Lootman wrote:The truth is that everyone has an accent, even so-called "standard English" which, as far as I can tell, is Estuary English i.e. just another accent.
I completely disagree. These are some good examples of Estuary English, which to me sounds like a watered down version of Cockney -
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=c ... awYaY,st:0The BBC still employs some of the best broadcasters, by which I mean those who use what I would describe as standard English - English without any noticeable accent at all. Unfortunately, however, `BBC English' has become a pejorative term, and is generally seen as synonymous with `posh' English.
This is wholly unjustified. A good example of what I would describe as standard English / BBC English is Steve Rosenberg, the BBC's Moscow correspondent, and this is an example (at 1:32) from one of my favourite R4 programmes, From Our own Correspondent -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0hlgwkcIt's a very long way from `posh' English, which as I said, is a distinct accent of its own - Brian Sewell is a good example -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no3WIrxW09Q Although I don't actively dislike it, it would be just as annoying as any other distinctive accent if used by a national broadcaster
But standard English is also a long way removed from the whiny drawl of Estuary English. And as I said in my original post, it means that I can listen to what Steve Rosenberg and others like him are telling me without the distraction of trying to identify his accent.