UWS study tracks evolving Aussie accents in Sydney
We all know the Aussie accent sounds different from American and Kiwi English, but is it possible for people in Sydney to have different dialects depending on where they live?
Researchers from the MARCS Institute at the University of Western Sydney are looking to predict how regional Australian accents might change into the future, but they need to record more speech to make sure they're heading in the right direction.
As the first step in the study, the team is looking for men in their 20s who were born in the Liverpool and Campbelltown areas to parents who were also born locally.
Dr Michael Tyler says accents evolve and change over time – even Queen Elizabeth II doesn't talk the same way she did 50 years ago.
"We are particularly keen to find out how people from Sydney speak, and whether the accent changes depending on where you go within the region," says Dr Tyler.
"Sydney is now so big it appears that there are new regional dialects cropping up. We came across some great local sounds by accident when we were recording the voices of males in their 20s as part of our other studies, and these males happen to have been born in south west Sydney.
"In this first phase of our study, we'll be looking at the south west Sydney accent first and then hoping to conduct more research among other communities in Sydney if we find that our original observations hold true."
Ends
23 February 2012
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