THE “OXFORD” ACCENT

Evening Star, Issue 21748, 16 June 1934, Page 21

THE “OXFORD” ACCENT

“ Why is this pernicious form of speech, with its tortuous vowels and its ludicrous mannerisms, attributed to this university?” “ A.8.J.” writes m the ‘ Isis.’ “Wo have done nothing to deserve the insult. Our speech may be careless; it may be, and, probably is, ungrammatical to the point of incomprehensibility ; but it is not tainted with the so-called ‘ Oxford ’ accent. Therefore, let the purists devise . another name for this ungainly affectation. Let them call it the ‘ Park Lane Drawl.’ or by any name except that of Oxford. “ That such an accent exists no one will deny, least of all the undergraduate. It can be heard winging its oily way in tubes, in buses, and in high-class restaurants. It is used extensively by radio crooners and small-part actors, and by all those who. consider it an essential rung in the social ladder. It may, in fact, be heard everywhere except in Oxford. “ For during the last few years all traces of snobbery have been* removed from this university. No longer do undergraduates strive to 1 live like gentlemen ’ to the exclusion of all other activities. Fafse values have gone, and with them the last vestiges of the ‘.Oxford ’ accent. Reality and simplicity' reign in their place. we consider that it is high time ’ for this stigma to be removed. It has long outstayed its welcome, if indeed it was ever looked upon with anything but loathing within the bounds of this university. “ Oxford has been called the home of lost causes. Then let us admit that this cringing patient has died within our midst. Let us heave him out for the evil monster that he is. Better far that we should open our doors to some genuine Monster of the Loch than that we should give shelter to the unlovely beast who brings not fame, but contempt to our university. “ For too long we have remained silent. With the patience of a Job we have borne the blame for a crime of which we have not been guilty. We have been made the victims of a foul injustice. The time has come when we should make a stand. Therefore, let us arise and throw off this noisome thing that has been strangling us for so long. Let us assert our freedom and once again claim, citizenship amongst the English-speaking peoples.”