AWOL 2014 Issue 298 5th September | Page 17

Advertise here from only 40 baht per week to hull and back Mags Meanderings: From Som Tam To Mushy Peas talking proper, like.... There once was a time when all BBC broadcasters spoke with that clipped upper crust British accent which we associate with Eton and the Queen. Thankfully those days are long gone, and regional accents are now perfectly acceptable. But unfortunately standards have slipped a few more notches, and although we may feel more comfortable with modern BBC English, some of their presenters seem distinctly uncomfortable with the pronunciation and delivery of it. Granted you might not notice any glaring mistakes on BBC World. Presumably only the cream of the crop make it to the dizzy heights of worldwide TV broadcasting. But most days I tune in to my local BBC radio station as the only reliable source of information about what’s on in my area. As well as that much needed information, (our local rag the Hull Daily Mail being as much use as a chocolate fireguard) there is the added bonus of hearing rookie newsreaders making the kind of mistakes which make you either laugh out loud or scream at the radio. Sports commentators especially have always had a tricky job, with football matches a particular challenge, giving rise to games of two halves and ‘they think it’s all overs’, and it’s a f