Partnership celebrates Essex accents

The University has joined forces with local train operator c2c Rail and young women from Southend to celebrate the Essex accent and continue the fight against accent prejudice.

The partnership, launched at Southend Central station is the latest development in research by Dr Tara McAllister-Viel from the University’s East 15 Acting School.

Dr Tara McAllister-Viel’s study, which featured on The One Show earlier in the year, showed that Essex girls feel pressured to change the way they speak because of negative stereotypes.

With acclaimed Essex author and University of Essex Chancellor Dr Sarah Perry as guest of honour, Dr McAllister-Viel and c2c Rail unveiled Accent Essex.

The new partnership encourages commuters and residents to listen to pre-recorded poems written by students, from Westcliff High School for Girls, about their accents and how they are perceived.

The audio installation is accessed via a QR code and invites listeners to share one thing they love about their own accent via a dedicated YouTube channel.

Commuters travelling through the station during the launch were handed leaflets about the project while enjoying spoken word performances by Write2Speak co-founder, Yossi Goodlink and Essex poet and performer Hollie Dee.

They also heard one of the girls' poems performed by Canvey Island resident and c2c Customer Delivery Manager, Louise Williams, over the station tannoy.

The partnership is an important development in Dr McAllister-Viel’s research which has captured public imagination by seeking to celebrate the rich diversity of voices in the county.

She said: "The Essex accent, like all accents, isn’t just about how we sound. It is part of our identity and what shapes us, and it connects us to our home wherever we travel.

"When residents take a train out of Essex, they take that identity and sense of belonging with them in their voices, but they also take with them the stereotypes.

"When someone criticises your accent you can feel they are criticising you and your home so it’s vital that we empower people to 'talk back' to accent prejudice using the same voice that was just criticised.

"These spoken word poems have something to say. We invite you to listen as well as join in celebrating one thing you love about your accent."

Dr Sarah Perry, Chancellor of the University of Essex, said: "As an Essex girl who used to try to conceal her accent, I'm thrilled about this project, which seems to me an exciting development in how arts and humanities research intersects with politics and with the local community."

Rob Mullen, Managing Director of c2c Rail, said: "Accent prejudice perpetuates harmful Essex stereotypes, negatively impacts confidence and self-esteem and can even be a barrier to education and employment. Bias and prejudice around regional accents persists, impacting people’s lives in countless ways. Dr McAllister-Viel’s research has shone a light on the issue and is helping to change perceptions.

“I’m so proud that we are working with her and the young women in our county who are tackling the issue head on."

Listen to the poems and tell us what you love about your own accent.