Language and Class in the UK

Generally, in Britain, very high value is placed upon how the language is used. Vocabulary and pronunciation indicate your class, educational background and status. People in modern Britain are very conscious of class differences. They regard it is as difficult to become friends with somebody from a different class. It results from the fact that the different classes have different sets of attitudes and daily habits. When a person talks, it is easy for the listener to get some clues about the speaker’s attitudes and interests, both of which are also indicative of class. Indication of a person’s class is often his or her accent, argues O’Driscoll (1995:48). The model of English grammar and vocabulary which is used in public speaking, radio and television news broadcasts is know as “standard British English”. The vast majority of people, however, speak with an accent which is geographically limited (O’Driscoll 1995:50).