I don't mind regional accents, and even some of the mispronunciations that used to be called "ghetto
talk," I think that's all part of the American fabric. Perhaps in a tiny land mass like the UK they
can strive for a uniform English, but I actually think it would be un-American for us to further
de-regionalize our country in search of a generic pronunciation key (Wal-Mart English, anyone?). I
grew up in a house with one parent from Mississippi-Texas and one from Queens, so I turned out with
a somewhat generic (New Yawk-leaning) accent but with all the strange folk-isms from two very
different places. Typical American mutt, and that kind of thing is what makes our version of English
and our culture so unique and interesting.

What I do mind is mumbling, fast-talking, low-talking, and garbling basic grammar. I also don't
think that what used to be called "hick talk" -- a combination of mangled words, mangled grammar and
a batch of profanities thrown in for emphasis -- has any place in non-fiction broadcasting or
writing, except as a direct quote of a news-story subject. And I also think that professional
broadcast operations need to get a handle on the world of cellphones and figure out best practices
to make that audio more intelligable. It probably starts with pre-coaching of interview subjects and
extends to a set of published rules for on-location professional personnel. Lou's point about the
mic dangling around the chest of the screeching Mellinnial is true. The other typical image is the
Gen-Xer or Boomer with the "cyborg" bluetooth thing attached to his ear, where the mic is somewhere
between his sideburn and his eye.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lou Judson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 11:15 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Toothpaste


>I love it! I always comment (either to the speaker or my friends) when I hear someone pronounce
>EXACTLY with a T in it.
>
> And I thought it was cute when a one-time girlfriend from Louisiana would say nekkid or edzackly
> but she is long gone from here now.
>
> And what about wreak? Hove you heard it properly said "rek" in years?
>
> It is enuff to wreck yer eeers.
> :-)
> <L>
> Lou Judson
> Intuitive Audio
> 415-883-2689
>
> On Mar 11, 2014, at 12:35 PM, Smith, Allison wrote:
>
> http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/11/pronunciation-errors-english-language
>
> I thought this was appropriate, given Tom's rant -
>
> Allison
>
>