Posh – what is it? Should you care?
The story of ‘Posh’
I’m sure you know how it all started. It’s a legacy from the days of the British Empire. When the ruling classes sailed to India and the Far East, they were given cabins away from the scorching tropical sun – port out and starboard home. However, you no longer need a background of aristocratic breeding, plus Eaton and Oxford, in order to succeed in life.
Classy or not?
In many ways we Brits have become more like our American cousins, with membership of the ‘ruling class’ dictated by financial clout. Is David Beckham part of the new ‘ruling class’? He’s certainly got the money but he doesn’t seem the least inclined to rule. On the other hand, Tony Blair was, at one time, referred to as ‘The Leader of New Labour’ and sometimes simply as ‘The Leader.’ His take on international politics seemed to be based on a ‘presidential’ style. So are people like Blair the new ‘ruling class’ - the new ‘posh’? ‘Posh’ has always been associated in most people’s minds, not only with chinless wonders, but with a vocal delivery sounding like a mouthful of hot porridge. What many people now seem to want is an accent-less’ voice, an ‘acceptable’ voice. In fact, several City High Flyers with a ‘plumy’ whine are seeking voice classes to help them sound more ordinary,’ so as to avoid alienating some of their worthy, self-made clients.
How it all changed
So, what exactly is ‘acceptable’ in the way of an accent these days? A top voice over agent was recently quoted as saying that regional accents are much in demand by advertisers. The ‘acceptable’ English voice has changed enormously over the last 50 years. It was in the 1960s that the ‘posh’ accents of Britain’s radio and television programmes were swept away forever. It was films like ‘Saturday night and Sunday morning,’ starring Albert Finney as a randy northern factory worker, as well as Michael Caine’s movie, Alfie,’ full of cockney ego and broad London vowels, that sounded the death knell of the old ‘posh’ voice.
The new posh?
Now, Michael Caine is a knight of the realm and retains his London voice as a badge of honour. So, perhaps ‘posh’ no longer has anything to do with the way you speak - it’s just to do with a having a certain kind of confidence. Caine is therefore definitely ‘posh’, having a great deal of money and being very stylish with it.
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