More than one in five Britons admit they have altered their natural accent at some point, from wanting to sound more upmarket to trying to sound ‘less posh’ new research on ‘faking it’ reveals.Reasons for faking it include trying to sound more sophisticated, for instance for a job interview, or to try and chat someone up, it added.
Others have toned down a strong regional accent, perhaps to make themselves more easily understood, said the survey by artificial grass firm Trulawn.
But a similar number have also overplayed their own accent, as if to emphasise their roots or regional identity.
A survey of 1,000 adults by Trulawn found 22 per cent had changed their natural accent on occasion, rising to 35 per cent of Londoners and 37 per cent in the West Midlands/
Eight per cent of Britons have made themselves sound MORE posh rising to 17 per cent in Wales but less than one per cent of those in Scotland.
Four per cent say they have tried to sound LESS posh, rising to 11 per cent of those in London who are determined not to sound like toffs.
Old Etonian Prime Minister David Cameron and even The Queen in her Christmas broadcasts have been accused of toning down their upper class class accents.
Five per cent say they have overplayed their own natural accent and six per cent have softened it, six per cent have tried using a different regional accent and four per cent have adopted a fake foreign one, said the survey.
Those most likely to reduce their natural accent are in the West Midlands where 16 per cent admit they have had occasion to soften their Brummie tones.
But only two per cent of Scots admit they have ever reduced their regional accent for the sake of others, Trulawn’s figures added.
Accents are not the only things Britons have faked, said the Trulawn study.
Two in three Brits have faked something from their tans to fur coats, it found.
Trulawn director Ian Parry said: “Some things are simply unachievable – a year long real tan, expensive designer clothes and a perfectly manicured lawn for example.
“But savvy Brits are realising you can have it all and achieve perfection in all areas of your life at a fraction of the time or cost and that’s why the trend for faking it is booming.
“There’s also been a shift in attitude compared to a few years ago as people are no longer ashamed to admit when something is not the real deal and are now celebrating all things artificial.”
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