Just recently I met a Scottish man whilst out walking with Billy, and I'm afraid to say I couldn't understand a single word he said. I had to simply nod, and made an excuse to escape.
Strong accents aren't a major problem in the UK, but occasionally they can be 'troublesome'. I hate having to ask people to repeat themselves, but when I do, I simply pretend to be a bit deaf; which usually solves the problem.
Of course, it's not only accents that can be a problem, lack of diction is probably even worse. I fear that with little 'Drama' or 'Public Speaking' taught in our schools, the problem will only get worse.
I was listening to Radio 4 Extra recently, and I could hardly understand what anyone was saying, then David Attenborough came on with one of his 15 minute talks, and I could understand him perfectly. What a difference!
Just last night we went to our nearby church for a candle-lit service of Carols and six Lessons. I'm sorry to say that only ONE of the lessons was spoken with any diction; all the others were mumbled. I enjoyed the singing!
I don't think I'm alone in not understanding what people say. Maybe this is something that needs to be addressed in our schools. Communication is all about being understood, and that is important. It should, and can, be TAUGHT.
27 comments:
Perhaps you need to get the wax in your ears cleared out.
I suspect it's your problem, I live amongst the heathen Scots and have far fewer problems communicating than I had whilst working in France and Spain. If they struggle to understand me I just shout louder.
Regarding your final paragraph, yes it can be taught but my experience of school leads me to suspect that it is unlikely to be taught by teachers. With few exceptions they were a
useless lot.
Don't be silly!
No, it's not my problem. When anyone speaks clearly I understand them at once, when they don't I have difficulty. This isn't a new problem. I, and most others, are much the same.
Most people I know have the same problem, especially with young people. They simply don't speak properly. Speaking in order to be understood is very important, it SHOULD be taught.
I agree with you. Diction was a big thing in my home and school. Between Welsh, English and Latin, care had to be taken to use exactly the right word, and to be understood as using the right word.
I'm married to a South Londoner, and he drives me spare sometimes. He will admit that he had little chance of hearing the correct pronunciation of words, at home or in school. And he drops the hard 'd' or 't' at the end of words. Annoying!!!!
They seem to speak so fast these days too. We abandon so many TV programmes because of this, and that they seem to mumble too so you can't hear them. Then the advert break comes on and blasts away at you because you've had to turn the volume up!
Your ears are blocked, you said so only the other day. If you could hear properly you would pick up the sounds you are clearly missing.
I agree with you. I think that it is the height of good manners to speak clearly and more slowly when addressing foreigners and people with strong regional accents. Folk have often said to me - You speak so clearly - I can understand you.
I had a bad cold, and was temporarily hard of hearing. My hearing returned ages ago.
At school we were all expected to speak clearly. We performed in plays, took part in debates, read poetry out loud, etc. I suspect your husband's 'problem' is more accent than diction. S London accents can be very strong.
I find it very frustrating, even well known actors just mumble their words. I don't think my TV helps, the sound quality isn't perfect; but even so....
I know exactly what you mean. I was going through the tv channels yesterday looking for an English speaking channel. Found a French one, Greek of course, then one which I just could not understand. I thought maybe it was Bulgarian. Then an English word popped out at me.
I watched for a few minutes, more English words popped out. I looked and saw it was an English programme but have no idea what sort of English they were speaking.
Same with Greek. My daughters M in law and her sisters speak so fast I get one word in 10. Have no chance of having a conversation on the phone.
I've never had any problem being understood, even by people who speak with very strong accents. I probably speak French with a strong English accent, but I never have problems there either.
I always remember the Tonight programme and Fyfe Robertson was interviewing someone in Scotland in the street and you couldn't understand a single word ..... it was a complete waste of time !!! Most tv/radio stations now have interviewers who speak so badly .... I think it's to relate and get down with the kids !!! I always thought a requirement to be on radio and tv would be a good speaking voice { not the plum in the mouth voice that they had in the 1930's/40's } but that seems to be a thing of the past. XXXX
I think the Harry Hill video above demonstrates the problem very well. I could listen to those people all day long and I wouldn't understand a word.
Fyfe Robertson himself had a very strong accent, but he had good diction. He also spoke quite slowly. I wonder who interviews people for TV/Radio speaking jobs? The interviewers probably speak in the same way!
That clip is hilarious.
I don't have to pretend to be a little bit deaf.
Goodness knows what they're saying; apart from the last one!
You sound like Lady M. She needs an ear trumpet.
Regional accents and dialects can vary greatly. When traveling, I feel I am a guest and must do my best to work with people.
As long as you can understand them, that's OK. When you can't it's very annoying.
I don’t think regional accents have become stronger in the last 40 years or do. I also don’t think that people are speaking more quickly.
When DH and I went to England back in 1996, we were staying in a hotel in London and the young lady at the desk and I couldn't understand each other. I remember asking her, "Are we both speaking English?"
No, I think it's mostly that diction has become more sloppy.
It was a bit like that with the Scotsman I met in the park. I literally couldn't understand a word.
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