Is it my imagination or are people
speaking faster now? Women seem to have adopted a way of talking that I can’t
follow. It is more noticeable on television when English actresses speak in an
affected, fast and slurry way at high speed. On top of this everyone these days
talk across each other, all at once, causing nothing but a conversational
babble. My brain can’t grasp what they are discussing half of the time. I
realise that on TV there are time restrictions but that doesn’t excuse the
rudeness of people who cut in when someone is in mid-sentence. I see the look of
frustrations on some faces which is exactly how I feel seeing it happen.
Watching old programmes
and films I notice how much slower and clearer women spoke in days gone by so I
guess it’s probably a new craze for the excitable and show-off ways that have
entered the English language. I have come to the conclusion that it’s not my
hearing after all.
The ex-treasurer of my ex-WI speaks
as though she’s in a race against time. I try very hard to grasp what she is
saying and always have to ask her to repeat what she says. Or does the problem
lie with me? Am I going deaf or something? I have noticed a similar problem
with folk on television, mainly women so maybe it’s the pitch that stumps me,
after all I hear men quite clearly. Deeper tones must suit me better. Whatever,
it is becoming a nuisance. When watching TV programmes I can turn up the volume
or use subtitles but it’s not as easy in real life. Imagine the response I
would get I asked a real live woman to switch on her subtitles. I fancy the
white van would soon be here to pick me up!!
Seriously, I can hardly ask women to
shout and I think I would annoy them if I kept asking them to repeat
everything. Thank goodness for men, that’s all I can say. I have no trouble
hearing or understanding them, which confirms my suspicion that it’s not all down
to me.
Valerie
