Regional Accents Lead To Unemployment

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Wed, 2003-10-22 21:21

sabelle-(unverified)

Regional Accents Lead To Unemployment

"Regional accents can hurt job opportunities" - Lindsay Wood

I've just seen this article in an IT recruitment mag. Personally I think it's rubbish.

"Also in Britain, Dr Bernice Mahoney, a lecturer at Worcester College of Higher Education, did some research into the effect different accents have on juries' willingness or unwillingness to trust defendants. There are many conclusions to be drawn from her report, one of which is that, if you're from Birmingham, you might as well just plead guilty.

Spectator editor Boris Johnson claimed he was fired from the BBC for having "too plummy" a voice. Mr Johnson reported that he was sacked from his role of occasional presenter of a Radio 4 political program because the station's controller James Boyle felt his voice "would frighten the horses".

Apart from Brummie accent which does irritate me unfortunately, I love the range of accents. Scottish (Sean Connery, oooooh), Irish, (Daniel Day Lewis), Geordie (Jimmy Nail), and many more.

My favourite is Sean, I love that voice.

Wed, 2003-10-22 22:57

argyll

Accents are impossible. When I'm out of the UK (not often) and I make pathetic attempts to speak the language, locals will call me "anglais." English people easily recognise me as Scots, not difficult, but wouldn't necessarily guess as to where. Scots would easily recognise a strange mixture of Glaswegian and south west highland. Similarly I can easily recognise an English accent but unless a person has a really strong regional accent like Liverpool, Newcastle or west country that is as far as I can guess. I think local accents are becoming less pronounced as people move about more and are influenced by TV and the like but I still love it when I come across people who use words I haven't heard since I was a kid. I wonder, can you tell which part of London someone comes from by how they speak. My Granny, from Glasgow, believed that she could tell whether someone came from north or south of the River Clyde.

Thu, 2003-10-23 06:54

sabelle

I think you're right. So caled London accents seem to be affecting home counties as well. But I love Scottish accents & my friend at work says she can tell where in Scotland someone comes from. It's a shame. I think my accent is bland and boring. Accents seem to be changing and now this bland one only changes from somewhere around the midlands

Thu, 2003-10-23 09:28

mississippi

Well it certainly looks as if an English accent has been dropped in favour of an Indian one, at least as far as HSBC are concerned.

Thu, 2003-10-23 13:29

ja_simpson

Boris Johnson sacked because of his accent??? More likely sacked because he's an annoying, dumb toff. Accents definitely influence me though, every time I hear a girl with an Irish accent I have to try not to fall in love immediately. Anyone from Essex is generally regarded by most northerners I know to be a cockney.

Thu, 2003-10-23 14:12

mississippi

That's a bit like thinking anyone with a northern accent is a Geordie. Wrong in both cases.

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