Silly to lash accent

05 December 2006 - 02:00
By unknown

I thought we were past attacking people because of their accents. I listen to Elana Africa on Radio Jacaranda and I, too, could not figure out her race. But what does it matter? I only recently discovered that Bino from Metro FM is white.

I thought we were past attacking people because of their accents. I listen to Elana Africa on Radio Jacaranda and I, too, could not figure out her race. But what does it matter? I only recently discovered that Bino from Metro FM is white.

Speaking English with a "foreign accent" means that the person was not taught phonology and phonetics at school, where most of us learn English. As a result, the person does not learn "typical" English sound structures. Your reporter Itumeleng Motuba portrays blacks who speak English with a native accent as socially ridiculous. But it is you who appear childish.

Joseph Moyo, Mafikeng