BBC Voices

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

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:56:51

  • Shelf mark

    C1190/42/02

  • Recording date

    2005-02-11

  • Is part of (Collection)

    BBC Voices Recordings

  • Recording locations

    Birmingham

  • Interviewees

    Chohan, Deena, 1979 June 26- (speaker, female), Dhillon, Herjot, 1977 July 28- (speaker, female), Patel, Meera, 1980 April 23- (speaker, female), Surdhar, Kiran, 1979 Oct. 23- (speaker, female)

  • Interviewers

    Maistry, Devan, (speaker, male)

  • Producers

    Asian Network

  • Abstract

    [00:00:00] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS. [00:02:14] Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS. [00:03:36] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING. Discussion about when they would use Punjabi/Hindi words while speaking English, comment that they would use Punjabi words to address family members. Mention word used to mean ‘grandmother’. [00:05:34] Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. [00:09:22] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS. Mention phrase used to mean ‘father’ in Bolton. [00:14:40] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS. [00:18:02] Discussion about their identity, how it has changed as they have grown up, other people’s attitudes towards them, experiences of racism, their connection with Asian culture. Anecdote about being picked to be an angel in nativity play at school because she was Asian. [00:26:04] Continuation of discussion about their identity, their family backgrounds, their religious upbringing and how it has influenced their identity. Discussion about the languages they speak, when they use them, importance of language as part of their identity. Discussion about praying, language they pray in, superstitions, how they feel about being Asian. [00:37:58] Discussion about marriage, expectations of their family, being Asian women, their relationship with their parents. [00:44:27] Discussion about Asian communities in United Kingdom, racism within communities, Asian culture in England compared to other cultures. Attitudes towards living in Asian areas. [00:49:58] Discussion about attitudes towards marriage, who they would be allowed to marry. How they feel about working for Asian Network with majority Asian employees. Pressure to get married, acceptability of having boyfriends.

  • Description

    BBC warning: this interview contains strong or offensive language. 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 four interviewees are all young media workers.

  • Metadata record:

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

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