^ And the commentary as well, Am. I am an avid supporter of having an independent National broadcaster. However, I do expect them to be reasonably even handed as well ... Is this asking too much of the ABC?
I have taken to watching the SBS instead, mostly. More documentaries, and their sometimes overseas born presenters often speak better English than the predominantly native born Aussies on the ABC.
I remember watching a skit many years ago between Wendy Harmer and another female comedian and ABC person where they were reminiscing about an elocution test they had had to take prior to employment at the ABC.
It took me years to work out what "Mairsy dotes and dozy dotes and liddle amsy tivey" meant. This was what they were laughing about - it was how many read the sentence "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy" pronouncing it all the first way ... About two weeks ago, I heard a presenter on the ABC give a terrific rendition of the former ...
.
Another non-favourite of mine is pronouncing 'Ant-arctica' as 'Ann tartica'. After all, the word is a contraction of the Antipodean Arctic = "Ant arctica" ...
But I guess I'm just an old grumble bum who has a life long love of the English language ...
. I try not to butcher it too much!