Brian Bennett on Face To Face

[Didier]

they all seem relaxed talking to a fellow musician and it was good that they managed to tell full stories without constant interruptions like so many interviews today.
New career for Mr Wakeman?

Indeed! Being a non-native speaker of English, I also appreciate the fact that Brian Bennett has no accent, which makes it easy for me to understand his English.

The same for me, I have no difficulties understanding Brian Bennett's english, and it's the same for Bruce Welch and Hank Marvin. I can't say the same for the late Jet Harris !

Didier

[MikeAB]

I seem to recall Cliff and other stars at the time all had vocal coaching to speak the dreadful 'Queen's English'. Quite embarrassing now to hear them speak 'so well' on stage etc in those days - but not their fault!

[Fenderman]

I noticed even very early on Hank and Bruce had no Geordie accent!

[Twilight Ranger]

I also appreciate the fact that Brian Bennett has no accent, which makes it easy for me to understand his English.

Interesting comment. Brian certainly speaks clearly, but there many traces of the North London where he grew up.

Thank you for your detailed comments. I hadn't noticed the minor traces you mentioned, but of course I you are right. I just meant that I have heard many British people whom I have understood only to some extent because of their very strong accents, and Brian Bennett certainly doesn't have such a strong accent as I can understand his English without difficulty. I occasionally hear English-speaking football and tennis commentators on Eurosport 2 and Viasat TV channels and I struggle to understand what they say. I have no difficulty understanding any one of The Shadows, though.

As to Finnish, written Finnish and informal spoken Finnish are worlds apart and consequently many immigrants are at their wits' end when they cannot find some of the words even in dictionaries. And even if the word is in a dictionary, it may be used in a meaning that isn't mentioned there.

[RayL]

For a really good example of spoken English, look no further than Iain Purdon, contributor and moderator of this forum. Although Iain is now retired as a BBC announcer, he is occasionally asked to come back for the 24 hour BBC World Service. As an early riser, it is a pleasure to hear his warm tones reading the news at 5am!

[JimN]

In the same way that Bruce and Hank refined their playing in a very short time (from skiffle in The Railroaders to the gem that is Apache) so both of them chose to virtually lose their Newcastle accents when they came to London and stayed. There are always, of course, a few vowel sounds that don't go away like the short 'a' in words like 'bath or 'castle'. By contrast, Brian (from the South of England), will say the same words as 'barth' and 'carstle'. Interestingly, despite living in Australia for many years, Brian Rankin has stayed true to his 'Hank Marvin' voice.

Hmmm.... as late as July 1961 (more than three years after arriving in London), Bruce still had significant Geordie overtones when speaking in an unguarded moment.

Want to hear?

https://clyp.it/fmltqe1j

And I think that's Hank (on the left) saying "OK... see what it sounds like" just before Malcolm Addey's take announcement.

[GoldenStreet]

Being a non-native speaker of English, I also appreciate the fact that Brian Bennett has no accent, which makes it easy for me to understand his English. Whether a speaker has an accent or not is often of no consequence for native speakers, but we foreigners are a different breed.

One thing is for sure, Lassi, it would be difficult to distinguish your written English from that of a native of these Isles... perfectly expressed, as it is!

Bill

[drakula63]

Brian has, to my ears, a slight London accent. They all speak impeccably.

[GoldenStreet]

Maybe, Bruce has (had) his studio accent and his public accent!

Bill

[MeBHank]

And I think that's Hank (on the left) saying "OK... see what it sounds like" just before Malcolm Addey's take announcement.

I thought it was Jet, Jim. More "heady" than Hank.

J