The NECTE2 corpus / DECTE


Period: 2007-ongoing

Interview Details: 44 interviews from 2007-2010 incorporated into DECTE. Total word count = 366,062. Total audio length = 31 hours 17 minutes 23 seconds.
(For details of the larger NECTE2 archive, see the summary here.)

The DECTE Project Team (2010-2012): Isabelle Buchstaller, Karen Corrigan, Adam Mearns, Hermann Moisl.


NECTE2 is a monitor corpus that consists of dyadic sociolinguistic interviews with speakers from across the North East of England that have been collected since 2007.

The first phase of this project was funded between 2009-2010 by an award for research collaboration and infrastructure initiatives from the university's Centre for Research in Language and Linguistic Sciences. The holders of the award were Isabelle Buchstaller, Karen Corrigan, Gerry Docherty and Ghada Khattab.

As a corpus-building initiative, NECTE2 was designed as a follow-up to the NECTE project, which had digitized and amalgamated the two pre-existing legacy corpora described elsewhere on this site: the Tyneside Linguistic Survey (TLS) and the Phonological Variation and Change in Contemporary Spoken English (PVC) corpus. The website associated with this early stage of the NECTE2 project is archived here.

The second phase of the project was funded by an award made to Isabelle Buchstaller, Karen Corrigan and Hermann Moisl from the AHRC's Digital Equipment and Database Enhancement for Impact (DEDEFI) scheme. This phase focused on the creation of the Diachronic Electronic Corpus of Tyneside English (DECTE), the present research website and the public-facing Talk of the Toon website.

The creation of DECTE involved updating the existing NECTE TEI-P4 XML files, so that they conformed to the P5 guidelines that were released in 2007, and processing a selection of interviews from NECTE2 to add to these existing files, where processing entails revising and anonymizing the transcriptions, time-aligning the text and the audio, and converting the resulting transcription files into TEI-conformant XML.

With the Talk of the Toon website, the aim has been to present the resulting corpus as part of an interactive, multimedia site that appeals to a wide range of users, from those in schools and the heritage sector to the general public.

Since 2007, an average of seventy NECTE2 interviews have been recorded annually by undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University, as part of a learning and teaching initiative that encompasses courses in areas such as linguistic variation and change, sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. The interview material consists of digital audio recordings, text transcriptions and records of informant social details.

Like those of the PVC, each NECTE2 interview records two informants who are usually friends or relatives and therefore similar in age or social background, or both. The conversations generally last from 30 to 70 minutes and cover a wide range of topics, with different degrees of participation and direction from the different student interviewers involved.

Unlike the TLS and PVC interviews, which concentrated exclusively on the Newcastle and Gateshead areas of Tyneside, the geographical region covered by the project has now been extended to include speakers from other parts of the North East of England, as can be seen from the region/residence information recorded in Table 2 below.

The selection of NECTE2 interviews that have so far been incorporated into DECTE (i.e. the TEI-conformant XML corpus) is shown in Table 1, with details of the corresponding informants in Tables 2 and 3. A summary of the full archive of NECTE2 interviews can be found here.

Table 1. NECTE2 Interviews in DECTE
Interview
Code
Word
Count
Audio
(mins:secs)
Interview
Code
Word
Count
Audio
(mins:secs)
decten2y07i001 16,181 74:32 decten2y10i005 5,890 30:47
decten2y07i002 4,668 32:08 decten2y10i006 7,571 30:15
decten2y07i003 15,723 71:04 decten2y10i007 5,109 30:00
decten2y07i004 14,552 60:48 decten2y10i008 6,086 31:17
decten2y07i005 12,997 65:04 decten2y10i009 6,707 29:57
decten2y07i006 11,625 59:12 decten2y10i010 5,952 34:14
decten2y07i007 11,708 62:23 decten2y10i011 6,794 30:10
decten2y07i008 11,832 89:27 decten2y10i012 6,839 30:05
decten2y07i009 14,376 71:22 decten2y10i013 5,312 30:40
decten2y07i010 12,743 79:52 decten2y10i014 5,893 30:09
decten2y07i011 8,764 44:44 decten2y10i015 6,011 30:11
decten2y07i012 7,001 40:35 decten2y10i016 6,805 30:05
decten2y07i013 9,505 53:21 decten2y10i017 5,648 30:01
decten2y07i014 9,324 46:35 decten2y10i018 7,063 30:08
decten2y08i001 9,704 57:48 decten2y10i019 6,426 30:11
decten2y08i002 10,906 47:25 decten2y10i020 5,636 30:23
decten2y08i003 10,908 51:37 decten2y10i021 6,813 31:40
decten2y08i004 12,458 76:03 decten2y10i022 7,542 30:01
decten2y10i001 6,166 30:10 decten2y10i023 6,583 30:37
decten2y10i002 6,190 31:27 decten2y10i024 6,114 30:04
decten2y10i003 4,824 29:42 decten2y10i025 5,728 30:01
decten2y10i004 6,733 30:03 decten2y10i026 4,652 31:05

Each interview has two primary informants. These are listed in Table 2 as a and b together with associated social data.

Table 2. NECTE2 Informant Details
Informant
Code
Speaker
Sex
Age
Group
Region: Residence
[Birth Place, if different]
Education Occupation
Y07i001aFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
A-LevelsWaitress
Y07i001bFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
A-LevelsCollege Student
Y07i002aFemale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i002bMale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i003aFemale16-20Tyneside:
Gateshead
A-LevelsSixth Form Student
Y07i003bFemale16-20Tyneside:
Gateshead
A-LevelsSixth Form Student
Y07i004aFemale16-20County Durham:
Darlington
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i004bFemale16-20Wearside:
Sunderland
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i005aFemale21-30North Tyneside:
North Shields
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i005bMale21-30North Tyneside:
Wallsend
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i006aMale31-40Northumberland:
Blyth
[born in Newcastle, Tyneside]
GCSE
(General Certificate of Secondary Education)
Retail Manager
Y07i006bMale21-30Northumberland:
Blyth
Further EducationHospitality Manager
Y07i007aMale21-30Wearside:
Sunderland
[born in Newcastle, Tyneside]
Higher EducationShop Worker
Y07i007bFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i008aMale51-60Tyneside:
Newcastle
Further EducationCivil Engineer
Y07i008bMale51-60Tyneside:
Newcastle
Left school at 15Caretaker
Y07i009aMale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Morpeth, Northumberland]
Higher EducationPostgraduate Student
Y07i009bFemale21-30Northumberland:
Morpeth
Higher EducationPostgraduate Student
Y07i010aFemale16-20Wearside:
Sunderland
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y07i010bFemale16-20Wearside:
Sunderland
[born in Durham]
Further EducationCollege Student
Y07i011aFemale81-90Tyneside:
Gateshead
UnknownRetired
Y07i011bFemale81-90Tyneside:
Gateshead
UnknownRetired
Y07i012aMale71-80Tyneside:
Newcastle
UnknownShop-fitter
(retired)
Y07i012bMale71-80Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Gateshead]
Left school at 14Train Driver
(retired)
Y07i013aMale61-70Wearside:
Sunderland
UnknownPainter & Decorator
Y07i013bMale61-70Wearside:
Sunderland
UnknownFactory Worker
(retired)
Y07i014aFemale81-90Wearside:
Sunderland
[born in South Shields, South Tyneside]
Left school at 14Department Store Worker
(retired)
Y07i014bFemale81-90Wearside:
Sunderland
[born in South Shields, South Tyneside]
Left school at 14Shop Worker
(retired)
Y08i001aFemale41-50Tyneside:
Newcastle
Left school at 16Civil Servant
Y08i001bFemale41-50Tyneside:
Newcastle
Further EducationFinancial Services Administrator
Y08i002aMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Chester-le-Street, County Durham]
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y08i002bMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in North Shields, North Tyneside]
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y08i003aMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Monkseaton, North Tyneside]
Further EducationCollege Student
Y08i003bMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Whitburn, South Tyneside]
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y08i004aFemale51-60Tyneside:
Newcastle
Left school at 15
subsequent NVQ (National Vocational Qualification)
Housing Officer
Y08i004bMale51-60Tyneside:
Newcastle
Left school at 16
subsequent City and Guilds
Service Technician
Y10i001aFemale41-50Northumberland:
Seaton Delaval
Left school at 16
(O Levels)
Mental Health Scheme Manager
Y10i001bFemale41-50Northumberland:
Prudhoe
Left school at 16
(O Levels)
Clerk
Y10i002aMale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Yarm, Teesside]
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i002bMale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Durham]
Higher EducationWork placement at solicitors
Y10i003aMale51-60Wearside:
Sunderland
Left school at 16Welder
Y10i003bMale41-50Wearside:
Sunderland
Left school at 16Welder
Y10i004aMale21-30North Tyneside:
North Shields
[born in Peterlee, County Durham]
Higher EducationMusic Publisher
Y10i004bMale21-30Wearside:
Washington
[born in Consett, County Durham]
Further EducationHealthcare Advisor
Y10i005aFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Further EducationCollege Student
Y10i005bFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i006aMale21-30Northumberland:
Darras Hall, Ponteland
Higher EducationProject Manager
Y10i006bMale21-30Northumberland:
Darras Hall, Ponteland
Higher EducationRecruitment Officer
Y10i007aMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i007bMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i008aFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i008bFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Further EducationCollege Student
Y10i009aMale41-50Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in North Shields, North Tyneside]
Left school at 16Driver
Y10i009bMale51-60North Tyneside:
North Shields
Left school at 16Joiner
Y10i010aFemale51-60North Tyneside:
Whitley Bay
Further EducationCivil Servant
Y10i010bMale51-60North Tyneside:
Whitley Bay
Left school at 16
subsequent college
Local Government Officer
Y10i011aMale16-20County Durham:
Chester-le-Street
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i011bFemale16-20Wearside:
Washington
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i012aMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i012bMale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i013aFemale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i013bFemale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i014aFemale51-60Tyneside:
Newcastle
Left school at 16Special Needs Assistant
Y10i014bMale51-60North Tyneside:
Wallsend
Left school at 16Delivery Driver
Y10i015aFemale21-30Tyneside:
Crawcrook, Gateshead
Higher EducationPhotographer
(in retail)
Y10i015bFemale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i016aFemale16-20South Tyneside:
East Boldon
Further EducationAdvertising Monitor
Y10i016bFemale16-20South Tyneside:
Boldon
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i017aMale31-40Wearside:
Penshaw
A-LevelsUnemployed
Y10i017bMale61-70South Tyneside:
South Shields
Further Education
(ONC, Ordinary National Certificate)
Engineer
(retired)
Y10i018aFemale21-30Northumberland:
Ashington
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i018bFemale16-20Northumberland:
Ashington
Still at schoolSchool Student
Y10i019aFemale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i019bFemale21-30North Tyneside:
Whitley Bay
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i020aFemale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationPostgraduate Student
Y10i020bFemale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUnemployed
Y10i021aFemale16-20North Tyneside:
Wallsend
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i021bFemale16-20Northumberland:
Blyth
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i022aFemale16-20Northumberland:
Prudhoe
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i022bFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i023aFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Crook, County Durham]
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i023bFemale16-20Tyneside:
Newcastle
[born in Belmont, County Durham]
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i024aMale16-20South Tyneside:
South Shields
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i024bFemale16-20Wearside:
Sunderland
Higher EducationUniversity Student
Y10i025aFemale31-40Wearside:
Sunderland
Further EducationAccount Manager
Y10i025bMale31-40Wearside:
Sunderland
Further EducationSelf-employed
Y10i026aFemale81-90Tyneside:
Newcastle
Left school at 14Retired
Y10i026bMale21-30Tyneside:
Newcastle
Higher EducationPostgraduate Student
(PGCE)

The age and speaker sex information in Table 2 is summarized in Table 3.

Table 3. NECTE2 Informants by Age and Speaker Sex
Age All Female Male
16-20 342410
21-30 241212
31-40 413
41-50 642
51-60 1037
61-70 303
71-80 202
81-90 550
TOTAL 884939