Accent snobbery in the Irish media

[Phinaeus]

I think Joe Higgins is an excellent example of someone who manages to have near perfect grammar and diction without compromising his lovely Kerry accent.

[Albert Aherne]

I think Joe Higgins is an excellent example of someone who manages to have near perfect grammar and diction without compromising his lovely Kerry accent.

Spot on! J.H.Ray would also be very acceptable in a more quaint "oirish" way as his diction is perfectly understandable and the accent fascinating.His problem is that behind the accent we know we are dealing with a "cute hoor and chancer" and is FF to his backbone i.e. wink and nod and a "who cares about standards or the lack of them in high places once we're all getting the few bob" attitude.
Contrast J.Higgins,J.H.Ray with D.Springs "educated" Kerry accent ....or lack of it?

[johncrown]

Just saw this. I was born in New York lived there till 1o years old and themn lived there for another 8 years. Thats 1/3 of my life. My mid Atlantic accent is genuinely mid Atlantic. JC

[An tAonach]

It is somewhat disconcerting. However, everyone in the country is familiar with this particular national quirk and knows what the speaker is saying. If he was addressing an international audience it would be a problem.

Also, doesn't it have something to do with pronunciation in Irish?

Indeed and it does.
I remember a section in Leaving Cert Irish entitled "Tionchar na Gaeilge ar Bhéarla na hÉireann" which dealt as you can imagine with the effect of Gaeilge on English as spoken in Ireland.
Can't see how it is disconcerting. It is part of the Irish dialect at this stage, surely. If one studies the English or American dialects of the English language you will also uncover similar 'mispronunciations'.

[Dorris]

An honest and natural slum dialect…. « Come here to me!


topical quote.

[diy01]

The accent of Anne Doyle on RTÉ has always irritated me. How would you describe it?

[Odyessus]

The accent of Anne Doyle on RTÉ has always irritated me. How would you describe it?

"Irritating"?

[ann marie]

I think Eileen Dunne does a wonderful job reading the news.
Cannot stand Miriam o' Callaghan's twang.
Richard Crowley is the best thing that has happened to Prime Time.

[Urmentor]

Has anyone noticed how the word Two or to or too is always pronounced on bulletins. Tee-oo. Despite the absence of an e in any of the words.

[Senchus Mor]

I think Joe Higgins is an excellent example of someone who manages to have near perfect grammar and diction without compromising his lovely Kerry accent.

That's easy when you're on replay every time you speak.