Find out more about English accents, and the preconceptions that can come with them…

English accents are incredibly varied in how they sound, the areas they are heard, and surprisingly to some, in the preconceptions that come with them. 

Understanding these preconceptions is interesting at the very least. If you’re creating a corporate video with an English accent voiceover, a Youtube channel with narration or a radio advert using a voiceover, being aware of these preconceptions is imperative. 

Let’s take a closer look at some English accents and the preconceptions that come with them:

Queen’s English

Queen’s English or ‘RP’ (Received Pronunciation) comes with the assumption that a person comes from a privileged background. Research from the Government also showed that there is a class ceiling for the working class when it comes to getting an interview for a top job in the UK. Part of that issue relates to the RP accent, and the fact that an employer may have a positive bias about a candidate who has that accent, against somebody who does not. 

Brummie Accent

The brummy accent comes from Birmingham and the surrounding areas. The preconception with the brummie accent is that the person is of lesser intelligence than somebody who does not have that accent. Of course, this is totally unfounded, but it is important to understand these preconceptions and their presence when considering a certain accent as a voiceover choice. 

Bristolian

Rhotic accent Bristolian (where every R is said) is known to be one of the least popular accents in the UK. It has some associations with not being taken seriously, and a lack of intelligence, which of course is unfounded. A strong West Country accent can be directly related to the West Country only, which can regionalise an advert that may not be related to this area at all. 

Mancunian

The Mancunian accent is associated with Manchester and tends to have different connotations depending on who has the accent. For a man, he may be considered cheeky, playful, working class and grounded. For a woman, the preconception is more along the lines of ‘ladette’, grounded, down to earth and hard working. What we also know is that the Mancunian accent is favoured as an attractive accent overall. 

Preconceptions & Age

An interesting study showed that younger people are less likely to have preconceptions and judgements about accents, compared to those over 40. The same study suggested that bias grows as we age, and more bias was held by those who grew up in the South, compared to those who did not. Of course, people of any age can have preconceptions but it is worth thinking about target ages when choosing an accent for a marketing campaign. This is because it can be a factor when it comes to how your marketing message is received. 

“There is no such thing as an ugly accent, like there’s no such thing as an ugly flower.” – David Crystal

Although preconceptions about accents are usually unfounded, the fact is that they do exist, and they have to be acknowledged when you create content for an English audience. Your audience will subconsciously, or consciously judge any English accent you use, for better or for worse. Understanding which accents come with different preconceptions means having more control over your marketing campaign, and ultimately, more control over your overall brand presentation.  If you’re looking for guidance, check out the experts in voiceover at matinee.co.uk.