The Brummie accent

BBC Learning¹ EnglishPeople and PlacesThe Brummie accentThis is not a word for word transcript². Changes may have beenmade as the programme wasrecorded and edited³.
　　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 identity⁴, 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 embarrassing⁵ 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 works⁶ 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 amusing⁷?
　　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 convinced⁸ 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.

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 edited   

编辑( edit的过去式和过去分词 )； 剪辑（电影、录音磁带、无线电或电视节目、书等）； 主编（报纸、杂志等）

参考例句：

• I know that this draft text will need to be edited. 我知道这篇草稿需要校订。
• All references to the scandal were edited out of the tape. 所有涉及这件丑闻的内容都从录音带中删去了。

4 identity   

n.身份，本体，特征；同一(性)，一致

参考例句：

• He never revealed his identity.他从未暴露过自己的身份。
• He showed his identity card and went in.他把工作证亮了一下就进去了。

5 embarrassing   

adj.使人尴尬的，令人为难的v.（使）窘迫，（使）局促不安( embarrass的现在分词)

参考例句：

• His jokes didn't even raise a smile, which was embarrassing. 听了他讲的笑话，都没人笑一下，真是太尴尬了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I was in the embarrassing position of having completely forgotten her name. 当时我完全忘记了她的名字，很是尴尬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

7 amusing   

adj.有有趣的，好玩的

参考例句：

• The girl was amusing herself with a doll.那女孩在玩洋娃娃自娱。
• He related some amusing stories in his childhood to his children.他向孩子们述说了他少年时代的一些趣事。

8 convinced   

adj.确信的；深信的；有坚定信仰的v.使确信(convince的过去分词)；说服

参考例句：

• I am convinced of her innocence. 我坚信她是清白无辜的。
• I'm convinced there's a jinx on this car. 我看这辆汽车是灾星。