The Brummie accent

BBC Learning 1 EnglishPeople and PlacesThe Brummie accentThis is not a word for word transcript 2. Changes may have beenmade as the programme wasrecorded and edited 3.
　　Jackie: Hello, I'm Jackie Dalton. This is BBC LearningEnglish dot com. These people are speaking with a Birminghamaccent – or a 'Brummie' accent some might say. 'Brummie' isan informal word to describe someone or something who comesfrom Birmingham – England's second biggest city. The Brummieaccent is loved by some, but hated by many. In surveys, manypeople say it's the most annoying accent there is and a lotof people make fun of it. But some people in Birmingham arefed up with this and defend the way they speak. Carl Chinn isProfessor of community history at Birmingham University.
　　Why is his Brummie accent important to him?
　　CarlFor me, being a Brummie is all about my identity 4, it's aboutwho I am as a person, where I grew up, where I was born,where me mum and dad come from and the people to whom Ibelong. I would never dream to say that my accent is betterthan anyone else's, but it's certainly no worse.
　　Jackie: It's important to him because it part of his identity– part of what makes him who he is.
　　CarlFor me, being a Brummie is all about my identity, it's aboutwho I am as a person, where Igrew up, where I was born, where me mum and dad come from andthe people to whom Ibelong.
　　Jackie: And Carl Chinn says not everyone hates the accentthere are some people whoreally like it. What kinds of people?
　　CarlOutsiders who don't come from England, when they hear theBrummie accent, many of them say it sounds warm andendearing.
　　Jackie: He says people outside of England, who come fromdifferent countries often like the Birmingham accent and findit warm – friendly and endearing, whichmeans pleasant, or nice – endearing.
　　CarlOutsiders who don't come from England, when they hear theBrummie accent, many of them say it sounds warm andendearing.
　　Jackie: Anisa lives in Birmingham's Asian community, she alsohas a bit of a Brummie accent. She doesn't usually thinkabout the fact she has an accent – except sometimes. When isit she becomes most aware of the way she speaks?
　　AnisaSome people are just like, 'Oh, you're a Brummie!' and I'mlike, 'Oh god' it's quite embarrassing 5 because you don'treally realise you don't have quite an accent until you goout and meet people from different cities.
　　Jackie: Anisa says it's when she goes outside Birmingham andmeets people fromother cities that she realises she does have an accent,because they comment on it.
　　AnisaIt's quite embarrassing because you don't really realise youdon't have quite an accent until you go out and meet peoplefrom different cities.
　　Jackie: Now let's hear from Joan Hunter. She works 6 for aradio station that broadcasts to the large African Caribbeancommunity in Birmingham....she says it can befunny when some people start to speak with a localaccent....what is it exactly that she finds amusing 7?
　　JoanI heard a Polish girl with a bit of a Birmingham accentcoming on, I think she's only been here, like, three years,but, I suppose when…it depends like who you're with and whoyou're living with and the people that you're talking withall the time, every day and so, therefore, you know, it'sbound to come in but when you've got a different accentbecause you’re from a different culture or country and thenthe Brummie accent is, like, attached to it, it's kind offunny.
　　Jackie:  Joan says she finds it amusing when peoplewho have moved to Birmingham from a different country startspeaking with a Birmingham accent – it creates aninteresting mix – for example, some people will speakEnglish with a Brummie and Polish accent – perhaps thatcould be called a Birlish or Poliingham accent! ProfessorCarl Chinn says there have always been lots of differentkinds of Birmingham accents – not just one. What are some ofthedifferent kinds?
　　CarlThere are a variety of Brummie accents today, there were inthe past. There was always a middle-class Brummie accent,there was a lower-middle class Brummie accent, there were avariety of working class Brummie accents. So there's alwaysbeen varieties of accents, I think they've multiplied, butthe Brummie accent will survive.
　　Jackie: Carl talks about middle-class, lower-middle class andworking class accents.
　　These all refer to accents spoken by people of differentsocial statuses – for example middle class people in Britainare generally seen to have a bit more money and better jobsthan people who are working class or lower class. One thingis for sure though, Carl is convinced 8 that however manyvarieties of it there are, the Brummie accent is here tostay.
　　CarlSo there's always been varieties of accents, I think they'vemultiplied, but the Brummie accent will survive.