I recently corrected a fascinating extended essay from a TEFL Lab online trainee who, in the course of outlining the different sound systems of Hebbrew and English pointed out that certain phonemes exist in different dialects of English and not in others.
It set me thinking about how fascinating the whole area of accent is. For example, while aware of the fact that I'm laying myself wide open to charges of pretentiousness and inauthenticity, I would freely admit that I have modified my accent for the purposes of teaching.
Why? Well, it's certainly not born of any desire to 'Come over all posh, like.' I think there are two reasons: the need to provide a clear model for my students and the fact that the accent of my home city is one of the language's ugliest accents.
'They grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw.'
Milton - Lycidas.
If you want a full flavour of just how vile the Limerick accent is, google The Rubberbandits and you'll see what I mean...
I am, however, a proud son of the Treaty City, just hate the accent..
The funny thing is that this weekend I'll be home for my dad's 70th birthday and boy, will I 'Limerick up' for that one! I will be posting more on this subject in the coming weeks and would welcome your thoughts....
Mike
