To register for this study please email dialect@abertay.ac.uk or call 07548 481 651. Your help is crucial to the study being a success.
True Dundonians over the age of 60 are being recruited for a new study into local dialect and brain power, run by a University of Abertay Dundee researcher.
By looking at how true Dundonians use the local dialect and ‘standard’ English, the study aims to discover whether speaking in a local tongue helps improve your mental abilities later in life.
Research has found that older people who are fluent in more than one language are mentally stronger and do not develop the symptoms of dementia as quickly. Neil Kirk, an MSc Psychology student at Abertay University, wants to find out if speaking in more than one dialect also has the same benefits.
Neil said: “Dundonian is a rich dialect with a strong tradition, but as well as being culturally important we want to find out if speaking a local dialect actually helps keep you mentally fit.
“Studies have suggested strong links between speaking two or more languages and resisting the development of dementia. I’m looking for Dundonians over 60 to help me find out if speaking more than one dialect helps in the same way.”
Research supervisor Dr Ken Scott-Brown added: “Compared to studies of second languages, dialect studies are very few and far between. With the development of TV and text messaging, we are running out of time to assess the relationship between our use of dialect and how our brains work.
“All parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles are invited to get in touch with us and help discover how powerful speaking in Dundonian really is. We want to hear from everyone who can help us answer this fascinating question.”
Dundonian dialect speakers over the age of 60 who are interested in helping with this important research can register by calling 07548 481 651 or sending an email to dialect@abertay.ac.uk
The study involves a series of short puzzles and written questions, and can be conducted at Abertay University or in the volunteer’s own home.
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For media enquiries, please contact Chris Wilson (Communications Officer) – T: 01382 308935 M: 07837 250284 E: chris.wilson@abertay.ac.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Abertay University was ranked as Scotland’s top modern university for psychology research in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (in 2008). The department was particularly praised for its high quality of second language research.
In Scotland, standard English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic are the main active languages, and the Scottish Government has increasingly promoted Gaelic studies in schools to support this cultural heritage.
Scots was officially recognised in 1992 in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Dundonian is just one of many Scots dialects, and like many dialects is spoken in a relatively small geographical area.
MSc Psychology students at Abertay University can do their research project on a huge range of areas, from human and animal behaviour, to forensic and criminal psychology, to language studies and much, much more.
The course attracts applicants from a wide range of undergraduate courses, allowing students to develop their students into a specialist area. Places are still available to start this September, with online applications accepted at the MSc Psychology course page.