UK regional accents: how varied?

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There is no such thing as a single British accent, with a wide variety of accents depending on geography and social class. People may adopt a more “dressy” accent in professional environments. Sign language and even babies’ crying can have regional accents.

If you’ve ever wanted to have tea or tell someone your name is “Bond. James Bond,” you may have a desire to speak with a British accent, which seems to carry an elegance and authority all about him. Well, bad news, boss: There’s really no such thing as a British accent. Or, more accurately, there are many different British accents. Inhabitants of the United Kingdom speak with a wide variety of accents, mainly depending on geography and social class. In fact, David Crystal of Bangor University in Wales estimates that there is a noticeable change in local accent for every 25 miles (40km) you walk in the UK. And the BBC reports that as many as a third of workers change their regional accent in the hope of advancing in the workplace. In job interviews and professional environments, many people attempt to adopt a more “dressy” accent, or even to speak in something akin to “Queen’s English”.

Accentuate the positive:

Though theories abound, no one can explain why many Britons sound American when they sing.
Researchers say sign language has also developed regional accents, with the shape and position of the hands differing from place to place.
Babies are believed to develop an accent before they even learn to speak, with their crying mimicking local peculiarities.




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