Varieties of ‘standard accents’ among teachers in contemporary Britain

Abstract

This article investigates accent variation within the UK, applied to the professional context of teaching. The purpose is two-fold: first, to discuss a variety of accents in contemporary Britain, demonstrating how accents can be categorised based on the degree to which they mark the speaker's local origins. Second, by focusing on teachers’ accents within the context of teacher training in the UK, information can be obtained regarding which particular accent varieties are preferred in a profession in which accent is relevant to professional behaviour. In addition, two aims can serve to provide a better understanding of what are, in effect, suggested ‘standard’ accents within the teaching profession.