A British accent in sunny California?

I remember a fellow student I knew during my university years. He spoke with a clear British accent. It was a novelty for me. The only time I had ever heard a British accent was during interviews with the Queen on TV, or in a James Bond movie.

I was fascinated that someone from England was studying here in California.

One day we were sitting outside on the campus grass chatting away.

Curious, I asked, "Where are you from?"

He leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eye, and said, "I have to tell you a secret." With a perfect American accent, he admitted, "I'm not British. I'm just pretending to have a British accent." ??

"Why?" I asked, completely baffled.

"A British accent sounds more prestigious. People think I'm smart and sophisticated," he explained. ????

Hmm... interesting! ??

Fast-forward to a recent conversation I had with someone who wanted to improve her fluency and polish- up her pronunciation so that she could sound more professional when speaking at work.

She shared that her boss firmly believed that a British accent is perceived as more elegant in international business than an American one.

Hmm... interesting!? ??

This made me wonder: Why is British English often seen as more professional, eloquent, and better for business?

Where does this notion that British English is more formal, correct, or proper than American English even come from? ??

Could it be because British accents are often used for smart or powerful characters in movies and TV shows, like Sherlock Holmes or James Bond? ??

Or could it be that the British accent is traditionally associated with the upper classes and educational institutions like Oxford and Cambridge? ???? ????

Or perhaps because the royal family is linked with formality and eloquence? ??

I wonder if my university friend is still pretending to be British because he thinks Queen’s English sounds more sophisticated. All I know is that he was just faking it.

Did that really make him more sophisticated, or was it all just an illusion? ??

I’m curious to hear your thoughts and experience.

Do you think a British accent makes you sound more sophisticated?

#accent #businessenglish #pronunciation