Its not what you say, its how you say it...

[Sara]

"In order to facilitate complete understanding between all people, a universal auxiliary language will be adopted and in the schools of the future two languages will be taught -- the mother tongue and this international auxiliary tongue which will be either one of the existing language or a new language made up of words from all the languages -- the matter is to be determined by a confederation met for the purpose which shall represent all tribes and nations. This international tongue will be used in the work of the parliament of man -- a supreme tribunal of the world which will be permanently established in order to arbitrate international questions." Abdul'Baha, Divine Philosophy pg 84.

Its been a fair while since I last blogged properly. This blog comes inspired after a week of work - yes Soul Talkers - I have joined the tax paying masses - well only for 2 months - before heading to the wilds of Africa to 'find myself'. Though I think I would do better concentrating on not getting lost in Africa rather than trying to find myself.
Anyhoo, the first week of work in any job is about building relationships and sussing your colleagues out - finding their strengths, weaknesses, training needs, learning styles etc. Now I've worked with these colleagues before, just odd days, but I'd not really had the opportunity to gel with both of my assistants as one only works part-time. This week, my regular full-time assistant was on holiday and the part-time one (we'll call her Mavis for blogging purposes) was working full-time to cover the hours. Mavis and I had a blast, it was hard work as I was learning about the job and about her too. She was wary and unsure of me. Today being Friday and the end of a long week, she pipes up and says 'I've really enjoyed myself this week, I thought you were a right snooty cow, but yer alright, you've just got a posh voice and use big long words, but yer nay posh at all are ya?'.
'You're such a charmer, Mavis' I laughed.
'No, but ye know fit [what] I mean like. The last pharmacist that worked here was from a rich family and she would look down her nose at me - I thought you were going to be the same especially when you came in all dressed posh and with yer voice, but yer nay like that. Yer normal. Anyway have a good weekend.' And off Mavis went to catch her bus.
Its not the first time I've had the compliment - 'Yer nay a posh lass are ye Sara, ye just sound all posh' from colleagues. Always leaves me feeling - happy I'm connecting with folk but somehow perturbed that my posh exterior crumbles so easily - *sigh* I'll never make a good spy. In my last work (in the lab doing the PhD) I got some raised eyebrows when I first opened my mouth, I'd notice people's accents change when we'd converse - by their own admission after a few weeks they'd say they would speak 'proper' to me - so that I wouldn't look down at them - but now that they've got to know me they are happy to just be themselves and speak 'like normal folk'. Well I'm not likely to come out with a broad Aberdonian accent anytime soon - I've not managed it for the past 5 years - but it seems my 'posh' accent though helpful in getting me accepted in certain circles, does hinder me getting to know people on the off, but after a while my 'posh' fascade falls - and my 'normality' shows through.
Mavis said she was going to bring a book in next week so I can teach her how to be a 'posh bird' so she can bag a rich bloke - I raised my eyebrows completely lost as to her suggestion - 'You've got a book about how to find a rich bloke?' I asked baffled that a) such a book exists b) anyone should buy one.
'No!' giggled Mavis, 'For balancing on my head so I can be posh too. Oh and I want you to give me electrocution lessons so I can speak proper like you.'
'Elocution' I corrected
'Huh?'
'Why wait till Monday? Its elocution'
'Fit did I say?'
'Nevermind - see you on Monday!'

I think I might just turn upto work next week in a burka and speak with a Chinese accent - that will confuse everyone. Seems like whatever universal language will be spoken to facilitate communication and understanding between the peoples of the world - accent may still have the potential to divide and unite us.

[Linda Assaf]

:-) So you smiled, you say, as you blogged that! I can see it, as well as hear the lilting English accent that corrected my tomato vs tomatoe pronunciation and with a right proper elocution so as to catch a rich bloke! Hmmmmm ........... we'll have to talk about that "rich bloke" later (or at least when you're 30)

As an outsider on many fronts, I often wonder what it is in us that wants to belong, to be accepted exactly where we're at and with what we have, comfortable with our own accent. Where does all that begin, anyway? And why, if at all, is it important? It would seem that if all things were equal, the accent wouldn't matter. Certainly the posh clothes wouldn't either. But I guarantee that you don a burka, you're in for a whole world of goods, and it won't be the accent that divides you!

Now, about your "normality".......... ;-)