Dialect and Heritage website launch

Have you ever taken a moment to think about the language you use? The words and sayings that you repeat on a daily basis help to define your identity, provide you with a sense of community and a link to generations that went before. This is known as dialect, and if you’re interested in this fascinating topic, then you’ll love our latest website launch.

The past inside the present

The Dialect and Heritage Project is a wonderful archive of dialect that spans the first half of the Twentieth Century. Based at the University of Leeds, this collection provides an invaluable insight into the sayings and dialect of past generations.

We’ve created a digital experience that enables these collections to shine. You can explore a range of curated stories that are themed by everyday experiences such as food, travel and hobbies. These really show how dialect informs everyday life and how the past continues to influence the present.

Similarly you can use the sound map to enjoy many of the audio clips from the collection. This is a great way to learn about the regional differences found in dialect. So why not search for the lovely dialect used in your local area?

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this project has been an absolute joy, and we’ve very much enjoyed working with the Dialect and Heritage team to bring their collections to life.

Get involved

As we know, language is not static. That’s why the site is a great way for you to contribute to the archive, and help preserve your dialect for future generations. There are lots of ways you can get involved:

• Share your everyday speech in the Great Dialect Hunt
• Help to map where words come from by describing where the sayings you use originate
• Submit recordings of the dialect you use for an immersive soundscape
• Find the weird and wonderful used for different everyday objects in the fun dialect quiz

To date we had over 3000 submissions to these surveys, a fantastic response which shows the positive response to the website and a passion for dialect amongst the public.

We’re also super thrilled to see that the website has been warmly received by different media outlets, such as the BBC and the Guardian.

So if you want to find out whether someone might have a butty dip before a game of wallops, or why you should never eat broad beans on a Sunday, then the Dialect and Heritage Project is for you.