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Original poster

Well spoken areas - Accents

246 replies

arizonagirl · 30/08/2010 10:21

Hi there,

We currently live in Surrey and I have to admit - the accent is really nice and the children speak so nicely. Always gets comments.

Ok, so we are looking at preps in another home county (probably Hertfordshire/Bucks/Berks). I am going to probably get really slated for this thread but hey...I am intrigued and really do wish to know people's thoughts. Which areas within an hour of London could we go to where people are very well spoken eg. 'yes' instead of 'yeah' etc. Not too impressed with Kent, Essex, Epsom tbh. Looking at Bishops Stortford - any thoughts.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
arizonagirl · 02/09/2010 23:00

Oblomov - we are just outside of Guildford - and yes, everyone always seems to say 'yes' instead of 'yeah'....some people I know also say 'yaah' which drives me crazy - sounds rather pretentious.

PanicMode - I could have written your comment. Yes, you are right, very very generalised I know, but people around here do tend to be quite rude sometimes - there is no thanking others whilst driving and often the children comment that people in the shope seem 'sad and not happy'. PanicMode - please put me out of my curiousity and tell me where you have moved to??? We are looking at Herts and Oxfordshire at the moment.

OP posts:
Semibreve · 03/09/2010 06:05

I grew up in Inverness, in the Highlands. Proper use of Grammer was top of the list, with no 'I seen and I dones', and the use of the 'th'sound was not sounded in the 'f' venacular, which is a real bete noire for me!
The east coast of the Highland intonation has is a lovely lilting sound; soft and clear and easy on the ear.

Semibreve · 03/09/2010 06:06

dead right hen!!

MrsRosie · 03/09/2010 06:37

Funny thread!
I'm from North Kent and my dh from Essex...we now live in the leafy Surrey Suburbs where most have 'neutral/Queen's English' accents...our ds still sounds more like a barrow boy...have tried to beat it out of him (joke!!) but to no avail. My parents speak 'nicely' but I still sound like Lorraine Chase though regularly try to fake it...I don't get it!

PinkyBoo64 · 03/09/2010 11:06

If you leave the South East you're left with the North? Mmm - interesting grasp of British geography. I live in the South West (so therefore may not exist). Can't drive for 2 miles without hitting a Prep school. My children at state school with friends in private schools. Not huge difference in accents tho my DS sometimes sounds more "country". Children in independent schools often speak lazily too "yeah" "ya" and use slang just as frequently. Surely the important thing is that they can be polite, clear and comprehensible whatever the accent. And also highly important, whether the school is academically good (and teaches geography). (NB point of interest - I have friends with perceived "posh" accents and have found these a barrier in communication too)

PanicMode · 03/09/2010 12:16

arizonagirl - we're in a royal town in West Kent, moved from Epsom almost three years ago because with four children we just couldn't do fees for them all, all the way through. DH and I were educated privately from 4 and I would have loved ours to go, but it's out of the (financial) question at the moment, so we picked a place with excellent schools and nice accents Wink.

Good luck with the search!

Original poster
arizonagirl · 03/09/2010 13:44

Thanks for getting back to me panicmode. Could have been written by me. We are very near Epsom, four children and going to struggle one day. Will consider grammar schools later or just look for a good area with good schools. Don't think we can stretch to four later. Many thanks!!

OP posts:
Original poster
arizonagirl · 03/09/2010 13:52

Hey panicmode...just wondering...we were looking at the prep schools in a royal town Wink with the thought that they might pass the 11+. Have you gone privately at the moment or are the state schools good around where you live?

We did drive to West Kent the other week - looked at the area. Quite liked it - the only problem for me is that I grew up very nearby and somehow it kind of feels like a step backwards- if that makes sense Smile

OP posts:
seeker · 03/09/2010 13:54

I believe there are some areas of Edinburgh where they speak very nicely indeed. You could try Morningsaiyde.....

And I don;t want to worry you, but my dd is at grammar school and the car is positively echoing with glottal stops when I take them to a party!

taffetacat · 03/09/2010 18:25

Ah yes seeker but are they being ironic?

seeker · 03/09/2010 18:29

Sadly no. They try that sometimes - they sound utterly ridiculous!

marge2 · 03/09/2010 18:30

Does anyone really think people at stables talk posh? The accents may be nice - but you should hear the language!!!!

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 03/09/2010 18:34

How bizarre to want to chose a school based on accent.

expatinscotland · 03/09/2010 18:38

'You can't beat a man with a Sheffield accent, thinking Sean Bean or similar Phwoar!'

The first British man I ever went with is from Sheffield. He had a plummy, distinct accent. That accent still has a special place in my heart Wink.

I love my daughters' voices so much - DS is just beginning to speak - I often ask them to say certain words just to hear them.

Their voices roll like the hills and glens.

drosophila · 03/09/2010 18:38

But all English accents are the same other than a few that really stand out like Liverpool etc...

I notice the English are very bad at pronouncing their 'r's. Posh folk even more so. That's how I can tell a psoh person from a less posh person...

midnightexpress · 03/09/2010 18:42

Quite. Nice is as nice does, tbh. If your children behave like twats, then everyone will think they are...well...twats, regardless of how rounded their vowels are.

midnightexpress · 03/09/2010 18:44

the English are very bad at pronouncing their 'r's

We aren't bad at it. It's just not part of the accent as it is for Scots people or Americans.

midnightexpress · 03/09/2010 18:44

And if you meet anyone from lancashire, they might disagree too Grin. They have lovely Rs [sic]

drosophila · 03/09/2010 18:52

Don't think I know andone from Lancashire.

No you are bad, I say really bad Grin

PanicMode · 03/09/2010 19:42

arizona - they are in the state system at the moment because I don't want to have to work to pay fees and I guess we will tutor at some point for the 11+ if we have to. Our next door neighbour's children are in the private system - one got in, one didn't; another friend of mine doesn't believe in tutoring, has several children and so far the elder two are in from the state school (ours are in), having had one session with a tutor so that they knew what the papers looked like.

JorrisBohnson · 03/09/2010 19:48

Remove your children's larynx, make them mutes.

It's the only way to ensure no one will ever know if they are common or not.

ShellingPeas · 03/09/2010 23:13

Arf at this thread.

We live in a village close to the Royal town mentioned previously. My DD has just started a new (state) school in a village just outside it. She has been described as 'posh' by the boy who sits next to her in class. Made me laugh as I'm from NZ and still have those terrible flattened vowels even after 20 years.

Arizona, 'tis a nice area to live and you don't have to go private to get 11+ places, even for the super-selectives. My DS went to a not terribly academic state school (out of county so no focus on 11+ at all) and got an SS place.

expatinscotland · 04/09/2010 01:29

Arf @ Jorris!

Arf @ anyone who thinks otherwise of two girls and one boy who don't just speak like Western Highlanders, but think like them.

Tortington · 04/09/2010 01:31

si' the lass the needs to come to lancashire where there is pies. and gravy

seeker · 04/09/2010 07:09

"they are in the state system at the moment" Oh NO - you poor thing! How on earth do you manage?

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