Originally Posted by
NickB
Nothing like a bit of condescension to start the day on a good foot.
Ah, so people's accents reflects not only their degree of professionalism but also how lazy and sloppy they are. Silly me. And here was I thinking that one's accent was first and foremost a reflection of one's social environment, especially (but not exclusively) while growing up. I should have realised that it really is nothing to do with that and all to do with laziness and sloppiness.
Well, as a non-native speaker who does not master RP, I would have to know my place as an irremediably unprofessional, lazy and sloppy individual in you books.
You are still misunderstanding me. As stated, my opinion is NOT with regards to non-native speakers where of course pronunciation and dialect becomes far more influential - I am native English and also speak Italian and of course do not correctly get the precise sounds and dialect that are unique to that language. This is to be expected (I certainly try to get it right) and of course applies to non-native English CC making announcements.
But there is a correct way of speaking in English if English is the native language and IMHO, to drop the "h" from words and pronounce "th" as "ff" or "v" as in "Portsmuff" and "wiv" sounds unprofessional and less authoritative. After all, the correct way is certainly still taught in school is it not?