The British Library The British Library http://sounds.bl.uk/JISC ASR IPR STATUS LIST.xls Conversation in Bangor about accent, dialect and attitudes to language. C1190/41/13 BBC Voices Recordings BBC warning: this interview contains language which some may find offensive. 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 all work at the offices of the North Wales Chronicle newspaper. [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves, mention where they have lived, languages they speak. Discussion about changing accent when talking on telephone, English accent being posh accent. Comment that North Wales Chronicle has become more Welsh over the years. Discussion about changing accent when talking to different customers to be on same level as them, importance of accent when talking on telephone, experiences of talking to managing directors.[00:11:42] Discussion about judging people by their accent, anecdotes about other peoples perceptions of Wales, other peoples attitudes towards their accent. Description of how much Welsh language is spoken locally, different circumstances under which people come into/telephone the North Wales Chronicle offices, how speakers deal with/speak to them.[00:17:42] Discussion about what would be lost if there were no accents, difficulty of communicating with heavily accented call centre workers/doctors. Anecdote about mother having unsuccessful consultation with Chinese herbal doctor who didnt speak very good English.[00:21:06] Discussion about attitudes towards regional accents, accents they like, how accent/vocabulary varies across Wales even over small areas, different Bangor accents, number of people who speak Welsh in Bangor. Changing her accent when talking to different people on telephone, other peoples reactions to her accent.[00:26:23] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS.[00:29:01] Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES.[00:31:00] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS.[00:32:09] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING. Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS.[00:33:44] Mention words used to mean attractive/unattractive/moody. Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS. Mention words used to mean running water smaller than a river/to play truant. Comment that he called the truant officer the wag man in Coventry when young.[00:36:08] Discussion about use of swear words and attitudes towards swearing, anecdotes about this, how it has changed over time. People swearing at them over the telephone at work, influence of media, where children learn swear words, acceptability of bad language.[00:42:21] Discussion about attitudes towards regional accents, accents they would/wouldnt like to have, accents helping them to get on in the world. Speakers imitate Received Pronunciation. Comment that Huw Edwards (British Broadcasting Corporation newsreader) has lovely accent. Discussion about accent and self-identity, desire to have elocution lessons, singing accent, their childrens speech.[00:48:57] Mention local Bangor words/sayings. Anecdote about amusing telephone conversation with woman who had mistaken Bangor in North Wales for Bangor in Northern Ireland. Speakers re-introduce themselves. 2005-01-28 Bangor, Gwynedd sound Hughes, Catherine, 1941 August 15- (speaker, female) Pritchard, Cathryn, 1967 June 14- (speaker, female) Souness, Susan, 1959 Feb. 15- (speaker, female) Tamne, Robbi, 1970 Oct. 08- (speaker, male) Morgan, Anita, 1932 August 06- (speaker, female) Radio Wales 00:52:38