Current issues

The English West Midlands dialect is an under-researched area in all its linguistic aspects, which is surprising given its continued widespread use in both speech and writing. Mathisen (1999) found that in Sandwell the exogenous factor T-glottalling was spreading, but the local identity marker [ŋg] was robust and not significantly eroded. Changes seem to be largely brought about by females within the speech community.

Research in progress includes work on language change in the Black Country, attitudes to the Black Country and Birmimgham accents, and the relationship between language and identity.

* Project leader, Black Country Dialect Project, University of Wolverhampton. Phonological analysis undertaken with the assistance of Peter Finn, research assistant, BCDP.