Affectations,....,trying to look or sound "posher" than usual

[grahamg]

An "affectation" is described in the dictionary "thusly" ( )

"....behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress."
quote: "the affectation of a man who measures every word for effect"

We may all know someone who uses this kind of speech or other types of behaviour, (putting one's little finger in the air when using the best china teacups for example!), and maybe we're all a bit guilty of using this kind of thing to try to impress someone we like, or who might do us some good in business or whatever, "BUT", (there's always a but!), it can become grating when someone overuses this kind of thing.

One I'm thinking of tries to use a repeated or deliberate stutter, (all stutter involve repetition obvious but I hope you know what I mean), so they affect a stutter to supposedly show how much care they're taking with their words, or how much they mean whatever it is they're saying, when in truth it is all the same rubbish they normally talk.

I'll try to come back with some examples or videos for you, (the late great Hylda Baker used these for comedic effect back in the 1960s in the UK).

 

[grahamg]

Here are some examples:

SEMANTIC ENIGMAS "I have heard Englishmen use the word "what" at end of a declaratory sentence. What does that convey, and is it an upper class affectation?"

Quote: "I think it's what you'd call a 'filler' (even though in this instance it's at the end of a sentence) - a word that has no real grammatical meaning but merely comes from habit and can allow the brain time to think. (Such as 'like' or 'you know') And yes, no one says it where I come from unless they're doing impressions."

Quote: "Yes, it is an upper class affectation, and I haven't heard it used in recent years. It is one of a number of habits of speech which supplement a declarative statement with an interrogative, inviting agreement from the listener. Here on Guernsey, people commonly use "eh?" for this purpose. In France, "n'est pas?" is sometimes used. Scots will sometimes say "Ye ken?" And so the list goes on"

And Hylda Baker in fine form:

 

[Judycat]

I am so irritated by the deliberate stutter. My pastor used to do this, it's one of the reasons I quit going to church.

I don't mind the other behaviors as much. If someone is putting their little finger in the air when drinking tea, I will do it too

 

[Pink Biz]

I've never in my life heard anybody adopt a deliberate stutter. How bizarre!

 

[Judycat]

It is beyond irritating.

 

[911]

We call that being ostentatious.

 

[grahamg]

We call that being ostentatious.

Can you behave in a manner to portray an affectation without being ostentatious, (I imagine folks who are ostentatious living in a big fancy house or summat, unlike my guy putting on the stutter who lives in a brokendown farmhouse)?

 

[Gaer]

That's one of the reasons I so disliked the music business.

 

[grahamg]

That's one of the reasons I so disliked the music business.

"Not Bob Dylan as well"? ( )

 

[timoc]

B-b-b-but...... s-s-somepeople......... c-c-c-ant....... h-h-help...... iiiiiiiiiiit.

 

[horseless carriage]

There's a character portrayed brilliantly by the actress Patricia Routledge, called Hyacinth Bucket, who is absolutely the epitome of affectation, ostentation and out and out snobbery. She even insists on her surname being pronounced Bouquet. The sitcom is called:
"Keeping up Appearances." Here's the lady at her best.

 

[grahamg]

There's a character portrayed brilliantly by the actress Patricia Routledge, called Hyacinth Bucket, who is absolutely the epitome of affectation, ostentation and out and out snobbery. She even insists on her surname being pronounced Bouquet. The sitcom is called:
"Keeping up Appearances." Here's the lady at her best.

I wonder what Hyacinth would have made of Hylda Baker, (a slightly different era, but the success of "Keeping up Appearances" was in part the juxtaposition of Hyacinths character and "Onslow", (played by the same actor whose portrayal of Eddie Yates in the soap "Coronation Street" years ago, and was very similar of course)?

 

[Judycat]

B-b-b-but...... s-s-somepeople......... c-c-c-ant....... h-h-help...... iiiiiiiiiiit.

Now, I-I-I don't know about you, but I-I think the ones who add this affect when giving a talk should have a bucket of ice water dumped on them. Stupid news commentators have adopted the habit too.

 

[grahamg]

"Not Bob Dylan as well"? ( )

Bob Dylan has been featured on a BBC two hour special tonight in the UK, with most footage shot in this country in the early sixties, during his tours, notably ending with two sell out nights at the Royal Albert Hall.

I'd forgotten just how enigmatic the songs were, beautifully delivered, but that was just part of the story, the man himself was obviously very intelligent, (and enigmatic, to use the best word I can come up with here), and such a leader or focus of everyone's attention. A British man from Time Magazine tried to interview him about his upcoming shows, his views on life and performing, but the middle aged or older guy was completely lost, and Bob gave him the real tough time he probably deserved.

There were some brilliant interactions behind the scenes with talented UK artists including Alan Price, (formerly the pianist with a pop/rock band called "The Animals"), and Donovan, a singer with some similarities to Bod Dylan, though nowhere near so talented, good as he was or thought to be here.

Did Bob and those around him have affectations, well on the evidence of this programme I wouldn't say so, he was just brilliant!

 

[grahamg]

Lets listen to Bob speaking at the Royal Albert Hall in 1966, and believe it or not he does seem to stutter a bit, (oops, but I'm still overwhelmed by the man!):

 

[grahamg]

Bob Dylan dealing with a heckler or two at the same show featured above, (shorter clip and this time you see his face too ).

 

[Buckeye]

I am so irritated by the deliberate stutter. My pastor used to do this, it's one of the reasons I quit going to church.

I don't mind the other behaviors as much. If someone is putting their little finger in the air when drinking tea, I will do it too

Well, I use my middle finger.....

 

[grahamg]

Well, I use my middle finger.....

"If you spill your tea it serves you right", (everyone else will no doubt be spitting theirs out laughing! )

 

[Judycat]

Well, I use my middle finger.....

Enjoy your tea.

 

[grahamg]

Enjoy your tea.

"Just tea for two,
and two for tea,
just me for you,
and you for me,....!"

 

[helenbacque]

Affectations,....,trying to look or sound "posher" than usual​

I sometimes suspect that posters to internet chat forums are guilty of occasionally doing this. No harm if it satisfies an ego issue.

 

[Knight]

I think that many of my replies fit the category of being posher.

That if being posher includes finding an alternative by using better words than ##4%#@ & &&^%$(* when those are the words that come to mind 1st. Notice my posh use by substituting symbols.

 

[grahamg]

Affectations,....,trying to look or sound "posher" than usual​

I sometimes suspect that posters to internet chat forums are guilty of occasionally doing this. No harm if it satisfies an ego issue.

We're all a bit guilty of this, (as said in OP).
I remember one of my first girlfriends, (the one I foolishly married then came to regret it big stylee- look my use of that word is an example there! ).
Yes, my first (ish) girlfriend used to speak of a college friend whose family used to go away on campervan holidays quite a lot. This young woman used to refer to their mobile home as "The Van", (with great emphasis on "THE"!), so this affectation was picked up on and referred to by the other college girls in York teacher training college.