Why must the American media use the English accent to give some sort of bearing and authority to any statement? Are all English people inherently polite and smart? I have watched too many commercials where the advertiser is a distinguished professor with a pronounced English accent, too many US tv shows where the only British person on the set is the announcer. I especially hate it when actors portraying ancient Greek or Roman personalities (like in Gladiator) somehow achieve these weird English accents although English wasn't even spoken in ancient Rome--this goes for Star Wars as well.
I'm not saying that the English accent shouldn't be used at all--British actors and filmmakers have every right to speak in their native tounge.
I used to be ok with English people, but the media has exploited their accent and the stereotypical "smartness" that goes along with it to such an extent that English accents have become quite annoying. I'm sure the English would agree with me on this as well--not all British have the pronounced RP accent, and not all are of the highest caliber in every respect. I just hate it when people hear the English and say, "Ooo, that guy is smart, look at how he talks, all educated-like. Let's buy that thing he is selling."
If people really wanted to use and exploit stereotypes to sell products, like car insurance, why not use an Asian accent to do this--I mean, aren't those the smartest people on the planet?
24 comments:
Sir, I am reader of your blog and I find this post most offesive to my loyal subjects. The British accent is the best in the world and should be the primary way the language is spoken, no thanks to you bloody Yankee Doodle.
The problem with using the asian accent is that people will not be able to stop laughing.
yes, that's exactly why everyone should speak in ebonics.
i agree ebonics would be great.
Whats all this talk about accents? There is no such thing as a British accent because English originated in Britain, if there is an accent, it would be English spoken in America especially Southern U.S.
Damn Delwin, you sho' had us played fo' fools, cuz us fools up heah in America done stoled 'dem Brit's language.
Not sure on this, but Russel Crowe is Australian and a lot of the actors in gladiator were British/European. Alec Ginnis and Ewan McGregor (the Obi-wans) from Star wars is british and many of the actors such as the storm trooper commander, the emperor, and were British, and it was filmed in Britain. Also, I don't really know much about this exploitation of British, could you give some examples from this exploitation, I can't think of any newscasters with fake British accents except those fakers on the BBC. Almost all of the James Bond actors have been from the British so that doesn't make much sense either.
Ok, I wasn't just referring to Gladiator--almost all movies that depict ancient times use somewhat english accents--if you've ever watched Troy you can see american actors clearly using english accents. and what about Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman that both employ accents (if you have watched their other movies you would know that) in star wars. As for James Bond and BBC, as I said before, I don't mind it when people exploit the accents and are just speaking normally (that's why I put the picture of Bond).
Wow, I didn't know the queen reads this blog!
by the queen, I mean nicolas hernandez
and/or the drama queen Darwin
Jose,
I still don't get what you are trying to prove. Other than you, who are these people that sterotype British English?
have you ever considered that the actors may be acting in a scene in England and that the accent is necesssary to give some authenticity to it? have you considered
Frivilous british accent usage:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LQMzCinqxxQ
Edward,
but how do you know if they are british or not?
The point isn't that they are british. The point is the unnecessary usage of a English accent in order to sell laundry detergent.
But how can you say its unnecesary if they are British and are using their native tongue?
BECAUSE ITS UNNECESSARY MARKETING TO BRING A possibly british woman to speak in her native tongue to peddle a fucking product
So basically we should stop hiring British people in all occupations pertaining to entertainment and marketing because some people hold the stereotype that they may be classier?
The commercial makers might not have even considered the fact that the lady may be British, and might have concentrated soley on her acting skills. In this case, the British accent is in fact necessary because we can't and shouldn't suppress the English that has to come with hiring the British actress whose acting experience apparently fits the criteria of a laundry detergent comercial as well as the next actor/actress.
Also, in that commercial, the british accent was used in less classy way. Furthermore, she had the marry poppins maid accent, which is endearing. It's her strength, would you object to them have a really buff guy give you advice on building muscles? Also, I agree with Darwin, a lot of British people are talented, should we not hire them?
by the way EDWARD KONG IS GAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS0l0UsBF-I
this is what I'm talking about
Still, you can't prove it's unnecessary unless you can prove he is not British to begin with.
Also, the British Accent isn't what's making the man seem smart, the suit, glasses, haircut, mustache, bowtie, and large book make the man seem classy. I am sure that even if he spoke a Southern Patois, he would seem classy with that sterotypical nerd get-up.
I semi agree with your point that the so called 'British' accent (doesn't actually exist. It's made up for the American audience) is over used to sell products to give it air of class. But then again all the 'baddies' in films tend to have this accent to give it a menacing tone as well. Although Arabic seems to be the voice of ‘evil’ at the moment. I am 29 year old Englishman and I have never met anyone who actually speaks in this manner. I have done in a pub in oxford to get a free pint of beer out of an American lady though. Is this wrong?
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