Posted by Roger Wardale on August 31, 2011 at 12:37:46 user RogerW.
In Reply to: Re: Pronunciation posted by Ed Kiser on August 31, 2011 at 07:47:20:
Interesting discussion.
Ed's 'hillbilly' speech seems to have something in common with extreme 'upper-class' speech — 'Ah' for I and 'Far' for fire, so there could well be something in the claim.
Sadly, the clarity of speech has disappeared and sloppy vowels have crept into most areas of life in the UK.
Both my parents were Londoners, living in the same area. My mother was always conscious that people were inclined to think that she talked 'posh' while my father still spoke like Michael Caine and Dennis Waterman 40 years after moving to Sussex.
Speaking of regional accents, I wonder how many recall Wilfrid Pickles reading the news during the war with a beautiful clear 'northern accent'.
But which is the correct pronunciation — the local or the received?
Near where I live is the little town of Arundel. Many visitors call it arUndel, and this seems more attractive than the local with the emphasis on the A. But Arundel is on the River Arun and River arUn does not sound right.
Earlier this year I went to Newcassel, but I call it Newcarstle. On the other hand, after many visits, I speak of Bonus not Bow-ness.