Dive into the fascinating world of how people across Greater Manchester speak, and what their voices reveal about identity and belonging. This lively book follows a groundbreaking research project that explored local accents, dialects, and social meaning using perception maps, pronunciation analysis, archive recordings, and interviews conducted in a roving 'Accent Van'. Packed with real voices, it offers surprising insights into how language connects us to place, community, and culture. Each chapter highlights a different strand of the research, while reflecting on broader themes of identity, the social significance of everyday language, and the value of listening. Along the way, readers get a behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale sociolinguistic projects are designed, funded, and executed - and why they matter. Celebrating the richness and diversity of local speech, this book is a joyful, thought-provoking tribute to the voices that shape our communities.

‘Manchester Voices is a masterclass in designing and communicating sociolinguistic research that has genuine real-world impact. Rarely does an academic book succeed so fully in speaking to non-specialist readers while also offering an honest and engaging account of doing academic research, from an initial seed of an idea to a fully realised project. This book is a model for how sociolinguistics can—and should—be done.’

Christian Ilbury - Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, the University of Edinburgh

‘Manchester Voices beautifully traces the lifecycle of an innovative research project, from conception to outputs and impact. Commendably clear in its methodology, it foregrounds participant voices and vividly captures the multifaceted nature of Manchester accent and identity. A must-read for sociolinguistics scholars, students and anyone interested in the linguistic richness and history of the region.’

Sofia Lampropoulou - Reader in English language, University of Liverpool

‘Manchester Voices combines rigorous sociolinguistic research with an engaging, accessible account of how such research is actually carried out, including realistic and highly readable descriptions of both its challenges and its joys. Offering a detailed portrait of regional linguistic variation in Greater Manchester, the book integrates data on language attitudes with contemporary and archival speech production data, and situates these findings within a broader, pedagogically valuable framework of public-facing, interactive research outputs.’

Rebecca Roeder - Associate Professor of Linguistics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

‘This volume uses innovative methods and sensitive analysis to report voices from across the metropolitan boroughs and the City of Manchester, giving a real flavour of where the dialect came from and where its speakers are taking it now. Drummond’s work adds depth and seeks to build collaborations outside academia to further what we know about this important area of England and the variety spoken there.’

Esther Asprey - Senior Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics, University of Wolverhampton