Linguistic Survey of Belfast English


Welcome! My name is Corinna Schmidt, and I am an undergraduate student of Linguistics at McGill University in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. This semester I am conducting a study on the characteristics of English spoken in Belfast. I would like to thank you for your willingness to participate in this short online survey. Please only complete this survey if you are from Belfast or live in Belfast.

In answering these questions, please try to be as objective and honest as possible, giving the answer that applies to your own speech, not the speech of others or what you think your speech "should" be. There are no right or wrong answers. If you are unsure, usually your first instinct will be the correct one.

Note: This survey is no longer open for new participants. Thank you for your interest.


Statement of Consent

I agree to the above terms.

I. Demographics
These questions will simply help me to organize the data that I have gathered.
  1. What area/neighbourhood of Belfast do/did you live in?

  2. Were you born in Belfast?
    Yes No If no, where?:

  3. Did you grow up in Belfast?
    Yes No If no, where?:

  4. Did your father grow up in Belfast?
    Yes No If no, where?:

  5. Did your mother grow up in Belfast?
    Yes No If no, where?:

  6. What is your age range?
    Under 18
    18-25
    26-35
    36-45
    46-55
    Over 55
  7. What is your gender?
    Male Female
  8. What is your education level?
    Some High School
    High School
    Some University
    Bachelor's Degree
    Master's Degree
    Doctorate
  9. What is your ethnicity?
    Caucasian
    Chinese
    Other Asian
    African
    Jewish
    Other
    If Other:
  10. What is your religious affiliation?
    Catholic
    Protestant
    Other Christian
    Jewish
    Other
    If Other:
  11. What is your political affiliation?
    Unionist
    Nationalist
    Other
    If Other:
  12. Are you a native English speaker?
    Yes No
  13. Please indicate your proficiency of Irish:
    None
    Some
    Fluent, but not native [?]
    Native [?]
  14. Please give your e-mail address if you would like to receive a copy of the results of this study: (optional)



II. Rhyming Words
For each pair of words, please indicate whether or not they rhyme.
  1. dawn - don
    Yes No
  2. rays - raise
    Yes No
  3. poor - pour
    Yes No
  4. born - barn
    Yes No
  5. raid - paid
    Yes No
  6. pull - pool
    Yes No
  7. lass - grass
    Yes No
  8. fir - fair
    Yes No
  9. cot - caught
    Yes No
  10. fair - were
    Yes No
  11. tire - tower
    Yes No
  12. sam - psalm
    Yes No


III. Pronunciation
Please indicate how you pronounce these words in casual, every day speech. If it helps, pretend you are talking to friend and pronounce them out loud.
  1. The initial consonant in "suit" sounds like the initial consonant of:
    see
    shoe
  2. In the word "track," I pronounce the 't' with my tongue:
    On the tip of my top teeth
    On the roof of my mouth
  3. In the word "water," I pronounce the 't' with my tongue:
    On the tip of my top teeth
    On the roof of my mouth
  4. In the word "top," I pronounce the 't' with my tongue:
    On the tip of my top teeth
    On the roof of my mouth
  5. In the word "bat," I pronounce the 't' with my tongue:
    On the tip of my top teeth
    On the roof of my mouth
  6. The final sound in "fighting" sounds like the final sound of:
    King
    Kin
  7. The final sound in "protesting" sounds like the final sound of:
    King
    Kin


IV. Fill in the Blank
Please indicate one or two words for each blank in the following sentences. Again, try to answer as you would say these in casual, every day speech. If it helps, pretend you are talking to friend and pronounce them out loud.
  1. I was irritated, so I said, " away!"
  2. My mother always liked to order me around. " the dishes!" she would say, or " your room!"
  3. I want meet them.
  4. I went to the market buy some vegetables.
  5. My friends got up from the table, and I wondered leaving.
  6. They asked me read a book yesterday.
  7. We had cake for dessert, but I couldn't remember where bought it.


V. Words and Phrases
Indicate a single, general word or phrase that applies to each description.
  1. A snack food made from potatoes which have been thinly sliced and then fried or baked
  2. A small apartment without a separate bedroom (i.e., with sleeping and living quarters in a single room)
  3. A knitted jacket or jersey, in pullover or cardigan style
  4. A narrow path on either side of a road for the use of pedestrians


VI. Prose
Please give a short description (5 - 10 lines) about a time where you either had a traumatic experience or received good or exciting news. As above, please try to answer as you would speak in casual, every day speech. If it helps, pretend you are talking to friend and read it out loud.



Please click the button only once.


Survey © 2011 Corinna Schmidt