I briefly encountered an impressive young cadet, but he still had a strong “country” accent.

A professional can sound Southern, but “country” will hold him back - maybe not in aerospace, but there’s a unique history there.

I doubt it unless he wants to learn. The networks considered Dan Rather ok with his accent and country euphenisms. Sadly the TV broadcasters in small markets do not even bother with proper grammar. When you have members of Congress speaking jive, what can you do.

So certain accents are better than others. Which one is the best?

The various, “educated” accents are professionally acceptable.

Feel free to believe otherwise, but there’s a reason why all professionals/managment/executives sound the same.

(Some of it may be snobbery, but it is also a matter of universal intelligibility.)

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The various, “educated” accents are professionally acceptable.

Feel free to believe otherwise, but there’s a reason why all professionals/managment/executives sound the same.

They do? That hasn’t been my experience.

Nobody told Senator Kennedy.

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Originally posted by Aglifter:
The various, “educated” accents are professionally acceptable.

Feel free to believe otherwise, but there’s a reason why all professionals/managment/executives sound the same.

(Some of it may be snobbery, but it is also a matter of universal intelligibility.)

Just because you're educated, or sound like it, doesn't mean you smart!

Nope, I dun gived up tryin to git em to talk the way they aughta.

There's a gal on the Catholic channel (Sirius/XM). I can't remember her name as I can't stand to listen to her for more than a few seconds before changing the channel. She has such a thick drawl that it's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

I = Ahhww
Might = Maahhwwt
Like = Lahhwwk

Really? You are a professional radio personality. Knock it off.

I think everyone likes a sweet soft southern drawl, but sometimes it is WAY too much.

Bless your hearts!

Accents don't bother me too much. The number of people that want to be an influencer and be online and then stutter and stammer with "uuhhhhh, uuuummmmm, uhhhhh" in every sentence sends me bonkers. I had a short section of 9th grade speech class, and now I'm grateful for it.

Speaking of aeroespace I have an interest in planes. I was watching a salesperson from Cessna on YouTube the other day, going "uummmm, uhhhh" in every sentence while talking thru the specs on a $25M jet, and I'm thinking how the heck did they get/keep their job?

Accent =/= Enunciation

No accent sounds as stupid as Ebonics.

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Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
The networks considered Dan Rather ok with his accent and country euphenisms.

Dan Rather had a country accent?

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So certain accents are better than others. Which one is the best?

Mid-Atlantic/Chesapeake Bay area is considered the most neutral American accent and the one to emulate when foreigners learn English as a second/supplemental language.

I always thought it was understood that if you wanted to be an anchor or newscaster on a national news program that you had to have a Mid-Atlantic accent. Now someone will name someone who didn't, but what about the other 99%?

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No accent sounds as stupid as Ebonics.

Ebonics is strongly rooted & derivative from the Deep South pronunciations & etymology. The fact you find it stupid relates to the point of Aglifter's thread.

Accents and dialects are part of the country......it's the unending "ummm" and "like" that demonstrate poor speaking skills.

I’m a fan of accents and somewhat a fan of local dialect as well.

I don’t want to eat cheese steak sandwiches in Louisiana, nor do I want to visit Wendy’s in Canada. I’m here to experience everything that makes this place unique. Accents on national broadcasts adds unique flavors and perhaps perspectives.

I’m from Central Illinois, in my opinion the flattest accent available to the English language. Here in MN I’m mistaken as a Tennessee native frequently, 25yrs has washed much of it away.

Everyone sounds weird to someone.

Everyone should sounds the same because that’s the only way to succeed. End of story

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Do they still talk to young people about diction/enunciation?

One of the No Child Left Behind consequences is nearly all of the curriculum is geared towards passing the end of the year test (e.g. STAAR test in Texas). My understanding is end of the year testing doesn't include diction/enunciation so little/no emphasis.

I’d be happy if they were simply taught to speak up and face you when talking. I’m completely fed up with asking people to speak clearly and face me when doing so.