It was once common to regard Britain as a society with class distinction.
It
was
once
common
to
regard
Britain
as
a
society
with
class
distinction
.
Each class had unique characteristics.
Each
class
had
unique
characteristics
.
In recent years, many writers have begun to speak of the 'decline of class' and 'classless society' in Britain.
In
recent
years
,
many
writers
have
begun
to
speak
of
the
'decline
of
class
'
and
'classless
society
'
in
Britain
.
And in modern day consumer society everyone is considered to be middle class.
And
in
modern
day
consumer
society
everyone
is
considered
to
be
middle
class
.
But pronouncing the death of class is too early.
But
pronouncing
the
death
of
class
is
too
early
.
A recent wide-ranging study of pubic opinion found 90 percent of people still placing themselves in a particular class; 73 percent agreeed that class was still a vital part of British society.
A
recent
wide-ranging
study
of
pubic
opinion
found
90
percent
of
people
still
placing
themselves
in
a
particular
class
;
73
percent
agreeed
that
class
was
still
a
vital
part
of
British
society
.
; and 52 percent thought there were still sharp class differences.
;
and
52
percent
thought
there
were
still
sharp
class
differences
.
Thus, class may not be culturally and politically obvious, yet it remains an imprtant part of British society.
Thus
,
class
may
not
be
culturally
and
politically
obvious
,
yet
it
remains
an
imprtant
part
of
British
society
.
Britain seems to have a love of stratification.
Britain
seems
to
have
a
love
of
stratification
.
One unchanging aspect of a British person's class position is accent.
One
unchanging
aspect
of
a
British
person
's
class
position
is
accent
.
The words a person speaks tell her or his class.
The
words
a
person
speaks
tell
her
or
his
class
.
A study of British accents during the 1970s found that a voice sounding like a BBC newsreader was viewed as the most attractive voice.
A
study
of
British
accents
during
the
1970s
found
that
a
voice
sounding
like
a
BBC
newsreader
was
viewed
as
the
most
attractive
voice
.
Most people said this accent sounds 'educated' and 'soft'.
Most
people
said
this
accent
sounds
'educated
'
and
'soft
'
.
The accents placed at the bottom in this study, on the other hand, were regional city accents.
The
accents
placed
at
the
bottom
in
this
study
,
on
the
other
hand
,
were
regional
city
accents
.
These accents were seen as 'common' and 'ugly'.
These
accents
were
seen
as
'common
'
and
'ugly
'
.
However, a similar study of British accents in the US turned these results upside down and placed some regional accents as the most attractive and BBC English as the least.
However
,
a
similar
study
of
British
accents
in
the
US
turned
these
results
upside
down
and
placed
some
regional
accents
as
the
most
attractive
and
BBC
English
as
the
least
.
This suggests that British attitudes towards accent have deep roots and are based on class prejudice.
This
suggests
that
British
attitudes
towards
accent
have
deep
roots
and
are
based
on
class
prejudice
.
In recent years, however, young upper midder-class people in London, have begun to adopt some regional accents, in order to hide their class origins.
In
recent
years
,
however
,
young
upper
midder-class
people
in
London
,
have
begun
to
adopt
some
regional
accents
,
in
order
to
hide
their
class
origins
.
This is an indication of class becoming unnoticed.
This
is
an
indication
of
class
becoming
unnoticed
.
However, the 1995 pop song' Common People' puts forward the view that though a middle-class person may' want to live like common people' they can never appreciate the reality of a working class life.
However
,
the
1995
pop
song
'
Common
People
'
puts
forward
the
view
that
though
a
middle-class
person
may
'
want
to
live
like
common
people
'
they
can
never
appreciate
the
reality
of
a
working
class
life
.
It was once common to regard Britain as a society with class distinction. Each class had unique characteristics.  In recent years, many writers have begun to speak of the 'decline of class' and 'classless society' in Britain. And in modern day consumer society everyone is considered to be middle class.  But pronouncing the death of class is too early. A recent wide-ranging study of pubic opinion found 90 percent of people still placing themselves in a particular class; 73 percent agreeed that class was still a vital part of British society. ; and 52 percent thought there were still sharp class differences. Thus, class may not be culturally and politically obvious, yet it remains an imprtant part of British society. Britain seems to have a love of stratification.  One unchanging aspect of a British person's class position is accent. The words a person speaks tell her or his class. A study of British accents during the 1970s found that a voice sounding like a BBC newsreader was viewed as the most attractive voice. Most people said this accent sounds 'educated' and 'soft'. The accents placed at the bottom in this study, on the other hand, were regional city accents. These accents were seen as 'common' and 'ugly'. However, a similar study of British accents in the US turned these results upside down and placed some regional accents as the most attractive and BBC English as the least. This suggests that British attitudes towards accent have deep roots and are based on class prejudice.  In recent years, however, young upper midder-class people in London, have begun to adopt some regional accents, in order to hide their class origins. This is an indication of class becoming unnoticed. However, the 1995 pop song' Common People' puts forward the view that though a middle-class person may' want to live like common people' they can never appreciate the reality of a working class life.