which Scottish accent is this?

[OC Richard]

I was watching Antiques Roadshow and noticed the lovely accent of Alasdair Nichol.

For you Scots out there, what accent is it? I've heard it many times, especially the dearly departed Colin Gordon, founder of The Scottish Fiddlers Of Los Angeles.

Here's Alasdair Nichol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmKxOCzStjc

[Jock Scot]

At a guess, East Scotland and at another guess, very near to Edinburgh.

[The Q]

Bullseye Jock,
From the Daily Record...
"Alasdair Nichol was born in 1961 to a family who for two generations had raised sheep. His father and grandfather owned the grazing rights on Arthur’s Seat, the iconic basalt rock outcropping overlooking Holyrood Park in Edinburgh."

[OC Richard]

Thanks gents!

Does "the man in the street" talk like that, or is it a "posh" version of the Edinburgh accent? I take it that Alasdair is well-educated.

If so, I wonder what the Glasgow version would sound like.

[Jock Scot]

Well for a start the Edinburgh locals don't have American tinges to their accents! But no, not a posh Edinburgh accent, more a showbiz accent. We need to remember that "educated" does not necessarily mean "posh", or vice versa!

Glasgow accents are, to my ear anyway, rather more guttural and more broad, containing more local colloquialisms and the speed of speech is faster and for me with not so good hearing these days, less easy to understand.

[neloon]

You could watch BBC Scotland's "River City" on Skye Digital (Channel 971) if you really want Glasgow accents!
Alan

[unixken]

I'm told that actor Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid, of the Harry Potter films) is an example of a Glasgow accent.

[Jock Scot]

I know little about Robbie Coltrane, but I note two things when I listen to him. One, there does appear a trace of educated twang to his speech which implies a good upbringing and better than average school perhaps a public school?(private school to those outwith the UK) Secondly, actors have learned diction which can confuse one. Diction is not something that one could accuse a Glaswegian man in the street of possessing!!!!!!!!!

It might be better to think along the lines of the voice of Billy Connolly, if you want an example of a Glasgow Accent and even that is not as broad as some.

[tpa]

At a guess, East Scotland and at another guess, very near to Edinburgh.

Aye, that's what I was thinking. Sounds very like my Edinburgh born and bred cousin.

[unixken]

I know little about Robbie Coltrane, but I note two things when I listen to him. One, there does appear a trace of educated twang to his speech which implies a good upbringing and better than average school perhaps a public school?(private school to those outwith the UK)

But of course... Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.