Vernacular forms of language

[motorollin]

According to a socio-linguistics book I'm reading, standard forms of English are associated with a "higher" class of people who are richer, more successful and better educated, while vernacular forms are associated with "lower" classes. I find this quite hard to accept, not only because of my own Essex accent, but also because I think it's extremely unfair to judge someone on the basis of their accent and/or dialect.

So I'm really interested to hear opinions on this. From those who speak with a "standard" form (for English speakers that would be standard English dialect with an RP accent (or "BBC" English), for non English speakers it would be whatever is considered standard in your country) I would be interested to hear your opinion of people who use vernacular (non-standard) forms. Do you think of them as "lower" class? Less educated? Less wealthy? Less professional?

For those who speak with a regional dialect, or any vernacular form which is non-standard, what is your opinion of people who speak using "standard" forms? Do you consider them to be of "higher" class? Better educated? More wealthy? More professional?

Also, if you were to go see a professional, e.g. a doctor, lawyer etc, how would you feel if they used vernacular forms of language? Or if they didn't (if they used an extremely standard form)? Would you be more or less likely to trust their professional ability in each case?

Personally I do feel a bit looked down on by RP speakers, but generally react to this by exaggerating my vernacular usage (the "screw you effect" :-)) If I were to visit a doctor, I couldn't care less which accent he/she used. In fact, I might even feel more at ease with somebody who used vernacular forms, as long as he/she used technical terms accurately and where appropriate.

Discuss! :-D

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moto

[motorollin]

@bloodline
I couldn't hear any Estuary features in your VOAO clip - it sounded pretty RP to me. So if you went to see a doctor who was using, say, a broad Yorkshire accent, would you assume that he was educated to a certain level (otherwise he would, presumably, not be practising), or would you be sceptical of his abilities until he had proved otherwise? Would an RP speaking doctor elicit the same reaction?

@Oliver
Some interesting points made, especially the part about people who consider themselves to be of higher class (or want to be seen that way) actively using standard language forms in order to reinforce their status. I on the other hand do the opposite, but then I'm truculent and recalcitrant in so many ways :lol:

Regarding language change you are seeing in Aus and America, it is common for language to change more rapidly in countries which have been speaking that language for a (relatively) short time, which is why Australian and American Englishes are so radically different from British English. I think the media and easier/cheaper travel are responsible for importing many of those changes back in to Britain. Before long we'll all be speaking one form of English across the entire planet. It will be called "beige English".

@da9000
Your inability to understand Ozzy Osbourne is nothing to do with your N American origin. *We* can't understand him - even his fellow brummies probably have a hard time knowing what he's on about :lol:

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moto

[motorollin]

uncharted wrote:
What would life be like without a little hypocrisy to spice things up? ;-)

It's a double standard. I have them too. I can live with it ;-)

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moto