BBC Voices

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

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    01:01:21

  • Shelf mark

    C1190/43/10

  • Recording date

    2005-03-04

  • Is part of (Collection)

    BBC Voices Recordings

  • Recording locations

    Dunfermline, Fife

  • Interviewees

    Brown, James, 1970 May 08- (speaker, male), Girdwood, Irene, 1948 Sept. 17- (speaker, female), Hoey, Maurice, 1984 Aug. 05- (speaker, male), Wordie, Peter, 1986 Nov. 13- (speaker, male)

  • Interviewers

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

  • Producers

    Radio Scotland

  • Abstract

    [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves. Mention difference between Dunfermline and Glenrothes accents, which are 20 miles apart. Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. Discussion about Buckfast Tonic Wine, who drinks it, when and where its drunk. Anecdotes about getting drunk. Discussion about possible reasons why a lot of Scottish words are used in Dunfermline. Comment that Dunfermline used to be the capital of Scotland, mention Scottish word used to mean kit of tools. Mention shame associated with pregnancy outside of marriage in past. Description of a ned/chav. Mention peoples experiences of being left-handed.[00:22:52] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS. Mention words used to mean hot/cold, words used locally that relate to the weather. Mention words used to describe parts of house. Mention couffling the burn (jumping over stream) when young. Anecdote about using shared outside toilet aged three. Anecdote about child dropping torch into cesspit at Scout campsite.[00:31:35] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS.[00:41:04] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING. Mention words used locally for individual items of clothing.[00:45:56] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS.[00:48:10] Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS. Anecdotes about playing truant from school. Anecdotes about playing games, injuring friends while playing pool/golf, breaking windows while playing football. Anecdotes about injuries they have sustained themselves.[00:58:11] Discussion about Dunfermline accent, other people having difficulty understanding them, difficulty understanding other accents. Anecdote about trying to speak German in Germany. Speakers re-introduce themselves.

  • Description

    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 four interviewees all work at the Carnegie Leisure Centre in Dunfermline.

  • Texts

    Linguistic description of this item

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