Page 19 - Real Rochdale Issue 12 Winter 2021

Do you speak ‘Manc’, ‘Lancashire’ or ‘posh’?

Findings from largest ever study of Greater

Manchester accents and dialects revealed

People from Rochdale and Wigan are most likely to say ‘burr’ People from Rochdale, Manchester, Trafford and Stockport are
for ‘bear’. least likely to say ‘buz’ for ‘bus’.

The Manchester Voices research Over 350 Greater Manchester The analysis also suggested that
project, led by sociolinguists at residents were asked to draw ‘burr’ and ‘bewk’ may be
Manchester Metropolitan and describe the different lessening over time, with
University, has been looking at accents and dialects on an online younger people and especially
how people speak across the 10 map, as well as asking people young women being more likely
Greater Manchester boroughs. who were born and raised in one to say ‘bear’ and ‘book’.
borough to submit a recording of
Early findings from the project themselves speaking. The Manchester Voices research
show that people think the team comprises academics Dr
‘Manc’ accent is situated mostly Researchers analysed the 80 Rob Drummond, Dr Holly Dann,
in the city of Manchester itself, recordings submitted to the Dr Sadie Ryan and a group of stu-
while residents of South project of people who have lived dent research assistants includ-
Manchester, Trafford and most of their lives in one ing intern Jack Taylor.
Stockport are more likely to borough. Focusing on the
sound ‘posh’. pronunciation of specific words – Dr Rob Drummond, Reader in
‘bear/burr’, ‘book/bewk’, ‘school/ Sociolinguistics at Manchester
While residents of the northern skewl’, and ‘bus/buz’ – they found Metropolitan, said: “We can see
boroughs of Bury, Bolton, some interesting variances important social distinctions
Rochdale and Oldham are between the boroughs. reflected in the speech patterns
characterised as speaking we’re analysing – the
‘Lancashire’, Wigan natives have • The ‘bewk’ pronunciation of distinction between the urban
a distinctive dialect all of their ‘book’ is most often found in centre and the surrounding
own – and are more likely to Wigan boroughs, for example, and
catch the ‘buz’ or read a ‘bewk’ • People are more likely to generational divides too.”
than their GM neighbours. catch a ‘buz’ in Oldham or
Wigan The Manchester Voices research
Manchester Voices is the most • Rochdale and Wigan locals project is still ongoing, and the
detailed research study of its are most likely to say ‘burr’ research team still want to hear
type, which will culminate in an for ‘bear’ from members of the public to
exhibit at Manchester Central • People from Stockport and build on these early findings.
Library, celebrating just how Trafford were most likely to
diverse language is in the region. say ‘school’, and Wiganers To take part, visit
said ‘skewl’ the most. manchestervoices.org

REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2021 18 19 REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2021