Most people in Belfast put on a posh ‘phone voice’ when on a call

Research from mobile network operator Talkmobile – who believe conversation is the best communication – reveals eight in 10 (83%) people in the Northern Irish capital try to sound ‘posher’ on the phone.

The finding suggests most people in Belfast have a bit of Hyacinth Bucket in them - the eccentric, image-conscious lead character in the classic British comedy Keeping Up Appearances.

Doctors and GP receptionists are the most likely to hear a ‘phone voice’ on the other end of the line, while friends and family are the least.

Two-thirds of Belfast locals try to sound well-spoken when on the phone to their GP (67%), as well as reserve their plumiest of accents for the GP surgery’s receptionist.

Three in five people in the Northern Irish capital talk more eloquently to their boss (61%) and the police (67%), while over a third try to sound prim and proper when on the phone to a school receptionist (56%).

The survey of 2,000 Brits reveals a third of the nation’s phone users mind their Ps and Qs when talking to call centre advisors – news to the ears of Talkmobile’s phone operators, who have won nine customer care awards since 2023.

When revealing their reasons for using a ‘phone voice’, two in five Belfast folk say it was so ‘they could be taken more seriously’ (39%) while nearly three in ten say it is for clarity (28%).

However, over two in five (44%) of Belfast residents say that it just happens automatically without thinking.

Just 6% of Belfast locals admit they try to sound posh to friends, and even engage the ‘phone voice’ for immediate family members; from parents (28%), to partners (6%) and siblings (11%).

Yet, in Belfast, nearly one in five (17%) admit to trying to sound ‘less posh’ or ‘more working class’ when talking to traders or builders.

The study reveals that UK women (85%) are more likely to have a ‘phone voice’ than men (74%).

Nearly two in five women (38%) admit their phone voice ‘happens automatically’, even when speaking to friends and family on the phone, compared to a quarter of men (24%).

The majority (81%) of Brits know at least one person who has a unique telephone tone – with a third saying a friend (37%) does it while another third saying their mother (33%) is guilty.

And, two in five (41%) women say their mother puts on a ‘phone voice’ compared to less than a quarter (23%) of men.

Talkmobile - who have an industry-leading customer-rated Trustpilot score of 4.7 - is committed to giving UK customers a straightforward mobile service with great prices and great coverage.

A Talkmobile spokesman said: “We’re delighted to hear so many Brits speak the King’s English when chatting with call centre staff.

“At Talkmobile, we’re dedicated to making all conversations with our call centres count, and making sure our staff speak straight, simple English to get to the root of what’s needed fast.

“That’s why we’ve won nine customer care awards since 2023 – because we keep conversation at the heart of what we do, however people choose to speak.”