Another question for the Brits about Yorkshire accents

[DanaC]

Like i said: it may not be a regional accent. But 'no accent' is in itself an accent. That's why I likened it to 'RP' (received pronunciation). In the UK 'RP' is a non-region specific accent; a kind of correct/standard pronunciation. It is closest to the Home Counties accent; but it is the accent which used to be adopted by all tv and radio presenters and actors (up until recent years) would always learn it and train their voices to it. That's why in old Brit tv and radio everyone sounds more or less the same. It is still the case to a certain extent, but getting less so as regional accents become more common in media.

A lot of people drop or soften their regional accents in line with social mobility. Generally speaking you are taken more seriously (in terms of initial impressions and in certain fields) if your accent is closer to RP and less regional.

I don't have a particularly strong accent most of the time, neither do my immediate family. I drop into northern at times depending on my mood; but i also drop out of it depending on circumstances and company.