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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 2 of 3 1 2 3 #206293 - 06/30/12 03:04 PM Re: Plummy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Rhubarb Commando old hand Rhubarb Commando   old hand Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Lancaster, UK The original phrase for the upper-class English accent was, "... speaking as though he/she had a plum in his/her mouth." 60 years ago, this was the usual version over here - "plummy" is a more modern usage - I guess I first heard it 30 years ago, or so. (PS - over here ir is also sometimes referred to as "BBC English," as the brisitsh Broadcasting Company had very strict rules about how their announcers spoke. They have eased the rules quite a bit over the past decade.) Last edited by Rhubarb Commando; 06/30/12 03:07 PM. I'm immortal until proven otherwise #206349 - 07/05/12 02:34 PM Re: Plummy [Re: Rhubarb Commando]   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Jackie Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky speaking as though he/she had a plum in his/her mouth." Good gracious--I don't know how most people could get a plum in their mouth, let alone speak around it. Or--she said, being a bit slow on metaphors--did that come about perhaps because there was a time when only the rich could afford to buy plums? Thank you, at any rate. #206352 - 07/05/12 03:43 PM Re: Plummy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Rhubarb Commando old hand Rhubarb Commando   old hand Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Lancaster, UK My theory is that, inthe C19, before intensive agriculture, plums were quite a bit smaller. And if they were thinking of Damsons - well, they really are quite small. I'm immortal until proven otherwise #206390 - 07/10/12 01:59 PM Re: Plummy [Re: Rhubarb Commando]   Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 bexter addict bexter   addict Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 Middle Earth Originally Posted By: Rhubarb Commando (PS - over here ir is also sometimes referred to as "BBC English," as the brisitsh Broadcasting Company had very strict rules about how their announcers spoke. They have eased the rules quite a bit over the past decade.) Quite a bit! Hah, some programmes have presenters who are totally incapable of using correct grammar, not to mention pronunciation...if it was just a different accent then I wouldn't mind so much, but they can't even talk properly to begin with. Sorry, pet peeve of mine ----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false---- #206393 - 07/10/12 03:37 PM Re: Plummy [Re: bexter]   Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,961 LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,961 Land of the Flat Water Pet peeve of mine as well. We have a couple networks that must have no proofreaders, or whatever the people are called who put the stuff on the teleprompters for the anchors to read. And the bylines across the bottom are atrocious. ----please, draw me a sheep---- #206395 - 07/10/12 04:00 PM Re: Plummy [Re: LukeJavan8]   Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Rhubarb Commando old hand Rhubarb Commando   old hand Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Lancaster, UK >> some programmes have presenters who are totally incapable of using correct grammar, not to mention pronunciation << This is especially true of Radio 1 and 2, and some of the more "popular" TV channels. I mostly listen to Radios 3 & 4, where the problem, whilst existing there, is not acute. I'm immortal until proven otherwise #206396 - 07/10/12 04:26 PM Re: Plummy [Re: Rhubarb Commando]   Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,961 LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,961 Land of the Flat Water Of course our radio and TV run on a different system, and they go the whole gamut. When it is news broadcasting is the time I object the most, thinking, "they should know better". The other stations are clueless with their "reality' TV mind, and so incapable of intelligent thought to begin with. (And, yes, that is just my opinion.) ----please, draw me a sheep---- #206400 - 07/10/12 09:13 PM Re: Plummy [Re: LukeJavan8]   Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Rhubarb Commando old hand Rhubarb Commando   old hand Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Lancaster, UK Yes, we also have a whole range of commercial stations which are of vsriable quality. BBC, the non-comercial Corporation, is suppose to transcend such things! However, the absolute classic came just over a ear ago when James Naughtie, (pronounced 'Nocktie') who is a Scot with a superb accent and an admirable command of the language, managed to Spoonerise the name and title of Cabinet Minister James Hunt, Cultural Secretary ......... Last edited by Rhubarb Commando; 07/10/12 09:14 PM. I'm immortal until proven otherwise #206402 - 07/11/12 12:45 AM Re: Plummy [Re: Rhubarb Commando]   Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,961 LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,961 Land of the Flat Water heh,heh: I can imagine. ----please, draw me a sheep---- #208563 - 12/31/12 06:24 PM Re: Plummy [Re: LukeJavan8]   Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 maverick Carpal Tunnel maverick   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 > imagine In this wunnerfool digital age, no need! I doubt if your imagination would do justice to Jim's giggling attempts to regain control Page 2 of 3 1 2 3 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. 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