Where is "Sowt Sarah"?

[Aardee]

Sounds perfectly OK to me. Accented, yes; but perfectly understandable, even at sea through a tinny external speaker.

The Shipping Forecast should be one of the easier things to understand when read with a strong regional accent or in bad conditions (or both), as it uses a limited, consistent vocabulary delivered in a particular order.

 

[elton]

I'd like to know what the BBC's agenda is, in inflicting this incomprehensible wittering clown upon the audience.

 

[NormanS]

I was talking about last night's broadcast, so unfortunately JumbleDuck's link, and any minutes spent assessing it, were a waste of time.
I see some forumites are starting to get 'het up', colonial guilt perhaps?

So you are only referring to one particular broadcast of the Shipping Forecast? I couldn't possibly comment about last night's, but the one in Jumbleduck's link seemed perfectly clear to me.

I think you need to get out more, and find something more substantial to complain about.

 

[Aardee]

I'd like to know what the BBC's agenda is, in inflicting this incomprehensible wittering clown upon the audience.

OK, I get that you don't like his accent and can't understand him, but since when does that make him a "wittering clown"?

Troll or just plain obnoxious?, I can't decide.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I was talking about last night's broadcast, so unfortunately JumbleDuck's link, and any minutes spent assessing it, were a waste of time.

I find it hard to believe that his accent would change so much. Luckily, we can check, because his reading of yesterday afternoon's forecast is available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b044znsk. As with the example I posted, his reading is beautifully clear and easy to understand, although he makes one tiny slip where he starts to say "east or South Utsire" and stumbles slightly as he corrects it, mid flow, to "east of South Utsire". It's still perfectly intelligible, though, and the slip has nothing whatsoever to do with his accent. I have heard plenty of other presenters do similar things.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Troll or just plain obnoxious?, I can't decide.

I have come to a conclusion, and it's neither "troll" nor "just plain obnoxious" although the latter comes closer.

 

[jerrytug]

I'd like to know what the BBC's agenda is, in inflicting this incomprehensible wittering clown upon the audience.

PC diversity enforcement flying in the face of common sense, as everyone knows but some won't admit.

 

[JumbleDuck]

PC diversity enforcement flying in the face of common sense, as everyone knows but some won't admit.

You forgot to say "it's political correctness gone mad".

 

[VicS]

I'd like to know what the BBC's agenda is, in inflicting this incomprehensible wittering clown upon the audience.

'kin hell you must lead the pack when it comes to wittering clowns if your posts in in this thread are anything to go by!

 

[jerrytug]

You forgot to say "it's political correctness gone mad".

So since everyone, regardless of their speech, should (for political not operational reasons) be allowed to read the shipping forecast, I propose Rab C. Nesbitt, suitably lubricated with a few bottles of Buckfast and some heroin.
As all will understand him, there will be no problem, and the positive action multicultural box can be ticked.
And after him, how about Joey Deacon? More boxes ticked.

 

[VicMallows]

When I first heard NN as a continuity announcer on R4 several years ago his accent was much thicker than it is today. I couldn't place it at all ... and my best guess was one of those really remote islands off Scotland!

 

[Vallich]

So since everyone, regardless of their speech, should (for political not operational reasons) be allowed to read the shipping forecast, I propose Rab C. Nesbitt, suitably lubricated with a few bottles of Buckfast and some heroin.
As all will understand him, there will be no problem, and the positive action multicultural box can be ticked.
And after him, how about Joey Deacon? More boxes ticked.

When Mr. Nunes is on holiday I hope they don't get Rachel Burden to read the forecast...

 

[VicS]

When Mr. Nunes is on holiday I hope they don't get Rachel Burden to read the forecast...

What the hell is wrong with Rachel Burden.

Never heard of her before but sounds perfectly Ok in couple of clips I've found

 

[Daydream believer]

Actually i think the BBC are right to give him this job
In the interests if diversity they have to employ a variety of cultures
What better way than to give them something that few people listen to these days & keep them off mainsteam broadcasting

& yes I did vote UKIP-- There was no BNP candidate in my area

 

[Daydream believer]

My German relatives assure me that Germans generally find Scottish accents easier to understand than English ones.

A few years after the vote the Scots will probably end up speaking the same way as their new German masters anyway, so it is good they understand each other now

 

[DaveS]

A few years after the vote the Scots will probably end up speaking the same way as their new German masters anyway, so it is good they understand each other now

If you insist on producing this sort of nonsense I think it would be better placed in the lounge, together with views on the superiority of the BNP over UKIP, etc. etc.

On the OP's point, having listened to the clip I really can't see what the issue is - the diction is perfectly clear and understandable.

 

[Daydream believer]

If you insist on producing this sort of nonsense I think it would be better placed in the lounge, together with views on the superiority of the BNP over UKIP, etc. etc.
.

You P...k -- can you not tell when someone is having you on?????

 

[JumbleDuck]

I must say that I am delighted to see an attempt to start a racist sh*tstorm fail so comprehensively.

 

[jerrytug]

A few years after the vote the Scots will probably end up speaking the same way as their new German masters anyway, so it is good they understand each other now

That made me chuckle anyway. Just don't say 'porridge wogs' someone's bound to take it the wrong way

 

[zzyyxx]

Perhaps each area should be pronounced by speakers local to those areas so we get the most accurate possible pronunciation?