Dialects and Accents of England

The archive provides:

downloadable recordings of accent/dialect speakers from the region you select

text files giving the speakers' biographical details

scholarly commentary and analysis in some cases

and, in most cases, an orthographic transcription of the speakers' unscripted speech.

In a small number of cases, you will also find a narrow phonetic transcription of the sample (see Phonetic Transcriptions for a complete list).

The recordings average four minutes in length and feature both the reading of one of two standard passages, and some unscripted speech. The two passages, Comma Gets a Cure (currently our standard passage), and The Rainbow Passage (used in our earliest recordings), may be accessed from the menu bar to your right.

To access IDEA's sound files and documents, you will need an mp3 player, and Acrobat Reader, available free from Acrobat Reader.

If you are interested in specific information about England, please go to Yahoo's website at dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/United_Kingdom/England/

For instructional materials or coaching in the accents and dialects represented here
please go to Other Dialect Services

Dialect Samples

To properly play a sound sample, you may first need to save it to your own computer. To do so, right-click on the desired sample and save it. A high-speed connection to the internet may allow you to play the file simply by clicking it.

There are currently 70 samples from England, distributed across nine separate tables representing the following regions: South-West, South-East, London, East, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, North-West, and North-East. There is one additional table for samples that don't belong in any of the regional tables.

South-West

Includes: (counties) Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall; (some major towns and cities) Bristol, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Torbay, Exeter, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Torbay, Taunton, Weymouth

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Eight White male, thirties, personal trainer, Swindon, Wiltshire England Eight
Transcription

England Thirty-one White female, nurse,born 1944, Appledore, North Devon. Strong rural dialect England Thirty-one

England Thirty-two White male, fitter, born 1952, Appledore, North Devon. Strong rural dialect England Thirty-two

England Thirty-three White male, retired businessman, born 1932, Appledore, North Devon. Mild Devon dialect England Thirty-three

England Thirty-four White female, housewife, born 1933, Appledore, North Devon. Medium rural dialect England Thirty-four

England Thirty-five White female, born 1979, hairdresser, Born in Barnstaple and raised in Bideford, Devon England Thirty-five

England Thirty-six White female, born 1925, Torrington, Devon, housewife England Thirty-six

England Thirty-seven White female, born 1928, Torrington, Devon, housewife England Thirty-seven

England Thirty-eight A England Thirty-eight B White male, born 1916, Meeth, Devon, retired agricultural worker England Thirty-eight A/B

England Forty-five White female born 1980, raised Barnstaple, North Devon England Forty-five

England Fifty White male born 1944, raised his whole life in Devizes, Wiltshire. Union organizer and magistrate England Fifty

England Fifty-one White female, born 1945, Devizes, Wiltshire. A school lunch-room worker England Fifty-one

England Fifty-two White male, born late 1930s, Bristol, lived whole life in Somerset and North Devon, retired mechanical worker England Fifty-two

England Seventy White female, 21, Torquay England Seventy

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Eight	White male, thirties, personal trainer, Swindon, Wiltshire	England Eight Transcription
England Thirty-one	White female, nurse,born 1944, Appledore, North Devon. Strong rural dialect	England Thirty-one
England Thirty-two	White male, fitter, born 1952, Appledore, North Devon. Strong rural dialect	England Thirty-two
England Thirty-three	White male, retired businessman, born 1932, Appledore, North Devon. Mild Devon dialect	England Thirty-three
England Thirty-four	White female, housewife, born 1933, Appledore, North Devon. Medium rural dialect	England Thirty-four
England Thirty-five	White female, born 1979, hairdresser, Born in Barnstaple and raised in Bideford, Devon	England Thirty-five
England Thirty-six	White female, born 1925, Torrington, Devon, housewife	England Thirty-six
England Thirty-seven	White female, born 1928, Torrington, Devon, housewife	England Thirty-seven
England Thirty-eight A England Thirty-eight B	White male, born 1916, Meeth, Devon, retired agricultural worker	England Thirty-eight A/B
England Forty-five	White female born 1980, raised Barnstaple, North Devon	England Forty-five
England Fifty	White male born 1944, raised his whole life in Devizes, Wiltshire. Union organizer and magistrate	England Fifty
England Fifty-one	White female, born 1945, Devizes, Wiltshire. A school lunch-room worker	England Fifty-one
England Fifty-two	White male, born late 1930s, Bristol, lived whole life in Somerset and North Devon, retired mechanical worker	England Fifty-two
England Seventy	White female, 21, Torquay	England Seventy

South-East

Includes: (counties) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Sussex; (some major towns and cities) Brighton, Worthing, Portsmouth, Southampton, Reading

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Thirty-nine White male, university educated, teacher/actor, born Maidenhead, raised Brighton, East Sussex. Received Pronunciation England Thirty-nine

England Forty A
England Forty B White female, born Andover, Hampshire in 1920s, lived most of her life in Gloucester. Good example of Hampshire dialect England Forty A/B

England Forty-one White male, born Andover, Hampshire, early 1930's, lived latter half of his life in Portsmouth. Good example of Hampshire dialect England Forty-one

England Forty-six White female born 1940, Surrey, retired. Dialect moderated by several decades of residence in the U.S.A. England Forty-six

England Forty-nine White male, born 1983, Englefield Green, Surrey, student, public school educated England Forty-nine

England Fifty-eight White male, born 1979, born Ascott,raised in High Wycombe, 20 miles north of London England Fifty-eight

England Sixty-Five male, born 1957, Woking, Surrey, contemporary RP speaker England Sixty-Five

England Sixty-Seven female, born 1954, Beckenham, Kent. a writer and actor England Sixty-Seven

England Sixty-Nine female, white, 28, Portslade, East Sussex; excellent Estuary example England Sixty-Nine

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Thirty-nine	White male, university educated, teacher/actor, born Maidenhead, raised Brighton, East Sussex. Received Pronunciation	England Thirty-nine
England Forty A England Forty B	White female, born Andover, Hampshire in 1920s, lived most of her life in Gloucester. Good example of Hampshire dialect	England Forty A/B
England Forty-one	White male, born Andover, Hampshire, early 1930's, lived latter half of his life in Portsmouth. Good example of Hampshire dialect	England Forty-one
England Forty-six	White female born 1940, Surrey, retired. Dialect moderated by several decades of residence in the U.S.A.	England Forty-six
England Forty-nine	White male, born 1983, Englefield Green, Surrey, student, public school educated	England Forty-nine
England Fifty-eight	White male, born 1979, born Ascott,raised in High Wycombe, 20 miles north of London	England Fifty-eight
England Sixty-Five	male, born 1957, Woking, Surrey, contemporary RP speaker	England Sixty-Five
England Sixty-Seven	female, born 1954, Beckenham, Kent. a writer and actor	England Sixty-Seven
England Sixty-Nine	female, white, 28, Portslade, East Sussex; excellent Estuary example	England Sixty-Nine

London

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Forty-two	White male, born London 1957, mild Cockney accent	England Forty-two
England Fifty-nine	White male, born 1962, Merton, London. Good modified Cockney sample	England Fifty-nine
England Sixty-Two	Female, born 1985, raised in South-East London. Student	England Sixty-Two Phonetic transcription
England Sixty-Eight	male, black, mid-30s, born and raised in London, parents from Grenada. Bi-dialectal. Demonstrates both RP and black London speech	England Sixty-Eight
England Seventy-two	white female, born 1983 and raised North London, university to master's level, self-described "Estuary flavoured RP"	England Seventy-two Phonetic Transcription
England Seventy-five	black, male, born 1984 in Westminster and raised in Fulham	England Seventy-five
England Seventy-eight	female, black, born Cameroon 1986, raised West London	England Seventy-eight
England Seventy-nine	white, female, born and raised Central London	England Seventy-nine

East

Includes: (counties) Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordhire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk; (some major towns and cities) Chelmsford, Colchester, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St. Alban's, Bedford, Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswitch, King's Lynn, Luton, Bedford

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Eleven White female, fifties, agricultural worker, Norfolk, strong accent. Good East Anglia and Fen model. England Eleven
Transcription

England Twelve White male, forties, professional, Lincolnshire, good model for Fens dialect England Twelve
Transcription

England Twenty-eight White male, publisher, born 1971, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (just north of London). Good contemporary RP sample. For an interactive transcription of this sample, see Eric Armstrong's flash presentation on his site England Twenty-eight

England Forty-seven White male born 1980, Cambridgeshire, student England Forty-seven
Transcription

England Forty-eight White male, born 1976, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, student England Forty-eight

England Seventy-six black female, born Cambridge, 1979 England Seventy-six

England Seventy-seven white, female, born 1984 in Suffolk England Seventy-seven

England Eighty black female, born Jamaica 1986, raised Hertfordshire England Eighty

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Eleven	White female, fifties, agricultural worker, Norfolk, strong accent. Good East Anglia and Fen model.	England Eleven Transcription
England Twelve	White male, forties, professional, Lincolnshire, good model for Fens dialect	England Twelve Transcription
England Twenty-eight	White male, publisher, born 1971, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (just north of London). Good contemporary RP sample. For an interactive transcription of this sample, see Eric Armstrong's flash presentation on his site	England Twenty-eight
England Forty-seven	White male born 1980, Cambridgeshire, student	England Forty-seven Transcription
England Forty-eight	White male, born 1976, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, student	England Forty-eight
England Seventy-six	black female, born Cambridge, 1979	England Seventy-six
England Seventy-seven	white, female, born 1984 in Suffolk	England Seventy-seven
England Eighty	black female, born Jamaica 1986, raised Hertfordshire	England Eighty

East Midlands

Includes: (counties) Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire (part only), Leicestershire, Northamptonshire; (some major towns and cities) Derby, Nottingham, Lincoln, Northampton, Leicester

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Six White male, archaeologist, forties, native of Rushden, Northamptonshire England Six
Transcription

England Sixty-Six male, born 1962, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, raised in Doncaster, South Yorkshire England Sixty-Six

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Six	White male, archaeologist, forties, native of Rushden, Northamptonshire	England Six Transcription
England Sixty-Six	male, born 1962, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, raised in Doncaster, South Yorkshire	England Sixty-Six

West Midlands

Includes: (counties) Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire ; (some major towns and cities) Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Sutton Coldfield

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Three Male, 20's, Stoke-on-Trent England Three
Transcription

England Four Male, 20's, Warwickshire England Four
Transcription

England Fifty-three White female, domestic worker, born 1947, lifelong resident of Gaydon, Warwickshire, a few miles from Birmingham England Fifty-three

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Three	Male, 20's, Stoke-on-Trent	England Three Transcription
England Four	Male, 20's, Warwickshire	England Four Transcription
England Fifty-three	White female, domestic worker, born 1947, lifelong resident of Gaydon, Warwickshire, a few miles from Birmingham	England Fifty-three

Yorkshire and the Humber

Includes: (counties) South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire (part only); (some major towns and cities) Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Wakefield, Bradford, Leeds, Scarborough, York, Halifax, Hull, Scarborough

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Twenty-four White male, twenties, born Grimsby, raised Darlington England Twenty-four

England Fifty-five White female, born 1912, raised Greetland, West Yorkshire England Fifty-five

England Fifty-six White male, born 1955 and raised Halifax, West Yorkshire. An operations adminstrator England Fifty-six

England Fifty-seven White male, born 1951, Leeds, raised in West Yorkshire England Fifty-seven

England Seventy-four White female, born 1976, Harrogate, North Yorkshire England Seventy-four

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Twenty-four	White male, twenties, born Grimsby, raised Darlington	England Twenty-four
England Fifty-five	White female, born 1912, raised Greetland, West Yorkshire	England Fifty-five
England Fifty-six	White male, born 1955 and raised Halifax, West Yorkshire. An operations adminstrator	England Fifty-six
England Fifty-seven	White male, born 1951, Leeds, raised in West Yorkshire	England Fifty-seven
England Seventy-four	White female, born 1976, Harrogate, North Yorkshire	England Seventy-four

North-West

Includes: (counties) Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside; (some major towns and cities) Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Crewe, Macclesfield, Warrington, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Bolton, Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Blackpool, Blackburn

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Five White female, fifties, childhood in Lancashire, adulthood in London England Five
Transcription

England Nine White female, thirties, college educated, born and raised in Bolton, Lancashire. England Nine
Transcription

England Ten White female, twenties, student, Manchester England Ten
Transcription

England Fourteen White female, born 1972, Blackpool, Lancashire, some slight Liverpool influence on her speech having recently moved there England Fourteen

England Fifteen White male, born 1966 in Wigan, Lancashire, civil servant England Fifteen

England Sixteen White male, born 1969, Liverpool, Merseyside, catering manager England Sixteen

England Seventeen White female, born 1959, Liverpool, Merseyside, cashier England Seventeen

England Eighteen White female, born 1969, Liverpool, actor/teacher England Eighteen
Phonetic Transcription

England Forty-three White male, born Salford, Manchester, 1970, professional soccer player. Good Salford dialect England Forty-three
Transcription

England Forty-four White female, born Liverpool 1975, housewife, mild Liverpool dialect England Forty-four

England Fifty-four White female, late-40s, born in Salford, Lancashire, England. A librarian England Fifty-four
Transcription

England Sixty White male, born 1946, Wigan, Lancashire. Speaks Wigan dialect poem in broad dialect England Sixty

England Seventy-One White male, born 1968 Wythenshawe, raised Timperley (Manchester). Administrator England Seventy-One

England Seventy-three White female, born 1983, raised Manchester. Student England Seventy-three

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Five	White female, fifties, childhood in Lancashire, adulthood in London	England Five Transcription
England Nine	White female, thirties, college educated, born and raised in Bolton, Lancashire.	England Nine Transcription
England Ten	White female, twenties, student, Manchester	England Ten Transcription
England Fourteen	White female, born 1972, Blackpool, Lancashire, some slight Liverpool influence on her speech having recently moved there	England Fourteen
England Fifteen	White male, born 1966 in Wigan, Lancashire, civil servant	England Fifteen
England Sixteen	White male, born 1969, Liverpool, Merseyside, catering manager	England Sixteen
England Seventeen	White female, born 1959, Liverpool, Merseyside, cashier	England Seventeen
England Eighteen	White female, born 1969, Liverpool, actor/teacher	England Eighteen Phonetic Transcription
England Forty-three	White male, born Salford, Manchester, 1970, professional soccer player. Good Salford dialect	England Forty-three Transcription
England Forty-four	White female, born Liverpool 1975, housewife, mild Liverpool dialect	England Forty-four
England Fifty-four	White female, late-40s, born in Salford, Lancashire, England. A librarian	England Fifty-four Transcription
England Sixty	White male, born 1946, Wigan, Lancashire. Speaks Wigan dialect poem in broad dialect	England Sixty
England Seventy-One	White male, born 1968 Wythenshawe, raised Timperley (Manchester). Administrator	England Seventy-One
England Seventy-three	White female, born 1983, raised Manchester. Student	England Seventy-three

North-East

Includes: (counties) Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, North Yorkshire (part only); (some major towns and cities) Newcastle, Sunderland, Tyneside, Wearside, Teesside, Durham, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesborough, Darlington, Hartlepool

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England Thirteen White female, college lecturer, born Tyne and Wear, 1957. A rather "posh" Newcastle (Geordie) voice England Thirteen

England Nineteen White female, thirties, born and raised in Newcastle England Nineteen

England Twenty White female, twenties, student, Sunderland England Twenty

England Twenty-one White female, twenties, drama student, Newcastle England Twenty-one
Transcription

England Twenty-two White female, twenties, student, Washington, Tyne and Wear England Twenty-two

England Twenty-three White male, twenties, student, Tyne and Wear England Twenty-three

England Twenty-five White female, born 1981 South Shields, raised Newcastle, student England Twenty-five

England Twenty-six White female, born 1980, Newcastle, raised Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, student England Twenty-six

England Twenty-seven White female, born 1979, Newcastle, student England Twenty-seven

Sound Sample	Basic Information	Text Files
England Thirteen	White female, college lecturer, born Tyne and Wear, 1957. A rather "posh" Newcastle (Geordie) voice	England Thirteen
England Nineteen	White female, thirties, born and raised in Newcastle	England Nineteen
England Twenty	White female, twenties, student, Sunderland	England Twenty
England Twenty-one	White female, twenties, drama student, Newcastle	England Twenty-one Transcription
England Twenty-two	White female, twenties, student, Washington, Tyne and Wear	England Twenty-two
England Twenty-three	White male, twenties, student, Tyne and Wear	England Twenty-three
England Twenty-five	White female, born 1981 South Shields, raised Newcastle, student	England Twenty-five
England Twenty-six	White female, born 1980, Newcastle, raised Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, student	England Twenty-six
England Twenty-seven	White female, born 1979, Newcastle, student	England Twenty-seven

Received Pronunciation & Miscellaneous

Includes: RP speakers of unknown history and those of English parents, but raised abroad

Sound Sample Basic Information Text Files

England One male, born Salisbury, 1942, boarding school educated England One

England Two Female, 20's, boarding school educated England Two
Transcription

England Seven White male, archaeologist, place of origin unknown, speaks Received Pronunciation England Seven
Transcription

England Sixty-Three Female, born 1954 in Far East, child of diplomats, boarding-school educated, Received Pronunciation England Sixty-Three

England Sixty-Four Female, born 1987 in Bury, nr. Manchester. Interesting hybrid accent due to time spent in Germany and at an International School England Sixty-Four