Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on October 18, 2003 at 12:43:57 from 195.93.32.7 user ACB.
In Reply to: Re: Racist, forsooth! (was Blackett English) posted by Peter Ceresole on October 18, 2003 at 12:09:45:
May one ask why?
Why, firstly, has the cult of the regional accent invaded the English language service of the World Service?
I have enough friends who work in the BBC not to wish to embark on the "politics" of why the entire World Service, including the language services, is in such a mess, so pass on that one, but is the World Service being forced to buy unsuitable programming from the domestic BBC or is it just run by nerds?
Why, secondly, is RP, the only form of English that anyone can understand, across the British Isles, "a real obstacle to communication and understanding" a real social obstacle and a malign influence" and why is "the acceptance of regional accents" an "unalloyed improvement"?
If an announcer at Aberdeen airport or Liverpool Street station wishes to communicate with you, in such a manner as to obtain your understanding, they do so in RP.
But yew doant, boi. Whoi?