Topical Language Issue - "It is important that we teach children that, to get on, they must speak standard english with a RP accent"
RP or "Received Pronunciation" is: "the standard form British English pronunciation, based on educated speech in southern England, widely accepted as a standard elsewhere"(1)
In today's society, topical issues such as: Climate change, Unemployment, Government Corruption, seem to be the basis of most headlines. They're divisive, opinionated and open to popular debates, with accompanying unpopular opinions. However, I'm sure that most of the British public, would agree that the topic of language would not be one of these raging issues, and are much rather a sub-category to other subject matters such as education; in my opinion this is something we need to talk about more. Although in recent months ideas have started to change, and articles have started to arise out of the dust.
An article written by the Guardian on the 22/05/18 states: "Received pronunciation may be dying out – but its passing is long overdue" (2)
The article touches on the idea that although as "distasteful" as it may seem, peoples accent does "hinder a person's success" and that the "the powerful elite will recoil from those who sound different from them", those that are lucky enough to have accents that may be regional, (Rural - country, Urban - city) or national (Scottish, Welsh, Irish etc.) feel out of place and unwelcome.
Another article written by Guardian Writer Matt Dathan (22/11/13) (3) highlights the statistic, that almost 28% of Brits feel discriminated against because of their accents and whether or not because of someone's accent, does it "hinder job prospects". In particular, accents such as "Brummy", which as stated by a regional speaker sounds "a bit common" , may in fact affect job prospects, specifically with-in the interviewing phase. A statistic shows that "16%" of Brummies and "2% "of Scottish people try and reduce their natural accent, in fear that they could come across as "common" and although it is not advised by Brian Staines a career advisor at Bristol University to "suggest anybody to change their accent" Francesca Turner, a National Careers Service adviser however,says that regional speakers should avoid regional slang, and that there is a difference between "speaking 'properly'" (whatever that means) and said regional slang. Mixed messages I know!
The Daily Telegraph, wrote an article in 2004, about the government actually instilling systems of taping and playing back audio of students who had "declining speaking skills" and that the system and guidance would help with the (4)"teenagers (who) are leaving school unable to express themselves adequately" . It also states that the national curriculum promotes that all "Secondary School pupils should be able to speak fluently and appropriately in different contexts and use standard English"
In conclusion, most of society, believe that regional accents need to be simmered down, and that although accents are apart of someone's identity, it is promoted by government officials that due to the regional accents sounding "sloppy" those who hold such dialects should "simmer" them down, in order to come across employable. This must in their eyes start with children; building 5 year olds to become multi-billionaires, and have voices that sound like old tapes on repeat until they crackle out of play, in order for them to be able to live somewhat successful lives.
Personally, I believe it's 2019, and in today's world, we have celebrities such as influencer "Scarlett Moffatt (who comes from County Durham) who freely expresses how they feel through their accents, and are still successful figure heads in industries such as entertainment and media; however, i cannot quite help but also understand why officials are so worried about children's speech and the impact that different dialects and accents may have on future prospects because although our society has never been more liberal than it is now, especially in recent years, old eggs still run the country and still create the rules and biases. Therefore still with-holding issues such as accent close to their own beliefs, and believing the other stereotypes that countries may have on ("posh")Great Britain, creating more pressure for the younger individuals and generations to live up to its name.
Lizzy
Links:
(1) https://www.google.com/search?ei=2_FZXPaOGPiR1fAP0fO38AQ&q=received+pronunciation&oq=recived+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i10l10.109612.118367..120348...1.0..0.92.756.9......5....1..gws-wiz.....6..0i71j35i39j0i131j0j0i67j0i131i67.f6m53k4TgsE
(2) https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2018/may/22/received-pronunciation-may-be-dying-out-but-its-passing-is-long-overdue
(3) https://www.theguardian.com/careers/accent-hinder-job-prospects
(4) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1468911/School-children-to-be-taught-how-to-speak-properly.html
In today's society, topical issues such as: Climate change, Unemployment, Government Corruption, seem to be the basis of most headlines. They're divisive, opinionated and open to popular debates, with accompanying unpopular opinions. However, I'm sure that most of the British public, would agree that the topic of language would not be one of these raging issues, and are much rather a sub-category to other subject matters such as education; in my opinion this is something we need to talk about more. Although in recent months ideas have started to change, and articles have started to arise out of the dust.
An article written by the Guardian on the 22/05/18 states: "Received pronunciation may be dying out – but its passing is long overdue" (2)
The article touches on the idea that although as "distasteful" as it may seem, peoples accent does "hinder a person's success" and that the "the powerful elite will recoil from those who sound different from them", those that are lucky enough to have accents that may be regional, (Rural - country, Urban - city) or national (Scottish, Welsh, Irish etc.) feel out of place and unwelcome.
Another article written by Guardian Writer Matt Dathan (22/11/13) (3) highlights the statistic, that almost 28% of Brits feel discriminated against because of their accents and whether or not because of someone's accent, does it "hinder job prospects". In particular, accents such as "Brummy", which as stated by a regional speaker sounds "a bit common" , may in fact affect job prospects, specifically with-in the interviewing phase. A statistic shows that "16%" of Brummies and "2% "of Scottish people try and reduce their natural accent, in fear that they could come across as "common" and although it is not advised by Brian Staines a career advisor at Bristol University to "suggest anybody to change their accent" Francesca Turner, a National Careers Service adviser however,says that regional speakers should avoid regional slang, and that there is a difference between "speaking 'properly'" (whatever that means) and said regional slang. Mixed messages I know!
However, how does this relate back to the question of "is it important to teach children that, to get on, they must speak standard english with a RP accent?" well, with-in Matt Dathan's article, a school in the West-Midlands, recently banned Students from speaking their regional slang, in order to improve their employability. This clearly links to the ideology that speaking in a"Standard English" form is subsequently an important aspect to those across the country who carry certain dialectical features from their places of birth, and that the education system is fully aware, that this bias and stereotypical behaviour may in fact have an effect on the younger generation who are going through their doors like baked bean tins in a factory.
In conclusion, most of society, believe that regional accents need to be simmered down, and that although accents are apart of someone's identity, it is promoted by government officials that due to the regional accents sounding "sloppy" those who hold such dialects should "simmer" them down, in order to come across employable. This must in their eyes start with children; building 5 year olds to become multi-billionaires, and have voices that sound like old tapes on repeat until they crackle out of play, in order for them to be able to live somewhat successful lives.
Personally, I believe it's 2019, and in today's world, we have celebrities such as influencer "Scarlett Moffatt (who comes from County Durham) who freely expresses how they feel through their accents, and are still successful figure heads in industries such as entertainment and media; however, i cannot quite help but also understand why officials are so worried about children's speech and the impact that different dialects and accents may have on future prospects because although our society has never been more liberal than it is now, especially in recent years, old eggs still run the country and still create the rules and biases. Therefore still with-holding issues such as accent close to their own beliefs, and believing the other stereotypes that countries may have on ("posh")Great Britain, creating more pressure for the younger individuals and generations to live up to its name.
Lizzy
Links:
(1) https://www.google.com/search?ei=2_FZXPaOGPiR1fAP0fO38AQ&q=received+pronunciation&oq=recived+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i10l10.109612.118367..120348...1.0..0.92.756.9......5....1..gws-wiz.....6..0i71j35i39j0i131j0j0i67j0i131i67.f6m53k4TgsE
(2) https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2018/may/22/received-pronunciation-may-be-dying-out-but-its-passing-is-long-overdue
(3) https://www.theguardian.com/careers/accent-hinder-job-prospects
(4) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1468911/School-children-to-be-taught-how-to-speak-properly.html
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