BBC Voices

Conversation in Treorchy about accent, dialect and attitudes to language.

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    01:08:54

  • Shelf mark

    C1190/41/22

  • Recording date

    2004-11-12

  • Is part of (Collection)

    BBC Voices Recordings

  • Recording locations

    Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf

  • Interviewees

    Brown, Anna, 1939 Sept. 06- (speaker, female, retired fashion designer), Harris, David, 1935 Nov. 16- (speaker, female, retired coalminer), Harris, Glenys, 1938 Dec. 30- (speaker, female, retired clothes factory worker), Rowe, Beryl, 1923 Oct. 18- (speaker, female)

  • Interviewers

    Morgan, Anita, 1932 August 06- (speaker, female)

  • Producers

    Radio Wales

  • Abstract

    [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves, mention where they have lived/their occupation/what they do now theyre retired. Discussion about their own accent, attitudes towards Welsh accent. Anecdotes about hearing their voice on tape for first time. Discussion about attitudes towards regional accents, influence of media, how their children speak, media portrayal of Welsh accent. Description of changing how she felt about her own accent over time. English attitudes towards Welsh people.[00:14:35] Anecdotes about other peoples reactions to their accent, people thinking they werent from United Kingdom. Discussion about attitudes towards people from the Valleys, anecdotes about peoples reactions to their Valleys accent. Anecdotes about being spoken down to because of their accent. Mention banter about Welsh accents in Armed Forces, Valleys accent being source of pride. Comment that Americans love the Welsh accent. Comment that television/radio presenters used to have posh rather than regional accents, now posh English accent is used in comedies. Discussion about whether they would change their accent, what would be lost if accents disappeared.[00:28:42] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS. Mention words used to mean to throw/drunk.[00:36:17] Discussion about use of swear words and attitudes towards swearing, how this has changed over time, swearing in Welsh, reasons for using swear words, girls swearing. Anecdote about using swear words to stop youngsters causing trouble behind her house. Swearing at work but not at home, using swear words out of context, influence of media.[00:43:28] Discussion about their use of Welsh words when speaking English, examples of this, speaking Wenglish (mixture of Welsh and English). Mention many different meanings of Welsh word cwtch.[00:46:29] Mention words used to mean to play truant. Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING. Mention whipper-in who went to childrens houses when they played truant from school in past. Mention words used to mean toilet. Description of daps worn as children, going on train journeys as children.[00:51:15] Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. Mention words used to mean young person in cheap trendy clothes and jewellery. Discussion about the way young people dress these days and in the past.[00:56:52] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS. Comment that Welsh kinship terms are still used in local area.[00:59:04] Discussion about family words/sayings, explanation of nicknames for miners and local people. Comment that nicknames arent used so much now since the pits closed. Mention words used to mean friend. Discussion of coal-mining words/phrases. Description of how it was indicated that someone had died in coal mine in past, tradition of going to see dead person in house in past.[01:05:57] Mention words used to mean pregnant/lacking money/main room of house.

  • Description

    Recording made for BBC Voices project of a conversation guided by a BBC interviewer. The conversation follows a loose structure based on eliciting opinions about accents, dialects, the words we use and people's attitude to language. The five interviewees are all members of the Treorchy Senior Citizens' Club.

  • Metadata record:

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Conversation in Treorchy about accent, dialect and attitudes to language.

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