The British Library The British Library http://sounds.bl.uk/JISC ASR IPR STATUS LIST.xls Conversation in Wrexham (Wrecsam) about accent, dialect and attitudes to language. C1190/41/23 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 friends from the Wrexham area. [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves, mention where they have lived/their occupation. Discussion about their own accent, anecdote about hearing his voice on tape for first time, picking up local phrases after moving to Wales from Newcastle. Discussion about Wrexham accent, how it varies locally, Merseyside influence. Attitudes towards regional accents, which accent they would like to have, Queens English, their use of Welsh language.[00:08:38] Discussion about people being judged on their accent, preconceptions about regional accents, other peoples reactions to their accent, whether they would change their accent to get on in the world, mention accents they wouldnt like to have.[00:12:50] Discussion about how their children speak, what influences their speech, teaching children French/Welsh at school, changing accent at school to fit in.[00:15:27] Discussion about how Wrexham accent varies locally, what would be lost if accents disappeared, newsreaders having regional accents now. Amusing anecdote about misinterpreting newsreaders name because of his British Broadcasting Corporation accent.[00:18:29] Discussion about use of swear words and attitudes towards swearing, how this has changed over time, young childrens use of swear words and what influences them.[00:21:11] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS.[00:23:05] Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES.[00:24:00] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS.[00:25:39] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING. Discussion about picking up words from their children.[00:26:45] Discussion about family/local words/phrases, telephone voice, how they answer the telephone at home/work. Anecdote about not being sent job application form because she wasnt Welsh. Anecdote about positive reaction to her accent in Blackpool. Discussion about their accent being a badge of their origin, how its good to hear other people from same area speaking when away from home, being biased towards others from their area. How sharing an accent creates a sense of belonging, feeling like an outsider on first moving to local area because he had different accent, still occasionally feeling like an incomer.[00:36:08] Mention words used to mean trousers. Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS. Mention words used to mean attractive/unattractive/moody. Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS. Mention that she spoke Welsh fluently until she went to school, she would love to be able to speak it now. Mention words used to mean running water smaller than a river/to play truant.[00:43:04] Discussion about regional words used to mean packed lunch, mention North-Eastern/Western words not used locally. Comment that now she is used to living in local area she couldnt move back to Manchester. Mention pride in being Welsh. Comment that there will be greater tolerance of different accents in future. Mention effect of incomers on local area/other towns, words used by young people. Speakers re-introduce themselves. 2005-01-09 Wrexham (Wrecsam), Wrexham County sound Dixon, Caroline Mary, (speaker, female co-ordinator for magazine editorial group) Dixon, Stephen George (Steve), (speaker, male sales engineer) Griffiths, Christine (Beulah), (speaker, female development officer) Williams, Alison, (speaker, female playgroup supervisor/beauty therapist) Woodfine, Allison Michelle, (speaker, female school support worker) Morgan, Anita, 1932 August 06- (speaker, female) Radio Wales 00:49:25