Recently, I was listening to LBC 97.3 fm which was hosted by one of my favourite radio presenters Nick Ferrari. I listened as people from all nationalities called in to give their 2 pence piece on a very humourous subject which rings true to many of us, the multi-faceted accent!
This entry may seem a little controversial, if not stereotypical from the get go but, I’m sure that if you can’t relate, you know someone who definitely can!
According to the dicitionary, the word ‘accent’ can be described as the unique speech patterns, inflections, choice of words, etc., that identify a particular individual. This definition is very appropriate for establishing what country a person was born or may have lived in for some time.
Now here’s where the stereotype comes in. Living in the UK, the typical Black people we come across are generally those from a West Indian or African background. Now, within these backgrounds, there is always a definitive accent that can be associated with whatever country they represent. From what I am told, Trinidadians love to sing (accent-wise), Nigerians like to ‘ah ah’ and Jamaicans love to emphasize their ‘h’s in ‘heveryting’! Either way, we all know within the first sentence, what continent someone is representing.
So where am I going with this? Let me tell you. Have you ever been brought up in a West Indian household within the UK but when the landline rings, your mother answers as though it may be the Queen on the other end of the line? I’m sure you have started smiling already, as you know what I’m talking about.
Why is it that Black people have this habit of changing their accents to suit the people they are talking to? I for one know people who have the No.1: The telephone accent (until they find out who it is) No.2: The ‘back home’ accent (where you mimic the accent of your homeland) No.3: The cockney accent (where you replicate the people around you who have been raised with that original East End banter; usually used in the workplace or the pub No.4: The friend accent (where if you’re from that scene you use slang or casual talk and finally, No.5 the ‘professional’ accent (which is used at every job interview and for about two weeks into the job).
The only reason that I’m using Black people as an example, is because I feel that this is the nation that has this accent lottery down. We have this unique ability to adapt our accent depending on who we are talking to. I for one know that when I’m ready, I can throw out patoire along with the best of them but, it doesn’t mean I can’t use my posh accent when need be.
So here’s the dilemma, what if you are in front of a person from each of your different walks of life? Can you imagine it? Your uncle Frederick from Jamaica, your potential business contact, your neighbour from ‘the hood’ and supplier George from Canning Town! Cor blimey, what a palava!
So whether you are Black, White, Chinese, Indian or even from another planet! Remember that our community will always make you feel at home and adapt to your accent.
With the way that the snow has started to fall again and the temperatures have dropped as though we were in the North Pole, I definitely feel my Icelandic accent kicking in, don’t you?
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