BBC Voices 2005

Question

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

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be really helpful to anyone who's interested in the ... they hadn't included American in the list. Aren't there a significant number of American English speakers in Britain? \ sxq[/nq]
There may well be many, but they may not be considered among the 'voices of the British Isles', given that they are voices of America, which is not part of said British Isles at this time.

Blue Sow

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be really helpful to anyone who's interested in the ... wondered why they hadn't included American in the list. Aren't there a significant number of American English speakers in Britain?[/nq]
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.

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it ... there a significant number of American English speakers in Britain?[/nq]
[nq:1]There are indeed some. However, the category "the diverse voices of the British Isles" seems to be limited to indigenous ... children of American settlers in Britain are very likely to speak the local variety of English with a local accent.[/nq]
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

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I've happened upon a Web site that looks like it should be really helpful to anyone who's interested in the ... wondered why they hadn't included American in the list. Aren't there a significant number of American English speakers in Britain?[/nq]
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

Usenet · Answer

e North Wet at all; he's a Geordie!
[nq:1]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" [/nq]
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.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Thanks for that, Bob. It promises to be a very interesting resource. A word of caution, though. Of the three ... a noble manner of speech of elevated moral stature that doth please the righteous at heart and succour the sick.[/nq]
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.
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1][/nq]
[nq:2]Thanks for that, Bob. It promises to be a very ... doth please the righteous at heart and succour the sick.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes. That should annoy the scousers. One thing that struck me when I lived in Manchester was the degree to ... another's cities and populations (except when there was sporting contact) in spite of (because of?) being only 35 miles apart.[/nq]
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

Usenet · Answer

T.H. Entity (Email Removed) had it:
[nq:1]Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from a self-respecting Mancunian, I have never been to...that place you ... or any of that (or on the coast anywhere between Southport and Rhyl) it's all so dangerously close to..there.[/nq]
Er, the M6 is firmly planted to the west of the airport. Do you arrive in Manchester on the A5?

David
==

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]One thing that struck me when I lived in Manchester ... in spite of (because of?) being only 35 miles apart.[/nq]
[nq:1]Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from a self-respecting Mancunian, I have never been to...that place you ... or any of that (or on the coast anywhere between Southport and Rhyl) it's all so dangerously close to..there.[/nq]
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!)

Mike.

Usenet · Answer

Mike Lyle had it:
[nq:2]Absolutely correct. And as is only to be expected from ... Southport and Rhyl) it's all so dangerously close to..there.[/nq]
[nq:1]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.[/nq]
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.

David
==

BBC Voices 2005

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