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| |  | Eleri Davies
Born: 24 November 1973
Lives: Pwllheli, Gwynedd
Time lived in area: All my life
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Eleri confesses she gets confused if she has to have a long conversation in English.
Language of interview: Welsh
Duration: (mins/secs)
The participants were asked to describe how they spoke in their own words.
How do you describe your accent: "A strong Welsh accent, from the North. Clear English, but it's easy for someone to say that I'm Welsh."
Have there been other influences on the way you speak: Not Given
Do you have skills in languages other than English?: Yes
Other languages: English, Welsh
(translation) SIAN: I said one thing last week, or was it the week before? It was Saturday I'm sure, and I said "No sorry we've got no lunches left" (said in English) Just this Welsh accent coming through the English. ELERI: I feel more confident speaking English since I've been working here. Going to my friend's house now, and her husband is English, and I sit down to spek with them, and it's it's like, I can't get anything out. SIAN: Stutter. ELERI: Yet again, you know in the shop, we only have a short conversation, so my English is okay, but if I have to have a long conversation with someone in English, I just get confused, and panic, and feel all uncomfortable. It's got a lot to do with how I feel. Because at home in Llanbedrog, if I want to say Abersoch now, I'd say 'r'Abar, we're going to the Abar, but if you, I've been talking to some English people, and then they say "Abersock". And then I'd say, if they asked where somewhere was in the area, I'd say "oh there's one in", and then I have to think, and what do I say Abersoch or Abersock to these people? And very often I say Abersock to them. SIFIAN: You've got to say it right. ANN: Yes I know, I'm there . . . and it doesn't come out, ym . . . Abersock is what the English say SIFIAN: Yes, but they say it wrong. You have to say it the correct way. SIAN: I still ask some people, 'would you like some sos coch (in Welsh tomato ketchup is called red sauce, sos coch) with that? And they look at me as if to say pardon? SIFIAN: but sometimes you just can't think of the word. I remeber one man coming in and asking how he wanted the beef - "It's very brau" (brau is welsh for tender). I was thinking what's the word? The English word? It's just words sometimes ... you know.
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