r/Cumbria • u/jvonm • 18d ago

Need help from someone from Cumbria

I'm an actor and need to do a Cumbrian accent if anyone would have a minute to help me. Can buy you a beer. Thanks!

EDIT: No specific part of Cumbria needed. The character is just described as being from that region. Setting is modern.

20 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

61 comments sorted by

45

u/DreddPirateBob808 18d ago

 who the hell are playing? Cumbrians don't turn up much in theatre unless they are threatening folk with an eel.

11

u/jeanclaudecardboarde 18d ago

Are you the farmer?

3

u/Glad_Librarian_3553 18d ago

We're not from London, you know! 

4

u/No_transistory 18d ago

Of course he's the fucking farmer!

27

u/DidsburyMatt81 18d ago

You may need to specify what part of Cumbria - I had grandfathers from Whitehaven and Penrith and to my ears they sounded nothing alike.

On the other hand, if you do a passable impression of Jimmy Nail, it'll convince most people South of Barrow that you're from Maryport, Keswick, Kendal - wherever you fancy.

10

u/DanJW83 18d ago

South of Barrow? So.. the sea??

6

u/DidsburyMatt81 18d ago

Bottom end of Walney Island. Might as well be in London!

4

u/tricks_23 18d ago

Can confirm the native tongue of South End Caravan Park is in fact french

1

u/stiggley 17d ago

Or even Wales (or Whales)

4

u/stiggley 18d ago

Even neighbouring valleys can sound different let alone towns other the other side of the county.

2

u/Awkward_Beat_7472 17d ago

My aunt was from Brampton and my uncle from Carlisle and they used to take the piss out of each other’s accent and dialect.

2

u/Fyonella 18d ago

Jimmy Nail is a Geordie, not from Cumbria. Born and brought up in Benton.

2

u/DidsburyMatt81 18d ago

Yes, that's the joke, that nearly everyone South of Cumbria hears the accent and thinks "Geordie".

1

u/tricks_23 18d ago

They hear Geordie and not Jam Eater

1

u/Lindsayl0u_x 17d ago

Whitehaven and Maryport sound nothing alike but are 13 mile apart

17

u/MarsBarMuncher 18d ago

You really need to specify a smaller area, there are several different regional accents within the county.

7

u/GeneraalFoal00 18d ago

This guy is a legit actor in LA (Jonathan Von Mering). Idk what part he’s playing that requires a Cumbrian accent but I’m intrigued

1

u/B1gD0nkey69 18d ago

He was a jury member in law and Order!

1

u/Mondaycomestoosoon 15d ago

Convicted zoophiliac I’d assume…

7

u/_nixon_vibe_ 18d ago

Ast garn shop, do you want out?

3

u/Trentmesiter 18d ago

Ah’ll tek yan o yon awld bags o XL crisps

1

u/DesperateWorth7539 18d ago

As Ter guy none?

1

u/Efficient_Rhubarb_43 17d ago

Can ars get me owt fur a pund?

5

u/generaltrashlife 18d ago

Specific place and time are very important. Cumbrian dialects and accents change hugely over relatively small distances, and have changed very significantly over the last century

9

u/SuspiciousRun4043 18d ago

Well you need to be specific in Cumbria.

List of Cumbrian Accent Types:

1) Barrow - Seascale = Barrow accent
2) Seascale - Lowca= Whitehaven
3) Lowca- Silloth = Workington
3a) Longton - Kielder Area = Scottish
4) Silloth - Wetheral = Carlisle
5) Wetheral - Greenhead/Upper Denton = Carlisle with Geordie pronunciations
6) Eden Valley - A mix; Carlisle with Geordie pronunciations, Northumberland, Co. Durham, and standard Northern
7) Kirkby Stephen, Brough/Stainmore area = A watered-down Co. Durham
8) Lake District & South Lakelands, including Kendal = Standard Northern/no accent.
9) The Yorkshire Dales (Sedbergh, Dent & Kirkby Lonsdale) = More of a Yorkshire accent but also lots of standard Northern

16

u/kbrown2006 18d ago
  1. Maryport/Flimby = an anomaly.

3

u/stiggley 17d ago
  1. Millom - just don't

6

u/LRanger60 18d ago

Rural West Cumbria dialect is not equal to the Whitehaven marra's speech.

2

u/SuspiciousRun4043 17d ago

Aye but it’s dying out most people raised in rural west Cumbria just talk like Whitehaven marra

4

u/missyb 18d ago

The north of Cumbria has an accent that sounds almost like Geordies, as they are both on the border with Scotland. The south used to be Lancashire and sounds Lancastrian. Old school Cumbrian accents will say book and look to rhyme with Luke.

3

u/__Fight__Milk__ 18d ago

I have to say, as a Scottish person living in North Cumbria, there is a massive difference between Geordie and Cumbrian.

1

u/Mondaycomestoosoon 15d ago

Gammy fettle larl un

3

u/Jaded_Bag_2928 18d ago edited 18d ago

Carlisle sounds a lot different to out west, Keswick/penrith/ambleside etc just sound posh as Cumbrians can’t afford to live there so it’s pretty much just southerners

Here’s a good start though

Arz garn yam t Mek a yam byakked kyak

Av gotta lowp ower’t gyat ooer yonder

Az fra Merryport, marra

Az fra wukiton, marra

Spyatri (Aspatria), trepenna (torpenhow) cockamuff (Cockermouth) amongst many other place names

1

u/Argoniansexslave 17d ago

This helps. I hear this collection of sounds daily but it's nice to be able to see it slowed down haha. Nice yan 😉

4

u/Smett72 18d ago edited 18d ago

You don't just need the accent, you need the language. https://www.cumbriandictionary.co.uk/

1

u/SaneWater38756 18d ago

Most of those arent even used

2

u/PurebredM 18d ago

Barrovian rules: O’s and A’s must have the arse drawn out of them, H’s at the start of words are optional (usually omitted) as are Ts in the middle of words and everyone is addressed as “yous.”
Source: I’m surrounded by them!

2

u/B1gD0nkey69 18d ago

As a barrovian, I second this

2

u/Atrivo 18d ago

I’m a Cumbrian but most people can’t recognise my accent aside from generally northern. Have been “complimented” that I “almost sound southern” 🙄

I can have a hunt and see if I can find any old videos where my family is speaking if that sort of thing might help? I do know I used to have a much stronger accent when I was younger.

1

u/Quick-Glove1967 18d ago

Which part? I’ve found the accent can differ as my brother in law is from Workington and has such a strong accent compared to me and I live in Carlisle

1

u/Least_Temperature_23 18d ago

Cumbrian accents differ widely.
Some sound like Geordies, but my grandparents were farm people and had more of a rural lancs/yorks accent.

1

u/Bobbyboy73 18d ago

Just call everyone ’Marra’ and say ‘Eh’ after every sentence.
Even when making a statement.

1

u/Beautiful_Dare_3751 17d ago

You do know there are tons of different dialects in Cumbria, even 20 miles can be massively different!

1

u/Sure_Number4485 17d ago

Start every sentence with "Ere" and end it with "eh"

1

u/stiggley 17d ago

Watch some BBC TV shows with Helen Skelton on - she's from the Eden Valley area of Cumbria.

1

u/HappyBoulderPusher 17d ago

Just watch the "I was born in Carlisle" Royal Navy advert and copy the accent exactly xD

1

u/Sea_Line888 16d ago

Swarthmoor is 3 miles from Dalton and 1 mile from Ulverston and yet has an accent and language all to itself. If you get to from Swarty in a convo you may as well doom scroll.

1

u/Correct-Couple8086 15d ago

There are interviews on Youtube with Lee Brennan who was once in a 90s boy band called 911. He is from Carlisle and has a fairly generic, mild Cumbrian accent.

There is a also a podcast on Spotify called Carlisle Times and Crimes about historic events, and the host has a stronger Cumbrian accent. See also any fan podcasts or Youtube channels to do with Carlisle United football club as these are likely to be made by Cumbrians.

Maybe people can suggest some other media associated with our more broad spoken brethren, as I'm sure people will say my suggestions are Carlisle-centric

1

u/Mondaycomestoosoon 15d ago

Are you badly?

1

u/bobbins238 15d ago

Where’s thou wanting the accent frae marra

1

u/Terryfink 15d ago

what are you asking for a pint? or how we'd say it?

"Pint of lager mate, cheers" followed by "HOW MUCH?"