The Manchester Voices Accent Van: taking sociolinguistic data collection on the road

Abstract

Abstract This article details the methodology behind the Manchester Voices Accent Van, and the accompanying online Virtual Van. In 2021, the project travelled around Greater Manchester in a van converted into a mobile recording booth, asking people to climb aboard and take part in an unsupervised interview about language and identity in the region. Participants could also take part from their own home through a bespoke website, called the Virtual Van, which asked the same interview questions as the physical Van and recorded speakers through their computer/phone microphone. With a view to informing others who might want to use similar methods in the future, we present a detailed description of the methodology here, as well as an overview and sample of the data collected. We conclude with a reflection on the elements of the data collection that went well, and a discussion of improvements and considerations for future research using this methodology.

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