Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:08

marblesthecat · 08/09/2023 16:02

You're being very disingenuous now.
a) Most MN users are women so people are going to assume you are too unless you state otherwise.
b) As for "my post was only a question", you've insulted a huge demographic of people. You didn't say "Certain accents are discriminated against" you said anyone without an RP accent "sounds thick" and then when people naturally felt insulted, you said that all of the people getting offended were "northerners and lower class southerners which only reinforced your point". Can you not see why people wouldn't take kindly to being called lower class?

Absolutely, I wrote the post for that purpose.
I want people to say how they really feel.
No politeness needed.

OP posts:
cobden28 · 08/09/2023 16:09

You can still speak clearly with good diction yet still retain your regional accent.

Mum and I came down south when I was 9 and I was teased because of my strong north-east accent, to the extent that I was actually sent to elocution lessons for several years. It wasn't until I was into my thirties that Mum admitted the reason I was sent to elocution lessons was to make me lose my accent and thus become more socially acceptable. I'm proud to say that after 59 years of living in Hampshire I'm told I still have a distinct north-country twang to my speech and it pleases me no end when people comment to this effect.

Personally I'm not too keen on posh accents as some of them sound too 'plummy'. A regional accent is part of one's upbringing and heritage, and as such should be treasured and where possible, preserved.

Robyn847 · 08/09/2023 16:09

"I'm a snob and in my high-flying job I only work with other snobs, who didn't used to be snobs but decided to learn to be snobby so they would stand a better chance at fitting in with the rest of us snobs and also getting a snobby job. Other snobs I work with agree that only snobs fit in here with all us snobs. I spoke to someone who teaches people to snobs and she said all the wannabee-snobs she deals with have made the right decision to become snobs too."

Oh knob off OP! Don't you realise that here in regional accent land there's millions of people who are perfectly happy NOT doing high flying snobby jobs purely because it would involve having to work with shallow bigoted narrow minded oafs like yourself? You think losing an accent is a 'smart move' and that everyone is either desperate to do the same, or moronic for not wanting too. We don't, we really don't. We're all sat here laughing at you snobs who that think this is actually important or matters in life? We would HATE to live or work in your very fake shallow world.

Your work environment sounds like a massive case of Emperor's New Clothes. You're all deluded.

Now do excuse me, thall af ekscuse mi, babbies scriking, th'eldest will be omm soon from out o't coal mine and av got furt run iz bath. Nar then. Wheres mi whippet run off ter?

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:10

Sorry for the poor comprehension, and yes us trolls do go to school 🙄

OP posts:
marblesthecat · 08/09/2023 16:13

678somean · 08/09/2023 16:08

Absolutely, I wrote the post for that purpose.
I want people to say how they really feel.
No politeness needed.

Show quote history

For what purpose? To deliberately insult and upset people? You said you like a debate but most of your replies are just insults.

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:13

Robyn847 · 08/09/2023 16:09

"I'm a snob and in my high-flying job I only work with other snobs, who didn't used to be snobs but decided to learn to be snobby so they would stand a better chance at fitting in with the rest of us snobs and also getting a snobby job. Other snobs I work with agree that only snobs fit in here with all us snobs. I spoke to someone who teaches people to snobs and she said all the wannabee-snobs she deals with have made the right decision to become snobs too."

Oh knob off OP! Don't you realise that here in regional accent land there's millions of people who are perfectly happy NOT doing high flying snobby jobs purely because it would involve having to work with shallow bigoted narrow minded oafs like yourself? You think losing an accent is a 'smart move' and that everyone is either desperate to do the same, or moronic for not wanting too. We don't, we really don't. We're all sat here laughing at you snobs who that think this is actually important or matters in life? We would HATE to live or work in your very fake shallow world.

Your work environment sounds like a massive case of Emperor's New Clothes. You're all deluded.

Now do excuse me, thall af ekscuse mi, babbies scriking, th'eldest will be omm soon from out o't coal mine and av got furt run iz bath. Nar then. Wheres mi whippet run off ter?

Brilliant. That was an enjoyable read. Thank you for your contribution.

OP posts:
Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:15

The replies I'm getting are insults too so 🙄

OP posts:
marblesthecat · 08/09/2023 16:16

Lol OK enjoy your trolling OP.

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:19

marblesthecat · 08/09/2023 16:16

Lol OK enjoy your trolling OP.

Just a game Oliver, just a game!

OP posts:
TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 08/09/2023 16:20

I can't believe that MN are so desperate for clicks that they let blatant trolling stand these days. This place has gone to the dogs.

I mean, it's not even witty!

Butchyrestingface · 08/09/2023 16:21

678somean · 08/09/2023 11:11

Lol, that's obviously not relevant to my post. I'm only referring to English people... 🙄

Show quote history

Yes, and why ARE you only referring to English people? Surely someone as erudite as yourself must be aware that are variations of RP in other parts of the UK, (ie, Scottish RP)?

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:24

Absolutely, I already said I'm only talking about English people.

OP posts:
Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:25

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 08/09/2023 16:20

I can't believe that MN are so desperate for clicks that they let blatant trolling stand these days. This place has gone to the dogs.

I mean, it's not even witty!

Perhaps not witty but many people are commenting so it's a conversation

OP posts:
marblesthecat · 08/09/2023 16:27

678somean · 08/09/2023 16:25

Perhaps not witty but many people are commenting so it's a conversation

Show quote history

Yeah but trolling isn't really fun unless there's a made up story like the Savernake Forest thread. Can you not make a thread like that?

BrightLightTonight · 08/09/2023 16:29

And have you ever listened to a real London accent? Definitely not in the slightest posh

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:30

Doesn't have to be fun. I made the post for a conversation and people are commenting.
If you don't like it you don't have to comment 🤘🏼

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 08/09/2023 16:30

678somean · 08/09/2023 16:24

Absolutely, I already said I'm only talking about English people.

Yes. But why?

Willyoujustbequiet · 08/09/2023 16:32

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

So you are racist then?

It's only English people with accents that are thick?

Try harder OP.

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:33

BrightLightTonight · 08/09/2023 16:29

And have you ever listened to a real London accent? Definitely not in the slightest posh

Edited

I hear real London accents all the time.
There are many: I've already addressed that some wouldn't be desirable either.
A cockney would be looked down upon same as a northerner.

OP posts:
Wideskye · 08/09/2023 16:37

My Grandparents, parents, siblings, children, husband and myself have at least one degree from Russell Group Universities. We are all professionals, medicine, veterinary medicine, education, law, University Professors, United Nations and the diplomatic service.
We have Scottish and Northern accents. We haven't modified our accents but wouldn't use colloquialisms.

Most of us have worked at some point in London. None of us have acquired a M25 accent whatever that is.
If I remember correctly the M25 cuts through 6 counties and Greater London. One would think there would be diverse accents in the 117 miles.

Most of us have worked in other countries.
Still speaking at world wide conferences.

We are dreadfully sorry that we are so thick and you can't understand us.

The South of England seems rather parochial

Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:38

Lots of theatre types also do the same thing.
So all the hate I'm getting is nonsense.
Real people who have been through it know what I'm talking about.
Lovely to hear all the positive comments though.

OP posts:
Original poster
678somean · 08/09/2023 16:41

Wideskye · 08/09/2023 16:37

My Grandparents, parents, siblings, children, husband and myself have at least one degree from Russell Group Universities. We are all professionals, medicine, veterinary medicine, education, law, University Professors, United Nations and the diplomatic service.
We have Scottish and Northern accents. We haven't modified our accents but wouldn't use colloquialisms.

Most of us have worked at some point in London. None of us have acquired a M25 accent whatever that is.
If I remember correctly the M25 cuts through 6 counties and Greater London. One would think there would be diverse accents in the 117 miles.

Most of us have worked in other countries.
Still speaking at world wide conferences.

We are dreadfully sorry that we are so thick and you can't understand us.

The South of England seems rather parochial

I didn't say you were thick. If you read my op you'd know that's not what I meant at all.

OP posts:
oynix · 08/09/2023 16:41

678somean · 08/09/2023 15:50

I read your whole post and I truly rate you.
You mentioned a lot of things that I didn't know about.
I thank you for educating me. These are the kind of responses that I value rather than people just bashing me with no real reason or explanation.

Show quote history

No real reason? Other than you deliberately being a goady xenophobic cunt you mean?

Willyoujustbequiet · 08/09/2023 16:42

Technonan · 08/09/2023 15:34

Someone has probably already said this, so apologies if I am repeating things. Regional acents have roots that lie in earlier forms of English - they don't represent a 'fall from grace', they represent a different starting point. The different dialects of English have roots in forms of English that were often not mutually comprehensible, from the times when what we now call England (and a fair bit of Scotland) was divided up into several different kingdoms.

RP is an accent, not a dialect, and is relatively recent. It developed from the East Midlands accent in the 15th century. The East Midlands accent was associated with the centres of learning - Oxford and Cambridge, and was associated with London, the capital, so it gained prestige, but it didn't gain the (lessening) prestige is has now until the end of the 18th century.

It's just another accent. In earlier periods, different parts of Britain were the centres of power, particularly the Kingdom of Northumbria that contained the East Yorkshire ports, the great cathedral of Durham, and stretched a fair way into Scotland. If it hadn't fallen, we might well be seeing Geordie as the 'best' way to speak.

Is it snobbish to prefer RP? Probably, but more importantly, it suggests someone who is deeply ill-informed about the history and development of the English Language.

This.

I thought this was common knowledge but it appears not. Hopefully your post will have educated the OP.

Wsmi · 08/09/2023 16:43

OP is making a point that is well known and well understood. The faux outrage just shows stupidity of posters who don’t understand that this is not exclusive to UK alone. Every single country or culture in the world operates in this way. Try having a southern accent in the US, or regional accent in India. Do you think it’s any different in those places. Accent snobbery exists absolutely everywhere in the world.