What did we do?

Our research was designed to uncover language attitudes towards the Scouse accent, from both an in-group and out-group perspective. Based on previous research from the BBC Voices study, participants completed a questionnaire to reveal these attitudes. In total 37 responses were gathered, although this is not representative of the whole population, it does provide some insight into language attitudes.

From the outset, we predicted that those from outside of the Merseyside region would hold more negative attitudes towards the Scouse accent than those from the Merseyside region. We also expected to see the in-group adopt a negative attitude towards the St Helens region whilst maintaining positive views towards Liverpool.

The first section of the survey was aimed at any UK living students and required the participants to rank a scripted speaker and an unscripted speaker both speaking with accents from Merseyside. This generated results which could be analysed and compared to distinguish the difference between in-group and out-group attitudes.

The second section was aimed only at those living in the Merseyside region and sought to find out whether they identified as speaking ‘Scouse’ as well as their attitudes towards regions within Merseyside itself.

 

 

Edited by Mia Thornton