The perfect example of differing British accents causing a comprehension problem.
Famously when Jacob Rees-Mogg stood as the Conservative candidate for 'Central Fife' (in Scotland) in 1997, it was claimed that the electorate couldn't understand a word of what he was saying; nor could Mogg understand them! Not surprisingly, he failed to be elected.
I can understand some of what this Scottish MP is saying, but he can't resist breaking into an indecipherable accent at the key moment.
I stay in North Fife and used to have trouble. When in a three way conversation but after a few months one picks it up. Weegie is far worse and one lady I know still speaks very slowly as if to an idiot. Happen she's not far off the mark.
ReplyDeleteThe MP in this video really does need subtitles!
DeleteHe's doing it on purpose.
DeleteYou may well be right; his 15 mins of fame!
DeleteI am spaniar and no spiking inglis, and I yes understood the parlamentary scotis.
ReplyDeleteis very easy with good will.
Jajaja
Well, you're a better person than me! I could just about understand half of it; but I'm a southerner.
DeleteI could understand him perfectly well. He did speak very quickly though, and as suggested, perhaps deliberately. Scottish is easy compared to the Lancashire accent.
ReplyDeleteBits were OK, but then he suddenly breaks into the unknown.
DeleteThat is funny to listen to, but I think everyone would understand if he just spoke slower.
ReplyDeleteHe suddenly speeds-up, as if he wants to get it over with. It's at that moment when it fails.
DeleteWell I understood it and don't understand what the fuss was all about
ReplyDeleteHave you Scottish ancestors?
DeleteDon’t know what the problem is. Perfectly intelligible to me.
ReplyDeleteAre you Boris McTavish from The Highlands?
DeleteMcTraveller from The Lowlands.
DeleteIt would be helpful if all politicians, newscasters, actors and actresses spoke in solid Yorkshire accents. I would be happy to involved in the lucrative voice coaching scheme. It would be extra helpful if Jacob Rees-Mogg had his voice box surgically removed.
ReplyDeleteMogg has a perfectly good, clear, understandable, accent. I suggest he does Elocution lessons on BBC TV.
DeleteWHAT! Like Jared O'Mara you mean, the bloke you voted for and was so spaced out you couldn't see it.
DeleteThe kinder voice of the leftard. Nowt wrong with Mogg other than he's a bit lefty.
I understood everything - I just love his accent!
ReplyDeleteLooks like it's just me and the Aussie who have problems.
DeleteMy mother tongue being of the guttural variety too I have no problem understanding the Scottish accent.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what that guy in your clip did is discourteous. He was asked to slow it down, he didn´t. That´s just a piss take.
Mind you, and this may amuse you, on my first visit to England to meet my future parents-in-law the father spoke VERY LOUDLY when addressing me, the foreigner. "She isn´t deaf", his son drily observed.
U
The old British idea of foreign languages was to speak slowly, and loudly, in ENGLISH. It always worked.
DeleteMy daughter had a run-in with a Geordie accent while trying to sort out some required paperwork. Her husband was no help, rolling around in hysterical laughter like he was. I could not understand the man, but I am still on my first coffee. He was asked to slow down, but he did not slow down...in fact it seems that he did just the opposite. I expect that he's quite a lot of fun at a gathering.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that broad Geordie is the most difficult of accents to understand. I'm even amazed that they can understand each other!
DeleteLove it
ReplyDeleteIt's all good fun.
DeletePassing judgement on an individual based on dialect/accent is common in many circles. For example, in Boston, Massachusetts: if you slur your "R's" you are identified a Bostonian. The test is: try saying "Park the car in Harvard Square like this: Pak the ca in Havad Squae." Omitting the "R" is the give away.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're not suggesting that this was 'passing judgement' in any form. It's always been a bit of fun in the UK to play with regional accents; we love them all (some more than others!).
DeleteWe Aussies don't pronounce our "Rs' and our "Ts" mostly come out sounding like "Ds'
DeleteWe're a lazy bunch I guess. But I don't know anyone who DOES pronounce the "R" that ISN'T American.
My grown up Grandsons were born and raised in Ayr in Scotland and when they call me on the phone I have to keep asking them to repeat themselves because the accent is so broad.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Just remembered the builder that we use comes from Liverpool and he is even worse. He talks so quickly and is completely unintelligible. lol
ReplyDeleteReally 'broad scouse' can be very tricky, and of course they have their own words for certain things.
DeleteWhen I was a Samaritan , if I got a Glaswegian caller , i more or less gave up
ReplyDeleteI think the man in the video is from Glasgow.
DeleteDavid Linden is very softly spoken for a Glaswegian.
ReplyDelete