The Leicester accent and dialect is undergoing its biggest change for decades

[Rincewind]

My brother's been up in the Lake District quite a few years. He still has a bit of A leicester accent although he has lived in Liverpool London and Coalville too.

Niece and nephew have the Cumbrian accent mainly. Some of my brother and his missus may have crosed over but not heard much of the locals. The further nort the closer to scots it gets.

[Kitchandro]

Funny how some people are so embarrassed by accents, I do the "-ehs" and "-orrits" and drop h's and the odd t, but I don't think I sound particularly dim for doing so. Ever since I moved to Southend, I've realised how much of a novelty it is.

 

On the issue of accents changing, as the world shrinks and culture mix, a level of homogenisation is inevitable.

 

I think to some extent it's natural from your surroundings and nothing to be embarrassed about. However some people are just so over the top they sound like they're doing it on purpose, almost as if they're trying to sound hard, which can be really annoying.

 

I think that about some scousers tbh. Like Paul Jewell, has he actually heard himself? How much phlegm does he need when he talks? I find listening to him unbearable.

[Finnaldo]

I'm not sure if it's a Leicester or more Hinckley but I'm criminal for dropping h's, especially when talking faster or in a conversation. It's gotten to the stage where instead "I hate" it's "eye-yate".

[ScouseFox]

It's a pretty grim accent like

[Rincewind]

Do people from Hinckley still say 'buzz' for 'bus'?

[LJS]

They do indeed. I don't, because I'm not a spastic.

[Tielemans63]

The proper Nottingham accent is even worse than a thick Leicester accent - horrendous.

I lived in Leeds for 5 years and now in Northants so don't sound Leicester at all anymore.

Still, if you're down about your Leicester accent, just remember - you could be from Corby.

[cambridgefox]

The proper Nottingham accent is even worse than a thick Leicester accent - horrendous.

I lived in Leeds for 5 years and now in Northants so don't sound Leicester at all anymore.

Still, if you're down about your Leicester accent, just remember - you could be from Corby.

Corby is that not Scottish?

[Tielemans63]

Corby is that not Scottish?

Sort of a weird bastardised version. It's like Glasgow meets midlands. It's very nearly Scottish but not quite.

[Rincewind]

Talking about this on RL now.

[Guest Bilo]

My Leicester accent is pretty much gone. The only remnant, really, is that I still say 'baff' instead of 'barf.'

 

It's obviously demographics that are a major factor, with 10% or more of the population being students during term time, as well as immigration to the city. Exterior influences will have their impact as well, but Leicester is hardly unique there.

 

I imagine pretty much every city in the UK is seeing a similar impact on their regional dialects, particularly cities such as Leicester which have large and transient academic and professional populations and sizeable immigration levels. It's pretty telling that the places cited as being hosts to authentic Lestoh accents such as Thurmaston fall outside of large student populations and immigrant communities.

[Guest Bilo]

The proper Nottingham accent is even worse than a thick Leicester accent - horrendous.

I lived in Leeds for 5 years and now in Northants so don't sound Leicester at all anymore.

Still, if you're down about your Leicester accent, just remember - you could be from Corby.

 

It's foul, much thicker and more incomprehensible than a Leicester accent. 'Sarah' literally became 'Seer-UH' when I was knobbing a Nottingham lass a fair few years back.

[Webbo]

I'd think television has more of an effect on accents than anything else.

[Out Foxed]

well, modern standard english was born/created in Leicester so that's something to be proud of. I like the accent because it's not as well known as others and it makes lots of words funny when you exaggerate it. would be a shame to see it disappear.

[Rincewind]

They said earlier on the radio that D H Lawrence used it in his books. He was from Nottingham. So we can all relate to a  gamekeeper. Speech wise if nothing else

[Foxhateram]

Came up to Leicester yesterday for the first time in a while.

Bought the Mrs, she didn't understand a word of what the lady at premier inn was saying. I had to translate. But everyone is so friendly, a gent helped us find our way to the ground and the bus drivers were polite and helpful.

We went to braggie today I got that loving feeling of being at home with the accents around and the random people chatting to us. Forgot how much I miss the place until that walk round braggie.

Now back in Devon and people sound and act so snobby. Yuk!

Unfortunately I don't have the accent anymore though.

[DennisNedry]

My Leicester accent is pretty much gone. The only remnant, really, is that I still say 'baff' instead of 'barf.'

 

It's obviously demographics that are a major factor, with 10% or more of the population being students during term time, as well as immigration to the city. Exterior influences will have their impact as well, but Leicester is hardly unique there.

 

I imagine pretty much every city in the UK is seeing a similar impact on their regional dialects, particularly cities such as Leicester which have large and transient academic and professional populations and sizeable immigration levels. It's pretty telling that the places cited as being hosts to authentic Lestoh accents such as Thurmaston fall outside of large student populations and immigrant communities.

 

I think most people in the country say bath don't they? I thought it was only the rich posh upper class who say 'barf' and 'grarse' etc

[Zingari]

Worra yulott gooin onabout ?

[Rincewind]

Do you chamge when on the phone? I've been told I soun posher on the phone and sound OK on the radio or reading something using a mic.

[ozleicester]

The Leicester accent is a thing of beauty, mine is mostly gone, but my mother in law still maintains hers.. not by choice, (she still doesnt know she says Buzz <bus>  and Booket <bucket> unless we point it out) its just stuck there

 

The wonderful variation and difference of accents across the UK is a true joy, I find the homogenisation of language a great disappointment.

 

Belvoir = Beaver      never in a million years... but i love it.

[Zingari]

The Leicester accent must be very infectious, because I'm from oirish parents and heard that accent all the time, but i took on the Leicester accent  and can't even do a passable Irish one now.

 

Dunno why, but i love the Scottish accent best of all.

Wherever I go (holidays, courses , working away etc) I always seem to make friends more easily with Scottish  people too 

[Voll Blau]

Prefer the Markidarbra accent, lovely East Anglian-esque vowels.

 

Had the chance to do a serious study of the Leicester and Harborough accents when I was at uni for my dissertation and never did it. Regretted it ever since. True Harborough accents like the one my grandad had sadly seem to be dying out, but that's dialect levelling for you. It's going on everywhere.

 

I'm in my 20s and call people "duck", reckon I'm old before my time. 

[Ford Super Sunday]

A thick, gruff and proper Leicester accent, mainly carried by bogans or someone in a rough part of the city (or older people who don't look like they've ever gone further than Skegness) is a horrible, horrible thing.

 

Thankfully a combination of my better half and where I work is eliminating my version of the accent I describe above, though I'm told it makes a reappearance when shouting at the football.

 

Belvoir is the best though, wouldn't have that any other way.

[Stadt]

Hearing people trying to say Belvoir as it's pronounced is quite funny

[sphericalfox]

Hearing people trying to say Belvoir as it's pronounced is quite funny

do you mean as it's spelled?