BBC Voices

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

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    01:37:49

  • Shelf mark

    C1190/43/23

  • Recording date

    2005-03-03

  • Is part of (Collection)

    BBC Voices Recordings

  • Recording locations

    Edinburgh

  • Interviewees

    Morham, Priscilla (Anne), 1921 June 04- (speaker, female, interviewee), Carmichael, Pat, (speaker, female), Currie, Audrey, 1937 July 28- (speaker, female), Logie, Sheila, 1924 March 05- (speaker, female), Paul, Marjory, 1941 May 03- (speaker, female), Smith, William (Bill), 1924 June 02- (speaker, male)

  • Interviewers

    White, Claire, 1978 Jan. 21- (speaker, female)

  • Producers

    Radio Scotland

  • Abstract

    [00:00:00] Speakers introduce themselves, mention where they have lived. Discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. Anecdote about origin of corrie-pawed meaning left-handed. Comment that they learnt their language in an era before television existed so a lot of their words are older because they were learnt from their parents.[00:14:12] Remark that her 33 year old daughter uses very different words to her grandparents. Mention other peoples perceptions of Morningside, how this relates to the reality. Continuation of discussion of words used to describe PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. Discussion about using wireless to mean radio, programmes they listened to in past. Description of controversial Canny Mans pub in Morningside.[00:28:27] Discussion of words used to describe WEATHER AND SURROUNDINGS. Comment that there is a television in almost every room in his house now. Anecdote about mother adapting speech when talking to different people.[00:42:55] Discussion of words used to describe PEOPLE AND THINGS. Mention that they use words now that they didnt use when young, influence of media on their speech, how meanings of words change over time. Comment that there are a lot of problems with young people in Morningside.[00:58:53] Discussion of words used to describe CLOTHING. Mention various types of shoes worn at different times of year in past.[01:06:34] Discussion of words used to describe EMOTIONS.[01:13:54] Discussion of words used to describe ACTIONS. Mention different methods employed in past to attempt to prevent children playing truant from school. Description of games played as children/played by local Guides.[01:25:55] Discussion about how people speak in Morningside, different types of people who live there, other peoples impression of the area, how it has changed over time, attitudes towards people from different parts of Morningside in past. 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 six interviewees are all close friends from Morningside, an affluent area of Edinburgh.

  • Texts

    Linguistic description of this item

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