This paper will analyze the various accents in the historical period drama television series Downton Abbey created by Julian Fellowes. The main research question is whether the social class of the series’ characters is reflected in their accents and how these accents mirror their personality. To do so, this study will primarily analyze t-glottalization and h-dropping. I predict that a character’s social class will become apparent through their accent which also relates back to their personality.
The paper will begin with a short theoretical background on how social class and language are linked before giving a brief overview of Downton Abbey and how social class plays a major role in this series. It will then give an overview of features that distinguish class accents, focusing on differences between Received Pronunciation and Northern English accents as Downton Abbey is set in the north. Afterwards, previous research on social class in film by Hodson will be illustrated. Next the methodology and the analysis will follow. First the accents of the two characters Daisy and Mary will be compared by counting the frequency of t-glottalization and h-dropping and the results will be examined. Afterwards, I will look at the same features in Mr. Carson’s pronunciation and interpret the results. Finally I will summarise the findings of this paper.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theory
- Language and Social Class
- Social Class in Downton Abbey
- Differing Features in Northern Accents and RP
- Language and Social Class in Film
- Analysis
- Methodology
- Comparison of Lady Mary and Daisy
- Mr. Carson
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the accents used in the television series Downton Abbey and determine if they reflect the social class of the characters. The study primarily focuses on t-glottalization and h-dropping, examining whether these features contribute to the audience's perception of a character's social standing and personality.
- The relationship between language and social class
- The portrayal of social class in Downton Abbey
- The analysis of t-glottalization and h-dropping in the accents of various characters
- The connection between accent features and character personality
- The role of accent in shaping audience perception of social class
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of language and social class in film, citing examples from Pygmalion and emphasizing the importance of dialect in conveying character information. The paper's research question, focusing on the reflection of social class in accents in Downton Abbey, is presented, outlining the specific linguistic features (t-glottalization and h-dropping) that will be analyzed.
- Theory: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework for understanding the link between language and social class. It discusses social stratification, the concept of social classes, and how language can reveal information about an individual's social background. The chapter explores the concept of Received Pronunciation (RP) as the standard accent in Britain and its association with the upper class. It also highlights the regional variations in language among lower social classes, emphasizing the link between accent and perception.
- Social Class in Downton Abbey: This chapter provides a brief overview of the historical context of Downton Abbey, highlighting the series' focus on the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. The chapter discusses the clear class division within the series and explores the setting of the estate in Northern Yorkshire, emphasizing the significance of regional accents in the analysis.
- Differing Features in Northern Accents and RP: This chapter delves into the linguistic differences between Northern accents and RP, focusing on the pronunciation of vowels and consonants. It outlines the distinctive features of Northern English accents compared to the standard accent, providing a foundation for understanding the linguistic variations that will be analyzed in subsequent chapters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study explores the themes of social class, language variation, and accent in the context of the television series Downton Abbey. Key concepts include t-glottalization, h-dropping, Received Pronunciation (RP), Northern English accents, and the portrayal of social class through linguistic features.
- Quote paper
- Teresa Schenk (Author), 2017, Accents in the Historical Period Drama Television Series Downton Abbey, focusing on H-Dropping and T-Glottalisation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/367661
