BBC News Assimilation

The title is not really a serious suggestion for a new piece of phonetic terminology. However, I spotted another BBC News presenter doing something a little different last night. It was the chap to the left, Nick Robinson, BBC News’s main political correspondent. In a very brief taster for the 10 O’clock News, Robinson uttered, if I remember rightly, the phrase keep coming as kiːk kʌmɪŋ. He certainly didn’t move his lips before the m segment. What have these BBC types got against bilabials?

11 Responses to “BBC News Assimilation”

  1. JWL says:

    It’s easier that way. I ·magine lotsa peeple say it thap way. I know I do — at times.

  2. Petr says:

    How can you pronounce bilabials with a stiff upper lip?

  3. dw says:

    @Petr:

    ask any oboe player.

  4. John Maidment says:

    Petr,

    By pairing it with a loose, flabby lower lip.

  5. Petr says:

    John, you seem to be an expert in this.

  6. JWL says:

    An even more relaxt version of Keep coming is
    [kiʔ kəmɪn]
    It’s not ony the Brits who have stiff upper lips — or blowers of single-reed instrəments

  7. Petr says:

    If Jack continues to provide us with even more relaxed versions, blowers will be forced to look for diff’r'nt instruments.

  8. Graham says:

    The oboe is a double reed instrument – as is the bassoon. The clarinet and saxophone are the two most commonly played single reed instruments.

  9. Petr says:

    I’d always thought there was only a double entendre. But Graham taught me there’s also a double reed. (Sorry for this)

  10. JWL says:

    Sorry, Graham, of course I me·nt ‘double reed’
    As a huge devotee of all the family of soprano, alto, tenor . baritone and even bass saxophones and counting the bass clarinet as my favourite instrument (if I dont include the foghorn) I shdve known better than to commit such a blunder

  11. Petr says:

    Gentlemen, this blog was originally about assimilations of a particular type. Now we are talking about foghorns, alphorns, etc. Why not include other labrophones? This is going to be a most interesting conversation.

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