Standards slipping ?

[pilotlight]

As we now regularly hear our newsreaders remarking " thanks for drawrring that to my attention ", or "Everton and Chelsea are drawrring at present " etc., how long before we hear " this is the fird case of it's kind ", or " fird in succession to the throne " ?

Anyone care to comment ?

[noxlumos]

Yeah, I like regional accents which is actually what you are critising. Cockney's say "fird" , people from Dublin say "turd" and frankly I can understand both so the fact that RP is no longer a must doesn't bother me a scrap. Cut glass english is an affected nonsense anyway, who wants to have the News read by the Scarlet Pimpernel?

[kick3m0n]

it's not a new thing tho pilotlight. I remember on Play School when I was young thinking that it was odd that the presenter said the word "pattrin". My mum explained that they meant "pattern". Also remember the pronounciation of "bringing" as "bring-Ging", which as a Scot, is odd to me.

But to be honest, I don't mind what accent someone reads the news to me in, tho rab McGlinchey, interpreting for the neds may be a step too far for serious news!! Perhaps people that talk "correctly" are thought to have more gravitas and solemnity, as required for news programmes. The addition of the "rr" sound is common, as you pointed out, and is almost like an attempt to be extra posh/correct, but instead it sounds odd.

[Drusilla1S]

I'm glad the cut glass accents of a young Queen Elizabeth are no longer in vogue on TV, though they are still too prevalent on Radio 4 news for my liking. I prefer the regional accents and don't believe they have to detract from the information being given, though Jimmy Nail reading the Nine O' Clock news as Oz might be a step too far.

[Drusilla1S]

Is the News at 10 O' Clock these days?

[lankeela]

Don't know - since I got the 'puter I only read the headlines and don't turn the TV on!

[Quizmonster]

As a Scot, I always found it odd that English speakers could - and usually did - say 'cinemar' but could pronounce 'star' only as 'stah'!

[pilotlight]

noxlumos, If I were to criticize regional accents, I would be criticizing myself, as I speak with a regional accent. No criticism made of regional accents --- no criticism meant.

Regarding the subject of the posting,I don't think it's too much to ask that a highly paid professional national broadcaster's enunciation be correct.