Hyacinth Bucket speaking . .

[Mups]

Be honest now,  how many of you put on a posh telephone voice when answering the phone or making certain calls?

It is reckoned that millions of us put on a voice like   TV's  Hyacinth Bucket, especially when talking to someone like the Police,  Doctors,  or Schools.
In fact,  it is thought that as many as four out of five of us change our voices.

I say with hand on heart,  I don't think I have ever done that,  certainly not knowingly anyway.

What about you?   

[Raven]

It's a bit hard to turn a Western Isles sing song burr into posh. So nope, not guilty.

[Michael Rolls]

Don't need to. I talks posh anyway!

[klondike]

Am I right in thinking that this is more of a woman thing than a nan thing?

I've heard wimen do it but can't recall ever hearing a man.

[Mups]

Am I right in thinking that this is more of a woman thing than a nan thing?

I've heard wimen do it but can't recall ever hearing a man.

I suspect you are right,  although not sure that Nan's don't do it too.  

[klondike]

Sausage fingers strike again. Phone in bed don't help either.

[GrannyMac]

I used to work on telephone enquiries/complaints and never had an issue with being understood.  Obviously I have a Scottish accent, but I've never used local dialect (have you heard broad Dundee!) my parents made sure of that.  Not posh though. 

[Scrumpy]

I speak as I always speak.. Don't put on an act for anyone.. 

[Alex]

When I was very young I worked on Directory Enquiries, 999 and Faults - remember those  ?   We were trained to speak clearly, but I don't recall that extended to " posh "   

[Michael Rolls]

I wish call centre, etc., staff still were

[Scrumpy]

Call centres.!!!
  
Can't understand a bloody word.. 
 

[GrannyMac]

I wish call centre, etc., staff still were

I agree! I'm quite deaf now, and find strong accents very difficult to decipher.

[klondike]

I'm usually embarrassed by being unable to understand a thick accent and apologise for being deaf although I suspect the problem is more theirs than mine.

[Scrumpy]

I too have trouble with 'thick accents '..
I have missed many a good film/ tv drama because of this..

[Michael Rolls]

Yes, for those of us with less than perfect hearing, just about any strong accent can be nightmare, especially if the information you are seeking is important. Doesn't matter what it is - sub-continent, Welsh, Scots, Geordie. What really frustrates is that I have never come  across anyone unable to understand me (unless they are really deaf of course)