people who speak differently are stupid and uneducated.

Taylorswiftserastour · 08/09/2023 09:29

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Tg2023 · 08/09/2023 09:29

Speech therapy for regional accents?
Sounds as stupid as your ridiculous post! HTH

Seeline · 08/09/2023 09:30

Well no, an accent can't be 'snobbish'.

The way people react to someone with an accent may reveal some unpleasant traits within that person.

Have you ever been to London? There is a huge range of different accents to be heard. I think the BBC even allow regional accents these days.....

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 09:30

Acknowledge it or not. It's true though. Most Headteachers of the top schools speak with RP whether they're in the south or Darlington!

OP posts:
DatumTarum · 08/09/2023 09:31

678somean · 08/09/2023 09:19

I know this is going to get me a lot of backlash. But I love a good debate so thought I'd pose the question....
I hate regional accents. I know they can't be helped but they sound so thick.
There was an article in the Guardian recently where they mentioned that people with regional accents go to speech therapy before moving to London in order to apply for jobs!
I think it's a smart move. But of course not a popular opinion.
I've worked with lots of people in high profile roles and honestly, whether people like it or not, the ones with RP are definitely taken more seriously and respected.
I've noticed all over England that the ones who are highly educated with good jobs rarely have their local accent and most have admitted that it's undesirable to have a regional accent and they are middle/upper class so don't speak with one.
Do others feel the same when applying for high status roles?

In order for there to be a debate, there needs to be some form of valid argument to start with, pet.

Better luck next time! Biscuit

LubaLuca · 08/09/2023 09:32

Do you hate foreign accents too?

DivingForLove · 08/09/2023 09:32

You’re absolutely right about people judging regional accents - this has been demonstrated many times.

Is it ok? No of course it isn’t! I think the rise of social media means it’s dying out too as there isn’t such a small clique governing who can and can’t be heard (currently listening to Vernon Kay on the radio who seems to have managed ok with his regional accent 🙄).

AmbleInAnnBoleyn · 08/09/2023 09:33

So by your metric Billy Connolly is thick, as is Lenny Henry, Bill Bailey, Sarah Millican, Julie Walters, Nigel de Gruchy too?

Goodness me.

Iamacatslave · 08/09/2023 09:33

I’m thick and you are a snob.

BarbaraofSeville · 08/09/2023 09:34

678somean · 08/09/2023 09:30

Acknowledge it or not. It's true though. Most Headteachers of the top schools speak with RP whether they're in the south or Darlington!

Probably related to the fact that too many people like you are in recruitment....

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 09:34

Mrsjayy · 08/09/2023 09:22

Right you are then so everyone in the UK has to sound Posh English so you want Welsh ,Scottish or Irish people to have an English Accent so you just want the UK to be Southern England? I'm just here for the deletion tbh.

No. I'm just talking about English people.
Not Welsh, Scottish or Irish. Although, the ones I do know from those areas have softened their accents majorly so you can barely detect them.

OP posts:
everetting · 08/09/2023 09:36

I always know that if someone has a top job and a strong accent, then they are brilliant at their job.
I have met too many white men in top jobs with posh accents and good clothes who rather obviously do not understand what they are talking about.
So yes you are right. Appearing upper class or upper middle class helps you get promoted. Just as being a white man does.

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 09:36

Tg2023 · 08/09/2023 09:29

Speech therapy for regional accents?
Sounds as stupid as your ridiculous post! HTH

Well I didn't want to say elocution lessons, but that's what I meant.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 08/09/2023 09:38

678somean · 08/09/2023 09:34

No. I'm just talking about English people.
Not Welsh, Scottish or Irish. Although, the ones I do know from those areas have softened their accents majorly so you can barely detect them.

Show quote history

What a load of pish of course they haven't diluted their accents and m sure they have jobs in your ideal English city ! So anyway youthink somebody from Yorkshire or Bristol sound thick ?

MorvernBlack · 08/09/2023 09:38

Hoping this is a troll, as I don't want to believe people like this exist. Especially as I'm working class with a " By 'eck lass" accent and no, not thick.

LakieLady · 08/09/2023 09:38

I think there's a lot of snobbery around regional accents.

It's saddening, I love the diversity of accents we have in the UK.