BBC Voices

Conversation in Cardiff (Caerdydd) about accent, dialect and attitudes to language.

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:56:55

  • Shelf mark

    C1190/41/19

  • Recording date

    2005-01-18

  • Is part of (Collection)

    BBC Voices Recordings

  • Recording locations

    Cardiff (Caerdydd)

  • Interviewees

    Hamood, Shadad, (speaker, male), Howard, James, (speaker, male), Parker, Catherine, 1953 Oct. 03- (speaker, female), Price, Hayley, (speaker, female), Salmoni, Debby, (speaker, female)

  • Interviewers

    Morgan, Anita, 1932 August 06- (speaker, female)

  • Producers

    Radio Wales

  • Abstract

    [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves, mention where they have lived. Anecdotes about hearing their voice on tape for first time. Discussion about attitudes towards their own accent, changing speech in different situations/when talking to different people, telephone voice. Judging people on their accent, accents they like/dislike, diversity of accents heard in Cardiff, what would be lost if regional accents disappeared. Comment that having a regional accent is less significant now than in past. Anecdotes about other peoples positive/negative reactions to their accent. Discussion about North/South Wales divide.[00:16:35] Discussion about variation in accent across Wales, peoples attitudes towards Valleys accent, difference between Welsh/Cardiff accent. Regional accents they like/dislike, accents in call centres, popularity of regional accents, accents holding you back.[00:22:00] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS. Mention words used to mean to rain heavily/long soft seat in main room/mother.[00:25:23] Discussion about being bilingual, speaking Arabic as well as English, desire to speak Welsh, importance of Welsh language.[00:28:47] Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS.[00:30:08] Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES.[00:31:46] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS.[00:32:57] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS. Mention American influence on her childrens speech which then influences her, words she has learnt from her children, definition of chav. Comment that they use the same words for clothing section of spidergram.[00:36:59] Discussion about family sayings, talking like their friends, influence of media/America/music/television. Discussion about use of swear words and attitudes towards swearing, why people swear. Comment that she doesnt want her 16 month old baby to pick up swear words.[00:48:55] Discussion about Cardiff words/sayings, whether they would change their accent to get on in life, people in media whose speech they admire, difference between lazy pronunciation of words and accent. Comment that her accent is more Cardiff than Welsh. Discussion about regional British Asian accents, comment that Asian accent on radio sounds very similar to Welsh accent. Remark that hes never been judged on his Cardiff accent. Speakers re-introduce themselves. Comment that she likes Catherines pronunciation of her surname Parker.

  • Description

    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 members of the East Moors Community Centre in Splott, a densely-populated area of Cardiff very near to the city centre.

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