RTE have come under fire for forcing their staff to use the Queen’s English.

Under the station’s rules broadcasters such as Sharon Ní Bheoláin and Brian Dobson are given clear rules on how to speak.

But critics say the use of a Queen’s English style guide should be scrapped.

Professor of Linguistics at the University of ­Duisburg, Raymond Hickey described the guide as “internalised colonialism”.

He told the Irish Sun: ‘The basic issue is RTE expects its staff to speak as if they were English. Why?

‘We have our own form of English which is different but fully legitimate and accepted worldwide. It’s a sort of internalised colonialism.

‘Birthday, with staff urged to pronounce TH fully — this is an English pronunciation.

‘The Irish don’t pronounce the TH as a fricative but a stop with no breath, so to speak. The same is true of news, the Irish pronunciation is and always has been nooze.’

When the style guide was being put together RTE based it on

It is believed the style guide was heavily influenced by the BBC in the 1970s.

An RTE source told the paper: “Some people were very particular years ago, but it’s more relaxed now. Going back to the 1970s and before, the delivery was heavily influenced by the BBC.

“There is an expectation that as the national broadcaster we are correct.

“The guide is there for anyone who needs it.”