Click on names to find out more about the participants.
Relationship of interviewees: Work colleagues
Where: Llangollen, Denbighshire
Language of interview: English
Voice clip 1
The group talk how life would be if we all spoke the same, and how accents should be embraced for their uniqueness. They also discuss whether they like their accents, and what accent they would like to change it to. In particular, the Caernarvon accent is praised for being warm and approachable and the subject of whether or not a north/south divide exists is broached.
Voice clip 2
The group talk about swearing and how often they use swear words to express themselves. Also, how it seems more unbecoming for females to swear, and how today it is commonplace for young people to swear constantly, yet unheard of years ago.
Kathryn Pearce, Receptionist
Kathryn talks about accent and how young people try not to sound Welsh and how they use more slang.
Eleri Llwyd Jones, Hotel general manager
Eleri talks about the various places she has lived in - and the effect it has had on her accent.
Long description of interview: All the speakers work at the Wild Pheasant Hotel in Llangollen - the youngest is 18-year-old Kathryn Pearce, she spoke the most. The Scottish chef, Don Craig and local girl Eleri Llwyd Jones have returned to the area after some years away. They both were enthusiastic contributors. They all agreed that there is no particular Llangollen accent these days. The hotel is a few miles up from Llangollen itself and is used by the judges who attend the annual Llangollen International Festival. The owner Patricia Langhorn is from Liverpool originally and has worked a lot in casinos. The area is a mix of farming and tourism.
Foreign Language Syndrome occurs when people with brain injuries lose the ability to talk in their native accent. After a stroke, George Reynolds developed an Italian accent.
