Some people may call it a pity. The Queen’s English is becoming rather common.
The British have been tittering about a scientific study that came out recently that examined Queen Elizabeth’s accent over four decades.
The study, by Macquarie University researchers in Sydney, Australia, examined the subtle change in her vowels in broadcasts from the 1950s to 1980s.
They concluded her accent has drifted toward “one that is characteristic of speakers who are younger and/or lower in the social hierarchy,” according to an article published in Nature magazine.
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According to dictionaries, Queen’s or King’s English is the standard or accepted use of English in speech or writing. It represents the royal sanction of the language.
Rather than being appalled that the Queen is beginning to speak more like commoners, people should be delighted.
The changes in pronunciation reflect that she has not limited herself to mingling just with upper echelons of society. Queen Elizabeth has traveled much of the world and met many ordinary people belonging to various classes of society.
Accents aren’t unique to the British. Each one of us has a unique accent whether we realize it or not. Accents can identify heritage, class, and even locations where we grew up. Some people adopt accents quickly when they travel to foreign lands, while others strongly retain accents decades after moving from a homeland.
Often people are judged by how they speak rather than by the meaning of words spoken.
Perhaps the subtle speech changes by a queen will remind us that one cannot – and should not – judge by speech alone.
