BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page was last updated in October 2005We've left it here for reference.More information

7 February 2011
Accessibility help
Text only
Voices

BBC Homepage


Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 
The Voices Recordings
Interviewee Tania Jones

Born: 26 February 1966

Lives: Newport, Blaenau Gwent

Time lived in area: 5 to 10 years


Find out more about the group

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

Language of interview: English

Duration: 00:46 (mins/secs)



About the interview

The participants were asked to describe how they spoke in their own words.

How do you describe your accent: "Newport people speak with a lot of slang words."

Have there been other influences on the way you speak: "I spent 10 years in Risca at the age of about 23-33 where I started to pick up the accent."

Do you have skills in languages other than English?: No

Other languages: None

About this interview
TANIA: Maybe at the hospital or at the doctors when you come out with certain words, you know they do look down on you. Um, in a shop maybe, you're buying something and they say, 'Look at her, she doesn't have no money, listen to the way she talks.' So it does influence people, you know, so you try and be posh when you go into a shop, especially a posh shop. I think so, yeah definitely. You know, you sorta got to put your opinions over to the situation you're in then or your accent over. Um, some people can be rude, yeah, you know perhaps if you're in Marks and Spencer or somewhere like that and you say, 'Oh, I'll have one of them love,' and they say uuhh (disapproving sound) look at her, so. INTERVIEWER: They actually say it, you mean?Or you feel it? TANIA: You feel it, you feel it more than you hear it, yeah. Yeah
Search

What kind of group do you want to listen to?

How they know each other:

Primary language of interview:

Location:

Country

Region

Search for individual speakers:

By age:

By gender:

with voice clip


Search by map

Also on Voices:

Where I live:


British Library's Collect Britain:

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.



In Your Area
What do you think about your local accent?
Talk about Voices in your area

Did You Know?
If someone refers to you as a Cuddie Wifter, a Ciotach or Corrie Fisted it's probably because they have realised you are left-handed.




About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy