Fake Accents on TV and Radio

last SG · 2005-05-20T10:14:26+00:00

ok next time they ask for plants go to the nearest potted plant and give him.

Profounder SG

While I'm not a fan of PAP and any of those propaganda campaigns thoght up by those bureaucrats, I have to bring up a relevant and interesting observation raised by LHL in the recent Speak Good English Campaign.

Speaking good English, LHL said, does not mean you have to speak with a fake American or British accent but simply means using proper grammar and dropping all the "lahs" and "lors" in your conversation.

UNFORTUNATELY, it seems like many of our radio and TV personalities have mistaken the two with their fake accents that stink so badly one can smell it a mile away. Just to name a few:
1. Suzanne Walker - WKRZ 91.3
2. Vernon A - FM 98.7
3. Glenda Chong - Channel News Asia
4. Jasmine Tan - used to be seen on News 5 as a roving reporter

Of course there are many others like some of those in Newsradio 93.8 and Channel News Asia.

Also, I don't understand why MEDIACORP likes to use those angmohs with very irritating accents to do voice-overs for new programmes or jingles. I'm trying to figure out who's that idiot who announces those new programmes or updates on TV so I can send him a mail to tell him to shut up.

I mean if you sound like those BBC broadcasters, I don't mind but many of these Mediacorop angmohs sound like they are trying to fake a British accent. Worse, they can't even pronounce some words!! Like Michael Martin on 93.8. And remember ex-91.3 DJ Michael Goodwin who read "coup" as "coop"?

SilverPal SG

Apparently, now barry wants them to do the hip-hop thing with their english, you dig?

miong SG

Come one, give me a break man!

We are Singaporeans, let us talk like one.

Why should I speak the Queen's English if I dont want to?

There is nothing wrong with speaking Singlish to fellow Singaporeans.

You want us to isolate the lowly educated aunties and uncles issit?
How can we communicate with the older Singaporeans if we talk like an Angmo ( in English) to them ?

Goodness me, I cant believe PAP would go to this extreme.

They dont seem to understand or respect the nature of Singaporeans any more

LazerLordz SG

So what will Harry say?

Deportivo SG

"coup" is pronounced as "coop"

nothing wrong there.

FireIce SG

let's hear u then

record ur speech and upload as mp3 here

thanks!

deathscythe99 SG

x2 Rolling Eyes

I was wondering what he was saying o.O"

Deportivo SG

i think it's just a case of sour grapes.

mistyblue SG

change channel? listen to chinese channel...
How come no one complain some chinese channel got fake taiwanese/china accent.

Sigh... you remind me of the b!tch I have in class. one of the classmate has a yank accent. But she's in sales and whatever. I mean, she got accent, its her problem. This fat (and I mean fat cause she got an arse bigger than a bbq pit) b!tch go around complain about this classmate's accent like some damn big issue but never compain when the male classmates who speak with fake aussie/uk/us accent. She's just a real b!tch.

Guest_111 SG

Good English has nothing to do with accents or what you end your sentences with. Every region or country has their unique way of speaking. The only thing that Singaporeans (I find) don't do is speak in complete/proper sentences. Too many shortcuts to the point where it's difficult to understand. especially longer conversations.

[email protected]_arms SG

So is there something wrong with local people who feel inferior and must fake an accent to feel better about themselves? And who actually DO IT? I am just glad I can pass off for either race, white or chinese, so that people dont accuse me of faking my accents.

SilverPal SG

Actually, I speak in proper sentences and I also grew up in an English speaking environment, therefore my english is not that bad.

But one thing I realise in Singapore is that even if you speak good english with a local accent (the type you might hear in parliment), most locals will still tell you that your english is very lousy.

If your english sux but you can fake either a Brit or American accent, people will tell you that your english is very good despite the fact that you can't even complete a single sentence.

SilverPal SG

Harry: well yous jus gots ta holds yo hee-zee up and do da thing, you know what i'm sayin? you gots to get down wit da game n be up on them tricks, dawg

Barry: i aint that gravy at this thinkin stuff dawg. mah heezee aint all that gravy you know what im sayin?

Harry: well, all i'm sayin', as long as yo clothes ain't white, you got less goin down, dawg

Barry: ah dont give a shizzle about da homie's ass cos we da bomb, ya dig?

[email protected] SG

hello, Michael Goodwin IS british. I know his father personally. Laughing

I can assure u that he's not faking a brit accent. In fact u have to bear in mind that in UK there are many regional slangs, and not everyone speaks perfect royal english.

Profounder SG

Errr...yes, we know he's British and I know the people who work in 91.3. Thank you.

Wait a minute, you mean pronouncing "coup" properly is speaking perfect royal English? Thought it's basic pronunciation you teach in school.

So if I'm English, I can read "comment allez vous" in the direct English litoral translation?

I don't profess to know the correct pronunciation of every word, but hey, when you are a DJ and a British... Laughing

[email protected]_arms SG

Isn’t Coup a french word? As in Coup de Tat?

BillyBong SG

yes indeed.

'coup' is pronounced 'cou' or 'koo' (typical of most french words, you do not include the last letter while pronouncing a word) and not 'coop' as most ppl believe.

[/u]

CenturionMBT SG

glenda chong ok bah . . .
sometimes it is more of intonations rather then slanging. Can't expect the newscasters to go in one dull monotonous tone right?
As for the rest . . .yucks clearly taking up those yanky slang.

[email protected] SG

im jut pointing out that EVEN british people don't prononuce their words right all the time. Try speaking with someone from Essex and u'll see wot i mean. And trust me, u can learn all the basic pronunciations in school but u'll pick up the accent from where u live.

besides, your point here was about fake accents, and not on mispronunciations. And because Mike IS British, I fail to see how he qualifies as having a "fake accent"

Laughing

say...... what do u do in your spare time when u're not busy losing your train of thought?

SMAPLionHeart SG

coup d'état

i think...