I'll Be Bach

Last night was what the Russians call a white night. In normal English I couldn't sleep. Normally I just lie there gnashing my teeth or read if it's not too much effort. Last night was different. All sorts of creative ideas wandered through my brain though I was too tired to do anything but admire them. One of the musings was over accents which is interesting as this morning I recieved an email on that very thing.

"Most of the reported disparity between the English accents is purely a product of social conditioning... a Cockney chooses to speak the way he does because of his surroundings and upringing.... They may not hear the difference but they certainly have the necessary apparatus to produce them; all of them having tongues and quite a few having teeth."

I was mulling over this very thing last night though not in quite so sarky a manner. I have lived with the Austrian lo these many years and it was just a couple of years ago that we found out the man had no idea he had an accent ! We were watching him give an interview on t.v. which he does now and again. We were very proud. In the middle of the program he jumped to his feet and exclaimed in horror " I have an accent!" and left the room. We were stunned. Of course he has an accent. He's Austrian. But it seems that people are perhaps not really aware of themselves as Anthony Burgess says in the above quote. I myself am very aware of my English accent when I speak German as the Austrians make sure I understand . The hooting and sniggering can be demoralizing if you let it ; but I soldier on regardless. It seems Canadians are a politer lot as my poor Austrian found out when he saw himself on the little screen. He must be conditioned to the heckling way that people are corrected in his homeland. I wouldn't have him change his speech for the world. It's adorable. My very own Arnold!