Why are they talking like that??

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I often (three times in the past few weeks?) hear Brits, esp. academics, speaking with a very blurred r/w sound. Friend=Fwrwend, struggle=stwrwuggle, etc. What the hell is this about? I assume it's not an actual "speech impediment" as it seems more prevalent than what I encounter in everyday yank-life.

― Hunter, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Set me straight.

― Hunter, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A lot of British Labour politicians have it eg Tony Benn, Roy Hattersley (famously), Anthony Howard who used to edit the New Statesman, Clare Short. But it's not a Toff thing because the Royals (for example) don't have it I don't think. Maybe it's dying out - you don't hear it in the younger generation eg Blair, Brown etc. Hang on does Diane Abbott have it?

All this doesn't answer where it comes from of course.

― David, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

six months pass...

Braces are to blame or should I say Bwaces and it is in fact becoming more common. I do believe that it is affected in the the Upper-Mids who also have affected lisps.

― kayT (kaytee), Saturday, 18 January 2003 16:34 (twenty-three years ago)

three years pass...

whoa. do Brits really say "ME-thane," as in [not-you]-thane?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Monday, 11 September 2006 21:20 (twenty years ago)

"MYSELF-thane"

― Young Fresh Danny D (Dan Perry), Monday, 11 September 2006 21:23 (twenty years ago)

Well Australians do too, how else is it said?

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 September 2006 21:23 (twenty years ago)

meh.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Monday, 11 September 2006 21:23 (twenty years ago)

METHane, as in "Method Man" and "method acting" and "meth lab."

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Monday, 11 September 2006 21:25 (twenty years ago)

Well Australians do too, how else is it said?

"Look at moi(thane)" if TV is to be believed.

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Monday, 11 September 2006 22:18 (twenty years ago)

muh-thayne

― milo z (mlp), Monday, 11 September 2006 23:03 (twenty years ago)

Hahah Mark =)

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 September 2006 23:57 (twenty years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1410000/images/_1411586_rik.jpg

"At one stage she even took her bwrwaogha off!

― S- (sgh), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 00:40 (twenty years ago)

haha thats who this thread made me think of too

― chaki (chaki), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 01:22 (twenty years ago)

It's the reason I cannot watch The Bill. I find myself shouting at the television. Stop talking like a fucking BABY, you complete FUCKTARD.

― Hard like armour (Hard like armour), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 04:16 (twenty years ago)

I thought it was strange when I heard Siouxsie Sioux sing "Oceans of ME-thane....."

Americans say MEH-thane. That's because we're sensible.

― The Pig on the Stairs (hanging in a groovy purple shirt) (unclejessjess), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 05:53 (twenty years ago)

But it's not a Toff thing because the Royals (for example) don't have it I don't think.

the royals aren't proper posh. the drawling thing *is* posh.

― a rapper singing about hos and bitches and money (Enrique), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 07:42 (twenty years ago)

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/images/joross.JPG

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 07:50 (twenty years ago)

twenty bwoody miwwion to pwesent a chat show!

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 09:26 (twenty years ago)

Americans say MEH-thane. That's because we're sensible.

Hi dere, it's splet methane, not mehthane. silly sausage.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 10:49 (twenty years ago)

i say 'met haney'

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 10:51 (twenty years ago)

The other week I had a client in our shop who said:"Oh dear, that's old hat!" I was astounded that someone still spoke the way he did. Or maybe I just assumed that "old hat" is some antique expression?

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 10:54 (twenty years ago)

old hat is a bit old hat

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 11:57 (twenty years ago)

I know how methane is spelled ("Spelt"? Triticum spelta? Makes delicious hearty bread.)

Now let's talk about "aluminum" for a while. Why do you put an i in there?

― The Pig on the Stairs (hanging in a groovy purple shirt) (unclejessjess), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:28 (twenty years ago)

We invented methane!

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Hi dere, it's splet methane, not mehthane

I see. So you also say ME-dical, ME-morial, ME-phisto, ME-ridian, ME-taphysical and ME-llo YE-llo?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:33 (twenty years ago)

MEthinks it may have something to do with the Thane of Cawdor

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:34 (twenty years ago)

and so does me mum

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:35 (twenty years ago)

ME-mory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then...

― Young Fresh Danny D (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:35 (twenty years ago)

I beg to differ on "old hat" being old hat. I will champion its use.

― Hard like armour (Hard like armour), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 20:56 (twenty years ago)

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