The British Library The British Library http://sounds.bl.uk/JISC ASR IPR STATUS LIST.xls Conversation in Grimsby about accent, dialect and attitudes to language. C1190/16/03 BBC Voices Recordings 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 allotment holders. [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves, describe where they live, their life before allotments, interests they have, jobs they have done. Description of retort setting method of producing gas. Anecdote about rebuilding coke ovens in record time. Description of working in frozen fish factory, surviving breast cancer, benefits of working on allotment.[00:13:22] Continuation of description of where they have lived, their life before allotments, jobs they have done. Description of surviving heart attack; growing vegetables on fathers allotment during Second World War, quality of taste of vegetables grown on allotments; grandmother growing dahlias and comfrey in tiny garden when he was young, medicinal properties of comfrey plant.[00:22:46] Discussion about what motivates them to work on an allotment. Description of people who used to keep allotments in past and what they grew, mutual encouragement. Anecdote about showing onions for first time and winning, selling fifteen stone pumpkin that had won show. Description of how his son got involved with allotment from the age of two, winning prize at show aged six and subsequent years.[00:32:33] Discussion about state of local vegetable shows now, description of Tetney Leek Club; what they enjoy about having an allotment; cycle of vegetables that can be grown throughout the year; good community amongst allotment holders. Mention what gives them the most pleasure to grow.[00:38:14] Discussion about benefits of living in local area, good beer and fish and chips, view of Yorkshire from seafront; description of Humberston Fitties, local wildlife, seeing seal pups at Donna Nook, how Cleethorpes changes from summer to winter.[00:46:44] Discussion about differences/similarities between people in Cleethorpes and people in other areas of United Kingdom. Anecdote about difference between living in small Leicestershire village and place near Stoke on Trent. Comment that people are definitely friendlier in the north and have more time than in London, negative aspects of living in London.[00:51:32] Discussion about what they think of their own accent/local accent, how it has changed over time and why, pronouncing words properly, difference between asking for fish and chips in Cleethorpes/Leicester. Anecdote about recognising West Marsh accent in Newport Pagnell, childrens speech changing after moving to Cleethorpes from Leicestershire. Lincolnshire dialect.[00:56:52] Discussion about changing speech in different situations/with different people, telephone voice, mention ways to get rid of telesales people, using broad Lancashire to tell jokes. Anecdote about speaking broad Lincolnshire dialect with man in Wales who was from Louth.[01:03:12] Discussion about attitudes towards regional accents. Comment that regional variation in British English is similar to regional variation in German. Mention Hull/Grimsby divide, thought to result from the different fishing fleets on north/south side of river, friendly enmity, mention different word used to describe people who unloaded fish in Grimsby/Hull.[01:10:25] Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS. Anecdote about playing truant and ending up on front page of local newspaper. Description of games played in street as children, slang expressions for them.[01:16:05] Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. Anecdote about aunt being taught to sew using mirror in sewing classes at school because she was left-handed, children being forced to use knife and fork in correct hands at school dinners.[01:18:56] Discussion about language used by young people, what influences them, their use of swear words. Anecdote about mechanics refraining from swearing in front of her when she was a child, pointing out use of swear words to young men at work. Discussion about attitudes towards swearing and use of swear words, how it has changed over time, swearing on television. Anecdote about fishermen refraining from swearing in front of women at docks in past. Anecdotes about graffiti in female school toilets being much worse than in male toilets.[01:28:38] Continuation of discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES.[01:30:49] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS.[01:32:43] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS. Mention words used to differentiate between paternal/maternal grandfather/grandmother.[01:36:01] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING.[01:37:13] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS.[01:40:12] Discussion about phrases used on the allotments related to gardening; increase in allotment rent and possible reason for it: a hot topic of debate over communal morning tea/coffee. Speakers re-introduce themselves, describe their hopes for the Clee Road allotments, description of vandalism and thieving that occurs. 2004-11-17 Grimsby, Lincolnshire sound Blythe, Marian, 1954 Aug. 04- (speaker, female nurse and lecturer) Maurier, Jenny, 1947 Sept. 06- (speaker, female housewife and factory worker) Reading, Charlie, 1935 Oct. 10- (speaker, male bricklayer and local authority grant inspector) Sneyd, Alan 1937 Nov. 21- (speaker, male interviewee) Wilkinson, Jack, 1936 April 01- (speaker, male retort setter) Dexter, Christine, 1958 Jan. 01- (speaker, female) Radio Humberside 01:55:02