BBC Voices

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

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    01:01:05

  • Shelf mark

    C1190/08/02

  • Recording date

    2004-11-25

  • Is part of (Collection)

    BBC Voices Recordings

  • Recording locations

    Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

  • Interviewees

    Constable, David, 1964 March 31- (speaker, male, landlord), Humm, Steven, 1964 April 09- (speaker, male, performing arts teacher), Jones, Mark, 1962 March 25- (speaker, male, racing stables), Khan, Tiger, 1977 August 26- (speaker, male)

  • Interviewers

    Stonehouse, Nicola, 1974 Oct. 08- (speaker, female)

  • Producers

    Radio Cambridgeshire

  • Abstract

    [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves. Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS.[00:03:18] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING.[00:04:15] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS.[00:08:57] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS. Mention ditch-jumping aged twelve.[00:12:07] Discussion about words they use to say hello/goodbye. Discussion about holidaying in Gran Canaria.[00:15:38] Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. Mention that he was beaten with a ruler for writing with his left hand at school.[00:23:10] Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS.[00:25:44] Discussion about gay scene in Cambridge, names for gay people, anecdotes about being insulted for being gay. Description of working in very homophobic Newmarket bloodstock industry, losing his job because of homophobia.[00:30:43] Discussion about polari, words used when they go out, changing speech in different situations/when talking to different people. Explanation of Polari words/phrases. Anecdotes about learning/misunderstanding polari.[00:37:47] Discussion about Cambridge gay scene, how it has changed over time, language associated with drag queens. Anecdote about going to a gay club in Bournemouth. Discussion about language used by young people, more polari words, how polari isnt used so much now, why it was used in the past.[00:49:39] Discussion about words associated with drugs, telephone voice.[00:53:04] Discussion about words used to mean gay, reclaiming insulting terms, dislike of word queer, homophobic language, racist language. Description of mincing. Discussion about cruising. Speakers re-introduce themselves.

  • Description

    BBC warning: this interview contains strong or offensive language of a sexual nature from the start. 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 interviewees are landlord and customers of the Bird in Hand pub in Cambridge.

  • Texts

    Linguistic description of this item

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