Name: Natalie Stevens
Occupation: Student Playworker
Lives in: Bonymaen
Lived here: All her life
Born in the area? Yes
Description of own accent: Normal Welsh accent
Languages other than English: No
Natalie and Sylvia talk about their accents and their reactions to others
Read a transcript of the conversation
Name: Gwynfor Richards
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired
Lives in: Bonymaen
Lived here: All his life
Born in the area? Yes.
Description of own accent: Natural
Languages other than English: Welsh
Name: Jacqueline Richards
Name: Betty Smith
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired sales consultant
Lives in: Bonymaen
Lived here: More than 10 years
Born in the area? Yes
Description of own accent: Not bad
Languages other than English: No
How the group feels about being Welsh and living in Wales, yet not being able to speak Welsh
Name: Lynne Arnold
Age: 43
Occupation: Pharmacy Assistant / Youth Worker
Lives in: Bonymaen
Lived here: All her life
Born in the area? Yes.
Description of own accent: South Wales (Swansea) Welsh
Languages other than English: No
Name: Sylvia Bailey
Age: 78
Occupation: Retired Sales Assistant
Lives in: Bonymaen
Lived here: All her life
Born in the area? Yes
Description of own accent: South Wales Welsh
Languages other than English: Welsh
Listen to Sylvia talk about her Londoner husband's strong reaction to her Welsh accentTO LISTEN
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your comments
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LynneJeffreys Boksburg South Africa
It was such a nice surprise to see Sylvia Bailey she was my neighbour when I lived in Bonymaen,lovely to hear their voices, as always MUSIC to my ears
Mon Jun 15 15:35:01 2009
Isabelle Riou_Marty-Brittany-
It is lovely to listen to the Welsh accent again! I was a French assistant in Olchfa Comprehensive School in 1983 and I keep so many happy memories of my stay in Wales. When I close my eyes I can still hear the voice: "Eeevening Post" when getting off the bus at the Quadrant. This stay has truly changed my life and I wished I had settled down for good in Swansea. But who knows?Anyway thank you so much to all the wonderful and welcoming people in Swansea!
Mon Jun 4 09:38:38 2007
Jaqui Vespasiani.Canada
My mother was born in Biggelly and grew up in Pontardawe. We came to Canada in 1954.How I miss listening to her telling me stories in her lovely Welsh accent, which she never lost. Even though she insisted that she didn't have an accent,everyone else did!I love Wales and all the varieties of accents that make up this beautiful country.
Thu May 10 09:42:45 2007
andy jones portsmouth
The people of Swansea should be proud of their accent. Having been born and brought up in Winch Wen and lived in Portsmouth for the most of the last twenty years I still haven't lost mine and I wouldn't want to.
Wed Apr 25 15:31:46 2007
Mandie Read, Oregon, US
I love all of the accents from Britain. I can't say I perfectly understand everything they're saying, but I really enjoy hearing them say it. Especially this type of Welsh accent.
Mon Oct 2 13:05:03 2006
boiiio from swansea-bon-y-maen
i know all them ppl i think..i love the wales acsent buh i lyk others but i am proude welsh girl and wouldnt like it any other way
Sun Mar 19 18:49:18 2006
Suzie, Newmarket
I love the welsh accent and would love to be able to speak like it!
Wed Mar 15 10:38:01 2006
Jenny from Leigh-on-sea
I lived in wales through my college years and always found the South West Wales accent easy to understand and a delight to hear, especially in Carmarthen where the locals always spoke a very clear version of the English language.
Wed Dec 28 21:11:24 2005
Joy Morgan from Brynhyfryd
I grew up in Winch Wen and now live in Brynhyfryd, I love Swansea and couldnt think of anywhere else to live. I'm proud of my accent I don't feel lower than anyone Swansea accent or not. I mix with all accents and people from different areas,running a pub, and after a few beers believe me there's no difference in my customers behaviour of speach. The "posh" become common and the "common" stay the same!
Mon Oct 10 12:23:49 2005
John Evans, Switzerland
Local accents or dialects are not a particularity for Wales. Where I am now living the accents and dialects change from valley to valley. This can mean a difference of only 1Km.
Swiss -German is also a dialect, though many Swiss Germans will disagree, as it changes from region to region.
I have not found the South West Wales accent a hinderance along in Wales. However the story is different when you leave Wales. Somehow to a lot of British people, in particular Southern English people it is not an acceptable accent. Somehow you are considered to be intellectually inferior. I think this is mainly due to the British class system which, even though it exists even sometimes stronger, is not quite so obvious in the rest of Europe.
Sun Aug 21 14:28:38 2005
Michael Hales, Brussels
When telephones and tape recorders started to become more commonplace, I would often hear people say "There's Welshy you sound on the phone". I cannot imagine the Scots being embarrassed about their speech. Is this because "English" has always been a language of Scotland whereas the same is not so true of Wales?
There is a posh type of Scottish English. But being Welsh and posh is a contradiction in terms, which means that English equals posh to a Welsh ear, which is where class rears its ugly head, giving the Welsh a very unhealthy complex about their speech.
Thu Aug 4 15:09:21 2005
What's your view on the many accents from across South West Wales? Ae they a help or a hindrance?
Natalie, Gwynfor, Betty, Sylvia, Jacqueline, Sylvia and Lynne talk about their accents, and the views and stories that go with them...
