Describe the different attitudes to the Liverpool regional accent, both positive and negative.

However, this is not always the case as Liverpudlians feel detachment from the rest of the country. Some people want to escape from their negative accent and have tried to modify their ‘scouse’ accent. This is true of Tory MP, Edwina Currie. She was originally from Liverpool and has admitted to adapting her accent to the nature of her audience.

There are many stereotypical views of the ‘scouse’ accent. Scousers are said to be uneducated, whiney, untrustworthy and have a thick, off-putting accent. At the BBC, programme controllers have often been criticised for permitting too many regional accents on the air. They have insisted with impeccable clarity that prejudice does not exist, ‘We do not discriminate against accents and neither do we have a preferred regional accent.’

On the other hand many people believe the ‘scouse’ accent to be a very positive accent, liked among many. Many believe that Liverpudlians are blessed with a great sense of wit and humour. As well as this the accent is very popular amoung call centres as the ‘soft regional accent is seen to be friendly and could be helpful in building relationships.’ Moreover people associate the Liverpool accent with Cilla, Sir Paul and Ringo, so feel reassured.

Research has shown that there is a very positive reception to the Liverpool accent as it is softer and has a lilt, which is very favourable. At call centres it is pivotal to select the correct accent, as people cannot see whom they are talking to and therefore make judgements about them on their voice and accent. Paul Kerr, manager of a call centre, reinforced this point, ‘Scouse accents come very high in customer appreciation, all customers have to go on is pitch and tone, verbal presentation.’

There are many reasons as to why people like or dislike the Liverpool accent. There may be linguistic reasons, such as they don’t like the high pitch, tone, sound and find it hard to understand. Moreover there could also be judgemental reasons such as ‘scousers’ are moany, mischievous and untrustworthy. On the other hand some people find the accent friendly, funny and warm, making it appeal to them.

In my opinion I find the Liverpool accent very friendly and warm. However it can become irritating after a while due to the high pitched nature of the accent. I believe that it is wrong to discriminate against any accent because everyone has an accent, no matter how strong or weak it is. People should respect different accents as they are part if our culture and society.  

To conclude it is fair to say that we all judge other accents, be it in positive or negative ways. When we are sure about our judgements of a particular accent we don’t usually change them. Everyone has an accent, no matter how much we try to modify it. Accents make us who we are and build our idiolect. We shouldn’t make judgements on how people sound and assume it is related to their lifestyle. The Liverpool accent is not only disliked, it is the same with Broad cockney, Geordie and Brummie, and everyone has their own preference. As Ken Dodd says, ‘How you are received in the world depends largely on how you present yourself.’