4 ms·

The UK is a hierarchical society enforced by those at every level. It's ingrained, having certain accents is an advantage.

by stuaxo 4y ago

nirimda 4y ago
Is it much different than the US? I hear a lot of anecdotes suggesting people with certain accents in the US getting criticised (even when it's not a proxy for race - e.g. Boston or southern accents), whereas accents closer to General American seem to have a social advantage. Some Americans even maintain two accents.
- Ocerge 4y ago
  Having grown up in Central Texas, I absolutely have a Texas drawl in my back pocket whenever I want it, but generally my accent is just standard American + overuse of "y'all". The drawl comes out usually for comedic effect or if I recently talked to my dad on the phone. I don't think I've considered either aspect of my accent advantageous. I might feel differently if my accent was deeply southern, however.
  - arethuza 4y ago
    I have to say that being from the UK (and a class oblivious Scot) I found people in Texas referring to me as "sir" deeply disturbing.
TheLoafOfBread 4y ago
Exactly this. The more north in UK you come from, the less class status you have by default. I am honestly surprised that BBC needed a survey for that.
- arethuza 4y ago
  "The more north in UK you come from, the less class status you have by default." As someone who comes from the North East of Scotland I'm not sure I'd agree with that... then again I might be blissfully unaware of my lowly status in life.
  - was_a_dev 4y ago
    My partner and I both grew up in Yorkshire, and she has a strong Yorkshire accent. She trained to be a doctor in Nottingham, where she was typically undermined by other doctors and patients due to her accent and the percieved professionalism that is lacking with that accent. We now live in the North East, and she hasn't had a repeated experience from anyone local - just those with a more 'southernly' accent. The respect she's given is night and day in difference. In conversation with her colleagues, I asked if the inverse was true for them. Did their southern accent cause a barrier with the patients in the North East? None of her colleagues could comprehend the question, let alone could provide a clear answer.
- toyg 4y ago
  > I am honestly surprised that BBC needed a survey for that. Obviously they don't, what they need is to occasionally justify activity to redress the well-known imbalance. One might argue this need is at its highest, in a climate where the last 5 prime ministers are Oxford graduates.

The UK is a hierarchical society enforced by those at every level. It's ingrained, having certain accents is an advantage.

by stuaxo 4y ago

The UK is a hierarchical society enforced by those at every level. It's ingrained, having certain accents is an advantage.

nirimda 4y ago

Is it much different than the US? I hear a lot of anecdotes suggesting people with certain accents in the US getting criticised (even when it's not a proxy for race - e.g. Boston or southern accents), whereas accents closer to General American seem to have a social advantage. Some Americans even maintain two accents.

Ocerge 4y ago
Having grown up in Central Texas, I absolutely have a Texas drawl in my back pocket whenever I want it, but generally my accent is just standard American + overuse of "y'all". The drawl comes out usually for comedic effect or if I recently talked to my dad on the phone. I don't think I've considered either aspect of my accent advantageous. I might feel differently if my accent was deeply southern, however.
- arethuza 4y ago
  I have to say that being from the UK (and a class oblivious Scot) I found people in Texas referring to me as "sir" deeply disturbing.

TheLoafOfBread 4y ago

Exactly this. The more north in UK you come from, the less class status you have by default. I am honestly surprised that BBC needed a survey for that.

arethuza 4y ago
"The more north in UK you come from, the less class status you have by default." As someone who comes from the North East of Scotland I'm not sure I'd agree with that... then again I might be blissfully unaware of my lowly status in life.
- was_a_dev 4y ago
  My partner and I both grew up in Yorkshire, and she has a strong Yorkshire accent. She trained to be a doctor in Nottingham, where she was typically undermined by other doctors and patients due to her accent and the percieved professionalism that is lacking with that accent. We now live in the North East, and she hasn't had a repeated experience from anyone local - just those with a more 'southernly' accent. The respect she's given is night and day in difference. In conversation with her colleagues, I asked if the inverse was true for them. Did their southern accent cause a barrier with the patients in the North East? None of her colleagues could comprehend the question, let alone could provide a clear answer.
toyg 4y ago
> I am honestly surprised that BBC needed a survey for that. Obviously they don't, what they need is to occasionally justify activity to redress the well-known imbalance. One might argue this need is at its highest, in a climate where the last 5 prime ministers are Oxford graduates.