BBC Voices 2005

[Bob Cunningham]

I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be
really helpful to anyone who's interested in the various
dialects to be found in the British Isles. It's at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/ , and it's called "BBC Voices
2005". You can see the variety of features it offers at
that URL.

The introduction to one of its pages says

Listen in to the diverse voices of the British
Isles - from Shetland to Penzance. Eavesdrop on
Rotarians in Pitlochry and Travellers in Belfast.
Drop in on skateboarders in Milton Keynes.
Overhear pigeon fanciers in Durham

Somewhere at the site there's a list of the languages that
are spoken in the British Isles. I wondered why they hadn't
included American in the list. Aren't there a significant
number of American English speakers in Britain?

\ sxq

[Peter Duncanson]

On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:42:06 GMT, Bob Cunningham

Post by Bob Cunningham
I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be
really helpful to anyone who's interested in the various
dialects to be found in the British Isles. It's at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/ , and it's called "BBC Voices
2005". You can see the variety of features it offers at
that URL.
The introduction to one of its pages says
Listen in to the diverse voices of the British
Isles - from Shetland to Penzance. Eavesdrop on
Rotarians in Pitlochry and Travellers in Belfast.
Drop in on skateboarders in Milton Keynes.
Overhear pigeon fanciers in Durham
Somewhere at the site there's a list of the languages that
are spoken in the British Isles. I wondered why they hadn't
included American in the list. Aren't there a significant
number of American English speakers in Britain?

There are indeed some.

However, the category "the diverse voices of the British Isles"
seems to be limited to indigenous voices. The American English voice
is not indigenous to Britain (or the British Isles, however
defined). The British-born children of American settlers in Britain
are very likely to speak the local variety of English with a local
accent.

[Matthew Huntbach]

Post by Peter Duncanson
On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:42:06 GMT, Bob Cunningham

Post by Bob Cunningham
I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be
really helpful to anyone who's interested in the various
dialects to be found in the British Isles. It's at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/ , and it's called "BBC Voices
2005". You can see the variety of features it offers at
that URL.
The introduction to one of its pages says
Listen in to the diverse voices of the British
Isles - from Shetland to Penzance. Eavesdrop on
Rotarians in Pitlochry and Travellers in Belfast.
Drop in on skateboarders in Milton Keynes.
Overhear pigeon fanciers in Durham
Somewhere at the site there's a list of the languages that
are spoken in the British Isles. I wondered why they hadn't
included American in the list. Aren't there a significant
number of American English speakers in Britain?

There are indeed some.
However, the category "the diverse voices of the British Isles"
seems to be limited to indigenous voices. The American English voice
is not indigenous to Britain (or the British Isles, however
defined). The British-born children of American settlers in Britain
are very likely to speak the local variety of English with a local
accent.

The page in question is here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/multilingual/

It lists some of the languages spoken by communities of recent
immigrant origin, but it's by no means a complete list, as it
admits. I can think of many other languages I know speakers of in
England that aren't included here. For example, it's very short of
African languages - no Twi, no Luganda, no Shona etc.

Matthew Huntbach

[T.H. Entity]

On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:42:06 GMT, Bob Cunningham

Post by Bob Cunningham
I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be
really helpful to anyone who's interested in the various
dialects to be found in the British Isles. It's at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/ , and it's called "BBC Voices
2005". You can see the variety of features it offers at
that URL.
The introduction to one of its pages says
Listen in to the diverse voices of the British
Isles - from Shetland to Penzance. Eavesdrop on
Rotarians in Pitlochry and Travellers in Belfast.
Drop in on skateboarders in Milton Keynes.
Overhear pigeon fanciers in Durham
Somewhere at the site there's a list of the languages that
are spoken in the British Isles. I wondered why they hadn't
included American in the list. Aren't there a significant
number of American English speakers in Britain?

Thanks for that, Bob. It promises to be a very interesting resource.

A word of caution, though. Of the three speakers in the "Manchester"
clip, only one (Michael Wilkinson) is a true Manc. One of the others
(John Warburton) sounds like he's from from Bolton, Bury or Rochdale
(nearby towns but with significantly different local accents from
central Manchester) while the third (Seymour Leon Mace) isn't even
from the North Wet at all; he's a Geordie!

Disappointed, I listened to the overlapping-on-the-map Salford group.
It is at least homogeneous -- they actually all are from where the BBC
claims -- but it should be noted that these yooves are speakers of
what I've termed NuSalford, *not* Classic Manc. (Objective sidebar:
NuSalford is a sub-Scousified abortion riddled with "v" for "r" and
"f" for "th" -- e.g. in this clip: "I can't think about everything I'm
going to be saying" = "A can't fink abou' evvifin am goanabi sayin" --
while Classic Manc is a noble manner of speech of elevated moral
stature that doth please the righteous at heart and succour the sick.

--
THE

"If you or I use a word inappropriately, that's an error. If a newspaper
uses a word inappropriately, that's a citation source for the dictionaries."
-- Peter Moylan

[Paul Burke]

T.H. Entity wrote:
e North Wet at all; he's a Geordie!

Post by T.H. Entity
NuSalford is a sub-Scousified abortion riddled with "v" for "r" and
"f" for "th" -- e.g. in this clip: "I can't think about everything I'm
going to be saying" = "A can't fink abou' evvifin am goanabi sayin" --

Bringle Eaf (*) must have taken over Salford in the 35 years I've been
away. It's a good place to come from.

Paul Burke

(*) Where vey ave canguls in bockuls on ver mankulpiece.

[Peter Duncanson]

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:43:22 +0200, T.H. Entity <***@yahoo.com>
wrote:

<good stuff from Bob Cunningham snipped>

Post by T.H. Entity
Thanks for that, Bob. It promises to be a very interesting resource.
A word of caution, though. Of the three speakers in the "Manchester"
clip, only one (Michael Wilkinson) is a true Manc. One of the others
(John Warburton) sounds like he's from from Bolton, Bury or Rochdale
(nearby towns but with significantly different local accents from
central Manchester) while the third (Seymour Leon Mace) isn't even
from the North Wet at all; he's a Geordie!
Disappointed, I listened to the overlapping-on-the-map Salford group.
It is at least homogeneous -- they actually all are from where the BBC
claims -- but it should be noted that these yooves are speakers of
NuSalford is a sub-Scousified abortion riddled with "v" for "r" and
"f" for "th" -- e.g. in this clip: "I can't think about everything I'm
going to be saying" = "A can't fink abou' evvifin am goanabi sayin" --
while Classic Manc is a noble manner of speech of elevated moral
stature that doth please the righteous at heart and succour the sick.

Yes. That should annoy the scousers.

One thing that struck me when I lived in Manchester was the degree
to which Mancunians and Liverpudlians ignored the existence of one
another's cities and populations (except when there was sporting
contact) in spite of (because of?) being only 35 miles apart.

[T.H. Entity]

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:35:11 +0100, Peter Duncanson

Post by Peter Duncanson
<good stuff from Bob Cunningham snipped>

Post by T.H. Entity
Thanks for that, Bob. It promises to be a very interesting resource.
A word of caution, though. Of the three speakers in the "Manchester"
clip, only one (Michael Wilkinson) is a true Manc. One of the others
(John Warburton) sounds like he's from from Bolton, Bury or Rochdale
(nearby towns but with significantly different local accents from
central Manchester) while the third (Seymour Leon Mace) isn't even
from the North Wet at all; he's a Geordie!
Disappointed, I listened to the overlapping-on-the-map Salford group.
It is at least homogeneous -- they actually all are from where the BBC
claims -- but it should be noted that these yooves are speakers of
NuSalford is a sub-Scousified abortion riddled with "v" for "r" and
"f" for "th" -- e.g. in this clip: "I can't think about everything I'm
going to be saying" = "A can't fink abou' evvifin am goanabi sayin" --
while Classic Manc is a noble manner of speech of elevated moral
stature that doth please the righteous at heart and succour the sick.

Yes. That should annoy the scousers.
One thing that struck me when I lived in Manchester was the degree
to which Mancunians and Liverpudlians ignored the existence of one
another's cities and populations (except when there was sporting
contact) in spite of (because of?) being only 35 miles apart.

Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from a
self-respecting Mancunian, I have never been to...that place you
mention (crosses himself) in my life. Now I come to think of it, it's
the only major English port I haven't been to -- Southampton,
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Newcastle, Bristol, Dover and Folkestone and all
that...been there done them. But travel those 35 miles? Good Lord, no.
There be dragons. In fact, I don't think I've ever been anywhere west
of Ringway airport, not even to Warrington (hi, Om!), Leigh, St.
Helens or any of that (or on the coast anywhere between Southport and
Rhyl) -- it's all so dangerously close to....there.

--
THE

"If you or I use a word inappropriately, that's an error. If a newspaper
uses a word inappropriately, that's a citation source for the dictionaries."
-- Peter Moylan

[the Omrud]

Post by T.H. Entity
Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from a
self-respecting Mancunian, I have never been to...that place you
mention (crosses himself) in my life. Now I come to think of it, it's
the only major English port I haven't been to -- Southampton,
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Newcastle, Bristol, Dover and Folkestone and all
that...been there done them. But travel those 35 miles? Good Lord, no.
There be dragons. In fact, I don't think I've ever been anywhere west
of Ringway airport, not even to Warrington (hi, Om!), Leigh, St.
Helens or any of that (or on the coast anywhere between Southport and
Rhyl) -- it's all so dangerously close to....there.

Er, the M6 is firmly planted to the west of the airport. Do you
arrive in Manchester on the A5?

[T.H. Entity]

Post by the Omrud

Post by T.H. Entity
Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from a
self-respecting Mancunian, I have never been to...that place you
mention (crosses himself) in my life. Now I come to think of it, it's
the only major English port I haven't been to -- Southampton,
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Newcastle, Bristol, Dover and Folkestone and all
that...been there done them. But travel those 35 miles? Good Lord, no.
There be dragons. In fact, I don't think I've ever been anywhere west
of Ringway airport, not even to Warrington (hi, Om!), Leigh, St.
Helens or any of that (or on the coast anywhere between Southport and
Rhyl) -- it's all so dangerously close to....there.

Er, the M6 is firmly planted to the west of the airport. Do you
arrive in Manchester on the A5?

Ah, but I said "been to", not doing what I was forced to do on
occasion: take a deep breath and whiz by on a motorway, having locked
doors, closed all the windows and draped a string of garlic around the
furry dice.

--
THE

"If you or I use a word inappropriately, that's an error. If a newspaper
uses a word inappropriately, that's a citation source for the dictionaries."
-- Peter Moylan

[Mike Lyle]

Post by T.H. Entity
On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:35:11 +0100, Peter Duncanson

[...]

Post by T.H. Entity

Post by Peter Duncanson
One thing that struck me when I lived in Manchester was the degree
to which Mancunians and Liverpudlians ignored the existence of one
another's cities and populations (except when there was sporting
contact) in spite of (because of?) being only 35 miles apart.

Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from a
self-respecting Mancunian, I have never been to...that place you
mention (crosses himself) in my life. Now I come to think of it, it's
the only major English port I haven't been to -- Southampton,
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Newcastle, Bristol, Dover and Folkestone and all
that...been there done them. But travel those 35 miles? Good Lord, no.
There be dragons. In fact, I don't think I've ever been anywhere west
of Ringway airport, not even to Warrington (hi, Om!), Leigh, St.
Helens or any of that (or on the coast anywhere between Southport and
Rhyl) -- it's all so dangerously close to....there.

The junctions can be deceptive for a country boy: I once
went...there...when I was trying to get to Manchestershire. All it
takes is a juggernaut obscuring the sign, and boom! you're in territory
from which no hub-cap has ever returned to tell the tale.

(The big ship sailed down the alley-alley-oh!)

[the Omrud]

Post by Mike Lyle

Post by T.H. Entity
On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:35:11 +0100, Peter Duncanson

[...]

Post by T.H. Entity

Post by Peter Duncanson
One thing that struck me when I lived in Manchester was the degree
to which Mancunians and Liverpudlians ignored the existence of one
another's cities and populations (except when there was sporting
contact) in spite of (because of?) being only 35 miles apart.

Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from a
self-respecting Mancunian, I have never been to...that place you
mention (crosses himself) in my life. Now I come to think of it, it's
the only major English port I haven't been to -- Southampton,
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Newcastle, Bristol, Dover and Folkestone and all
that...been there done them. But travel those 35 miles? Good Lord, no.
There be dragons. In fact, I don't think I've ever been anywhere west
of Ringway airport, not even to Warrington (hi, Om!), Leigh, St.
Helens or any of that (or on the coast anywhere between Southport and
Rhyl) -- it's all so dangerously close to....there.

The junctions can be deceptive for a country boy: I once
went...there...when I was trying to get to Manchestershire. All it
takes is a juggernaut obscuring the sign, and boom! you're in territory
from which no hub-cap has ever returned to tell the tale.

I live in a town with a split personality. All small boys wear red
replica football shirts. However, those in the south and east of the
town relate to Manchester United, and those in the north and west of
the town relate to Liverpool. Boys who support Manchester City or
Everton don't advertise the fact.

Warrington is almost exactly half way between the two cities, the
line between which lies almost exactly east-west. Two great
motorways also travel east-west, just to the north and just to the
south of the town. Both these motorways take one to the centre of
Manchester. But because of the accident of geography, the motorway
to the south does not go to Liverpool, but to Chester and on to the
Wirral. Think yourself lucky that you did not end up on the Wirral
instead of the relatively benign Liverpool. You might have been
captured and forced to help expand their rather restricted DNA pool.

[MoscowDriver]

English Language Driver Taxi in Moscow City



icq 212444398

Post by Bob Cunningham
I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be
really helpful to anyone who's interested in the various
dialects to be found in the British Isles. It's at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/ , and it's called "BBC Voices
2005". You can see the variety of features it offers at
that URL.
The introduction to one of its pages says
Listen in to the diverse voices of the British
Isles - from Shetland to Penzance. Eavesdrop on
Rotarians in Pitlochry and Travellers in Belfast.
Drop in on skateboarders in Milton Keynes.
Overhear pigeon fanciers in Durham
Somewhere at the site there's a list of the languages that
are spoken in the British Isles. I wondered why they hadn't
included American in the list. Aren't there a significant
number of American English speakers in Britain?
\ sxq

[BusyGuy]

Post by MoscowDriver
English Language Driver Taxi in Moscow City

Good luck trying to find one of those!

Unless...you are he? How come you never stop for me? How much do you
charge for Sheremetyevo to Kapotnya?