SPUR Project

2010 winner (7 of 19)

A perceptual approach to accents in the East Midlands

Supervisor: Dr Natalie Braber

Previous research has shown that people are quick to judge others on the basis of accent alone. The project is concerned with discovering which features of language are used to make such judgements and how this affects the perception of particular groups of speakers. The participating student will work with people from the East Midlands (sixth-year students in local schools and sixth-form colleges) to investigate how accents around the country (but particularly the East Midlands area) are perceived. Student tasks will include undertaking a literature review, preparing material for participants to work with e.g. choosing language samples for participants to listen to, facilitating the participant sessions and delivering information sessions explaining the project and the significance of the results.