Archival recordings of Aucklanders born around 1900 are giving linguists a fresh perspective on the evolution of the New Zealand accent.
The research draws on the 104-year-old thesis by phonetician George Edward Thompson, rediscovered by postdoctoral fellow Dr Brooke Ross from the University of Auckland.
She joins Emile Donovan.
George Edward Thompson published his thesis on the New Zealand English accent in 1921. Pictured is an image of Queen Street, Auckland Central, taken that same year Photo: Auckland Libraries
