How To Actually Understand This Bloody Viral UK Accent

If you’ve ever struggled to understand regional British accents, you’re not alone. Recently, a hilarious viral video of two young girls from Burnley ranting about the cost of ice cream has been making the rounds online. Their thick Burnley accent left many viewers outside of Lancashire scratching their heads, wondering what exactly was being said.

As a language coach specialising in British English, I thought this video was the perfect opportunity to break down some of the unique features of the Burnley accent, explore why it might be tricky to understand, and provide some tips for making sense of regional British dialects.

Here’s the video in case you haven’t seen it:

What Makes the Burnley Accent Unique?

Burnley is a town in Lancashire, in the North West of England. The accent there falls under the broad umbrella of Northern English accents but has its own distinctive characteristics. Here are some key features:

1. Flat Vowels

In Northern English accents, vowels are often pronounced with less variation compared to Southern accents. For example:

• The word "bath" is pronounced with a short vowel sound, like "trap," instead of the elongated "bahth" commonly heard in the South.

In the video, you can hear this flat vowel sound in words like "know" and "ice."

2. Dropped or Altered Consonants

Burnley speakers often soften or drop certain consonants. For example:

• The "t" sound in words like "bet" might become more of a glottal stop or be completely omitted, sounding like "be'."

3. Distinct Intonation

The Burnley accent has a unique musical quality to it, with a rising and falling intonation pattern that can make it hard to follow if you’re not familiar with it.

4. Dialect Words and Phrases

Regional accents often come with their own vocabulary. In the video, the girls use colloquial expressions that might be unfamiliar, such as "int" (meaning "isn't") and "well" (meaning "very").

Why Is It Hard to Understand?

If you’re learning English or come from a different part of the UK, there are a few reasons why the Burnley accent might trip you up:

1. Speed of Speech: In the video, the girls speak quickly and passionately, which can make the accent even harder to follow.

2. Pronunciation Differences: If you’ve primarily learned Standard British English (Received Pronunciation), the vowel and consonant changes in the Burnley accent may be unexpected.

3. Lack of Familiarity: If you haven’t spent much time listening to Northern accents, the Burnley dialect may feel entirely new to you.

Tips for Understanding Regional British Accents

If you’re keen to improve your listening skills and make sense of accents like Burnley’s, here are some tips:

1. Listen to Regional Media

Watch TV shows, movies, or YouTube videos featuring Northern English accents. This exposure helps train your ear to recognise patterns.

2. Focus on Context

Even if you don’t catch every word, try to pick up on the general meaning of the conversation from context.

3. Learn Key Dialect Words

Familiarise yourself with common regional expressions, such as "owt," "nowt," and "summat" (anything, nothing, and something).

4. Practice with Transcriptions

Find videos with subtitles or transcripts, so you can follow along and compare the written and spoken words.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

If you’re speaking with someone from Burnley or another part of the UK, don’t hesitate to ask them to repeat or explain. Most people are happy to help!

Final Thoughts

The Burnley accent, like all regional accents, is a fascinating part of British culture. While it might seem challenging at first, with a bit of practice and patience, you can learn to understand it. Videos like this one are not only entertaining but also a great resource for language learners to tune their ears to different varieties of English.

What do you think of the Burnley accent? Could you understand the girls in the video? Let me know in the comments below!