THE ENGLISH ACCENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 9

THE ENGLISH ACCENTS

BEST USED BY THE KING The English accent was discussed by Mr Harold Nicolson when he addressed the members of the English Association in London. He said that with such inventions as the microphone, the gramophone and the “ talkies,” the human voice was now of far greater importance than ever it had been before, its importance being equalled only by that of printing. He was glad to say that he had an Oxford accent, although he placed it sixth on his list of 10 different types of English accents. The first on this list was the best King’s English, which was spoken by the King. This accent was that of an English country gentleman, and there was a slight tang of the sea about it. It was the most English accent that one could possibly conceive. Then there was the Empire accent, which was spoken by the Prince ,of Wales, and which was a mixture of Australian, Canadian, South African and Piccadilly. The third best English accent was the American accent as spoken in New England and by President Roosevelt. Language died not because of its vulgarity, but because it became genteel, and the Scots accent was a reminder that English was becoming genteel. The best of all accents was the Oxford accent, but it was a terrible intonation when spoken by people who had been to Cambridge. There was an appalling spread of “ genteel ” English in which people spoke of “ quatc ” instead of “ quite.”