Northerners are starting to sound the same, according to a new accent study
A new study has found that separate dialects in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield are beginning to lose their intricate differences and blur into a singular 'General Northern English' accent instead.
Bad news, Mancs. Our distinctive Mancunian twang is starting to sound a lot like other accents.
A new study has found that separate dialects in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield are beginning to lose their intricate differences and blur into a singular ‘General Northern English’ accent instead.
Through the use of machine learning and vowel sound analysis, researchers at the University of Manchester found people are now struggling to differentiate between the accents from these three cities.
However, whilst dialects across Greater Manchester are beginning to sound similar to some neighbouring northerners, other accents in the top half of England – like Liverpool and Newcastle – remained recognisable.
Linguistics expert Dr Patrycja Strycharczuk led the research – with the results appearing to be driven by the rise in the number of educated city residents.
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“I often hear statements like “I’m from Liverpool / Manchester / Sheffield, but I don’t have the accent” – however, there is very little systematic evidence that General Northern English really is a coherent variety, so that’s the question we asked ourselves,” said Dr. Strycharczuk.
Despite the data, researchers don’t believe that accents are disappearing entirely.
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Results showed that even the most highly-educated urban Northerns retained some northern vowels in their speech; and researchers believe a “new variety” of dialects are being established.
“I think its prestige has increased, and people are now less tempted to lose their accent if they’ve been to university or they do a lot of public speaking,” said Dr. Strycharczuk.
“The question is whether General Northern English also has the same status for those who don’t speak it – can a speaker be perceived as standard in London?
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“I don’t think we’re there yet, but the shifting attitudes in the North are a first step.”
The Manchester accent was voted as the “sexiest in the UK” in a poll conducted earlier this year.
Looks like it isn’t just us who’d prefer for it to stick around.
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Simon Rimmer shuts final Greater Manchester branch of beloved Greens restaurant
Daisy Jackson
Simon Rimmer’s much-loved Greens restaurant is no more, as the final branch announces its immediate closure.
The vegetarian restaurant launched in Didsbury way back in 1990, but confirmed its shock closure at the start of its year.
The newer Greens restaurant in Sale had remained open for business – until today.
In a statement share online, the restaurant said the business has become ‘untenable’.
The statement, which was shared with a simple broken heart emoji, added that the team have ‘done everything possible’ to stay afloat.
Greens hasn’t shared as much detail about its Sale closure.
They wrote: “It is with deep regret that the board of directors and shareholders have decided to close the doors permanently on Greens Sale with immediate effect.
“We’ve done everything possible to make this work, but it is now clear the business is untenable.
“We’d like to thank everyone, team members & guests, who have been on the Greens journey with us.”
It’s another blow to the Manchester’s famous vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene, which has lost the likes of Wholesome Junkies, Vurger Co, and V Rev all shutting down in the last couple of years.
Wholesome Junkies shut down because of ‘skyrocketing costs’, writing at the time of their closure in July: “The figures just don’t add up, it’s no joke and it’s devastating the hospitality industry.”
Northern blocks access to dating apps and websites on-board trains
Emily Sergeant
Access to dating apps and websites is now blocked on-board trains travelling across the north, it has been revealed.
Northern says there’s “good reason” for taking this decision.
This is because the WiFi provided by the train operator on-board its services travelling across the north of England is delivered under the ‘Friendly WiFi’ scheme, which blocks access to certain categories of content – including those associated with dating.
Websites and apps related to video streaming, gambling, alcohol, adult content, pornography, and nudity are also blocked.
Northern has blocked access to dating apps and websites on-board its trains / Credit: Northern
The company says ‘Friendly WiFi’ – which it has been signed up to since 2017 – ensures its on-board internet service meets “minimum filtering standards” given the fact that children could be present around passengers at all times.
The decision to ban dating apps and websites comes after Northern also urged passengers to stop viewing content that’s “not suitable for work” on its trains and stations in Greater Manchester and beyond, and pleaded for them to “wait until you get home” instead.
Content that Northern considers ‘NSFW’ can range from inappropriate jokes and bad language, right through to offensive topics and explicit material.
The train operator has explained the “good reason” for its decision / Credit: Northern
Northern’s Chief Operating Officer, Matt Rice, said access to “safe and reliable” internet is part of passengers’ expectations.
“Whilst some dating websites and users will operate with appropriate levels of self-moderation, some might not and it’s important that content not suitable for everyone to see or hear, particularly children, isn’t viewed on our trains,” Mr Rice explained.
“It’s simply about ensuring that there is sufficient bandwidth for all our customers to use while they’re on the go.