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7 February 2011
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The Voices Recordings


About this interview
Nurses Nurses at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport discuss how they talk to their patients as well as swearing.

Interviewees:
Tania Jones, Vernesta Cyril (OBE), Rosario Aboy, Mark Smart, Kerry Woodland,

Click on names to find out more about the participants.

Relationship of interviewees: Work colleagues

Where: Newport, Newport county

Language of interview: English
About this interview
Voice clip 1
The group discuss how they talk differently to their patients then they do with their friends and family - they call it the professional accent. Also, they mention how they feel a little uncomfortable with their accents when they are away from home, and how St Lucia-born Vernesta's accent has changed so that it is unrecognisable when she returns home.



Voice clip 2
The group talk about how appropriate - or not - swearing is within the work place, and how it can be an effective way of letting off steam. It seems a general consensus that they all use swear words, but they try to keep them to a minimum as much as possible. Also, the word 'bloody' has changed its connotations and is now a mild swear word.


This clip contains language which some may find offensive.


More clips from this interview

Tania Jones
Tania talks about how people interpret accent in relation to social status, especially when it comes to shopping.

Vernesta Cyril (OBE)
Vernesta, originally from St Lucia, talks about settling in Wales and how her choice of language changes when she gets angry.
Interview's notes

Long description of interview: This interview was done in the nurses' room of the maternity ward in the Royal Gwent Hospital during a normal working day. The most talkative was Vernesta Cyril who has been in Wales since her teens, she is originally from St Lucia. Vernesta speaks Creole and has been awarded an OBE. The least talkative was Rosario Aboy from The Phillipines who is conscious of her limited English vocabulary. She is 47. Mark Smart is a trainee midwife, he is not sure whether or not he has a Newport accent, even though he has lived in the area all his life. Tania Jones is originally from Risca and Kerry Woodland is a 31-year-old trainee midwife. They all work together on the maternity ward. No particular topic set them talking, but they were all lively.

Recorded by: Anita Morgan, Radio Wales

Date of interview: 2005/03/01

   

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