Table of Contents
Acknowledgements v
1 Staging language: Place and identity In the enactment, performance and representation of regional dialects 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Dialect and style 5
1.3 Mediatization and performance 9
1.4 Performance and performativity 15
1.5 Researching dialect as staged language 16
2 Further theoretical considerations 23
2.1 Introduction 23
2.2 Grounded theory and ethnography 23
2.3 Indexicality and enregisterment 26
2.4 Linguistic hegemony, heteroglossia, polyphony, double- and multi-voicing 31
2.5 Comedy, parody, humour, the burlesque, carnivalesque and dialect 36
2.6 Frame and perspective 38
2.7 The politics of transcription 41
3 Staging language In performance: Comedy and parody 44
3.1 Introduction 44
3.2 Features of Birmingham and Black Country dialect in performance 45
3.2.1 Phonology 45
3.2.2 Morphology and syntax 48
3.3 Performance 1 know what yowm thinkin'… stand-up comedy 49
3.3.1 In conversation with Paul Jennings 60
3.3.2 In conversation with members of the audience 65
3.4 Performance 2 doh like it: Comedy sketch 67
3.4.1 In conversation with Fizzog 73
3.4.2 In conversation with members of the audience and celebrities 74
3.5 Performance 3 Any Villa fans in the room? Stand-up comedy 77
3.5.1 In conversation with Craig Deeley 81
3.5.2 In conversation with Rob Hazel, local librarian 82
3.6 Conclusion 84
4 Staging language in performance: Comedy and parody in contemporary Afro Caribbean performances 86
4.1 Introduction 86
4.2 Birmingham and superdiversity 87
4.3 Black popular culture 89
4.4 The emergence of Black Brum 90
4.4.1 Phonology 92
4.4.2 Morphology and syntax 95
4.4.3 Lexis 96
4.5 Performance 1 Andre 'Soul' Hesson (ASH) 97
4.5.1 In conversation with Andre Hesson 101
4.6 Performance 2 Deci4Life and Moqpal Selassie in The Spiral 104
4.6.1 In conversation with Deci4Life, Moqpal Selassie and the audience 107
4.7 Performance 3 Where are you from? From Birmingham 113
4.7.1 In conversation with Roy Mcfarlane 115
4.8 In conversation with Benjamin Zephaniah 116
4.9 Conclusion 120
5 Staging language in performance: Performance poetry and drama 122
5.1 Introduction 122
5.2 Features of Staffordshire and Warwickshire dialect in performance 123
5.2.1 Phonology 123
5.2.2 Morphosyntax and lexis 125
5.3 Performance 1 Staffordshire Potteries and the Trent Vale poet 126
5.3.1 In conversation with the Trent Vale poet and members of the audience 130
5.4 Performance 2 The play Riot 133
5.4.1 In conversation with playwright Richard Green and members of the cast 138
5.5 Performance 3 The play Too much pressure 140
5.5.1 In conversation with playwright Allan Pollock 144
5.5.2 In conversation with members of the audience and celebrities 146
5.6 Performance 4 The Coventry Mummers 149
5.6.1 In conversation with Mummer Ian Pearson 153
5.7 Conclusion 153
6 Agentive and situational dialect use: Place and identity in and beyond staged performance 155
6.1 Introduction 155
6.2 Staging identity and place through dialect use 158
6.3 Dialect use, linguistic style and identity construction 162
6.4 Dialect, performance and agency 163
6.5 Dialect, performance, creativity and imagination 165
6.6 Conclusion 167
References 169
Index 177
