Variety and heritage: An investigation into the relationship between perceptions of Basingstoke English and the London heritage narrative

The link between language and identity has been extensively studied, whether it is the link between language and nationalism, or the relationship between an individual and their languages. One aspect understudied, however, is the relationship between perceptions of language varieties and local identity narratives. This study examines the relationship between the perception of a Basingstoke variety of English and local narratives of London heritage. An online questionnaire completed by 90 participants was used to collect relevant data. The findings indicate that the relationship is a lot more complex than expected. First, London heritage narratives seem to play a less central role than other factors, such as age, in the perception of Basingstoke English. Further, the local variety of English is viewed as a source of pride. Local language attitudes were also linked with broader social prejudices in the ‘correct’ use of language.