Academics Study Scouse

[Kev]

CANADIAN academics are studying Scouse.

Our “exceedingly rare� accent is the subject of a new study by a team from the University of Alberta, in Edmonton.

They are recording Liverpudlian voices as part of an international language project.

Researcher Jill Bouchard-Cross interviewed students at Liverpool John Moores University for the first part of the programme.

Volunteers were recorded reading words and phrases to provide samples of that unique Scouse sound.

Jill, who is studying for a Masters degree in linguistics at the University of Alberta, said: “All of our research so far has been with Canadians and Americans and we have chosen the Scouse accent because it is so distinctive.

“We are starting with Liverpool in the UK and we will play back the data to people in north America for analysis, as well as taking acoustic vowel measurements to compare different dialects.�

Liverpool JMU journalism student Kate Lightfoot, 20, from Crosby, was one of the 18 undergraduates taking part.

She said: “I’m proud of our accent because it shows off our culture, and I’m pleased to be helping out with this.�

The study is being led by distinguished Canadian acoustic phonetics expert Dr Terrance Nearey.

Liverpool Echo