Report suspicious accent development
If a wildebeest in your care has begun to develop a regional accent, you must report it to the Department within 48 hours. Accent development can be an early indicator of “excessive cultural integration,” which is a Phase 4 concern.
What counts as a suspicious accent
A suspicious accent includes but is not limited to:
- A wildebeest that sounds like it might be from somewhere specific
- A wildebeest whose grunting has taken on what you would describe as “a definite West Country quality”
- A wildebeest that appears to be attempting Received Pronunciation (this is considered particularly concerning and should be reported immediately)
- A wildebeest that has started to shorten its words in a manner suggestive of Estuary English
- A wildebeest that seems, and you understand this is subjective, to be “putting it on”
- A wildebeest that responds to “Ey up” (this suggests Northern exposure and must be documented)
Guidance sections
- Accent severity scale — understand the five levels of accent development and the required response for each
- Notable incidents — case studies from the Accent Assessment Team’s records
- How to report — contact details, reporting requirements, and what happens after you report
- Frequently asked questions — common queries about wildebeest accent development
No wildebeest have developed regional accents. Wildebeest do not speak. Any instance of a wildebeest speaking should nevertheless be reported to the Department within 48 hours.