Great Western Coffee Shop

From The Daily Mash (https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/how-are-people-judging-you-because-of-your-funny-regional-accent-20180921177575).   Many a true word written in jest?

Well, I have lived in the West Country for 34 years now but I'm originally from London, yes, Cockney London.  What does that make me then?..... :P

I have to say that my "funny regional accent" does tend to get noticed round my way...

I'm proud of my Plymouth accent and the heritage which it gives me. I haven't lost it despite living in Buckinghamshire for the last 25 years.


As long as people don't mistake it for Brizzle, Zummmmeerrrzettttt or Cornwall I don't take offence!  ;D

I can't say as 'ow I've got one o' them regional accents missen.

Happen.

Aye, tha' knows.     

Can tha' smell gas, or is it just me?

Spent most of my life in the westcountry, Somerset or Bristol, but there were a few years in my late teens living in Buckinghamshire. More than once, when living and working in the town of Buckingham, I was asked whether I was a farmer.  ::)

40 years in Brizzle means I can talk like what they doos in that areal if I gots to, usually if I scrages me knee while gert dappin. I struggled at first with the Irish Question as I began to visit "customers" in some of the housing estates. I would knock on the door, and as often as not it would be answered by a boy who could just reach the lock. I would ask "Is Miss X in?", and he would shout up the stairs "Where's Armagh?" Took me months to get that one, and answers like "'Suppinannuminnum"* didn't exactly help. I learned Latin more quickly.

Funny thing is though that from six months into my west country residency, even until after 20 years, if I visited my folks in Lancashire, I would get all the "Oo ar, 'ere 'e be" from my brothers, but could still talk to them in the vernacular, with my poor Bristol born wife having less clue about what was going on than when I spoke French. That was occasionally useful, mind.

After 12 years of semi-residence in Devon, I can do the basics, and know that it is definitely cream first. Now I'm permanently ensconced here, though, I have realised that Bishops Nympton's version of the Devon language is of little use once one finds oneself east of Rackenford. Back to the drawling board.

I remember the Speaker of the House of Commons George Thomas, later Viscount Tonypandy, dealing with an issue about accents in his lilting Welsh valley voice. Having found a reference from rugby legend and broadcaster Cliff Morgan, which I think is as correct as my recollection of my hearing of it on "Yesterday in Parliament" on Radio 4 long wave, I offer it to the House:

"They can be found in the Bristol suburb of Hanham. Is that not so?"

If there was a prize, it would be on its way to you!