Posted by Brian Maskell on April 22, 1999 at 11:08:41:
In Reply to: Re: We Americans think we speak English posted by Jon on April 08, 1999 at 14:49:07:
At risk of controversy (or is it contra-ver-see). It really irritates me the way the English seem to think the way they speak is in some way superior to other English speaking people.
Personally I find the way "average English" is spoken in the UK is often ugly and ignorant. The emergence of a sloppy, course style of speaking is now so prevalent - even on the BBC. What would Lord Reith think? I notice the NATO spokesman who has been on the TV everyday with the recent Kosovo war has disturbing tendency to speak like a hobble-de-hoi.
I find the American language vibrant, interesting, varied, and full of all kinds of subtleties, growing and developing every day, and ready to encompass the diversity of the American people. Wonderful stuff.
Now British regional accents are a national treasure. I love the various Cumbrian accents - which of course AR makes a hash of. I notice that the Cumbrian accents can vary even from town to town. Perhaps I should say dialeect rather than accent, as the variations seem to be realted to word usage rather than accent. Sadly these regional accents seem to be being overtaking by the sloppy, slovenly south-east speak that I find some irritating.
Please feel free to correct me if I am displaying ignorance of British culture and language.