My to-the-point question: Is there a history of elocution as a form of magical training/practice?
It’s dawned on me, after having watched a lot of British television shows via PBS in my youth, then eventually VHS tapes, DVDs, and now video on demand, that I often feel soothed (disarmed/pacified?) when listening to particular British accents, and certain British actors and actresses in particular.
I have listened to British audio recordings of royal biographies, many spy thrillers, various short stories and novels, as well as a Trollope novel that I have no interest in, and still I am soothed when I’m listening. I’m guessing I’d come under the same effect with an autopsy report and a crochet book.
This, plus my amusement that the British Royal Family seem to have an unusually large fanbase in countries that gained independence from their Empire, has led me to grossly speculate that the Received Pronunciation accent/elocution of the British Empire’s ruling class was a deliberate and conscious magical practice.
I have a similar feeling/attitude with the RP-related Transatlantic Accent.
I often wonder if a politician whose views I disagree with would get more persuasive traction with me if he or she spoke like FDR or Orson Welles.
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branchandroot
A query on particular accents/elocution
Date: 2025-04-28 05:02 am (UTC)My to-the-point question: Is there a history of elocution as a form of magical training/practice?
It’s dawned on me, after having watched a lot of British television shows via PBS in my youth, then eventually VHS tapes, DVDs, and now video on demand, that I often feel soothed (disarmed/pacified?) when listening to particular British accents, and certain British actors and actresses in particular.
I have listened to British audio recordings of royal biographies, many spy thrillers, various short stories and novels, as well as a Trollope novel that I have no interest in, and still I am soothed when I’m listening. I’m guessing I’d come under the same effect with an autopsy report and a crochet book.
This, plus my amusement that the British Royal Family seem to have an unusually large fanbase in countries that gained independence from their Empire, has led me to grossly speculate that the Received Pronunciation accent/elocution of the British Empire’s ruling class was a deliberate and conscious magical practice.
I have a similar feeling/attitude with the RP-related Transatlantic Accent.
I often wonder if a politician whose views I disagree with would get more persuasive traction with me if he or she spoke like FDR or Orson Welles.
Thoughts? :-)
-Eugene