BBC Voices

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

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    01:09:37

  • Shelf mark

    C1190/43/05

  • Recording date

    2005-03-17

  • Is part of (Collection)

    BBC Voices Recordings

  • Recording locations

    Coldstream, Scottish Borders

  • Interviewees

    Johnstone, Martin, (speaker, male), Law, John, 1935 Nov. 20- (speaker, male), Lunn, William, 1943 April 07- (speaker, male), Mitchell, Alexander, 1925 May 23- (speaker, male), Mitchell, Richard, 1936 Jan. 02- (speaker, male), Strother, Denis, 1933 Sept. 15- (speaker, male), Strother, Muriel, 1933 July 24- (speaker, female)

  • Interviewers

    White, Claire, 1978 Jan. 29- (speaker, female)

  • Producers

    Radio Scotland

  • Abstract

    [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves. Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. Mention Romani influence on language used in particular area. Anecdote about bumping into Duke of Roxburghe when out walking with girlfriend as teenagers.[00:13:35] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS. Discussion about differences in speech of people living either side of the Scottish/English border.[00:24:03] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS.[00:34:44] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING.[00:38:32] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS.[00:44:37] Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS. Anecdotes about playing truant from school. Mention serving in the navy during Second World War. Discussion about games played as children, anecdote about catching rabbit when young.[00:56:32] Discussion about language used in Coldstream, mention local words and their meaning, how young people speak. Discussion about local use of Romani words, reasons for this, how language varies within Borders area, language used in Berwick-upon-Tweed. How local speech has changed over time, reasons for this. Local employers and industry, how these have changed over time. How Coldstream has changed over time. Description of Coldstream Guards, regiment of British Army. Speakers re-introduce themselves.

  • 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 seven interviewees are all family and friends from Coldstream.

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