The BBC drama Peaky Blinders captivated audiences worldwide with its stylish portrayal of a Birmingham crime family in the aftermath of World War One. Beyond the razor-blade-lined flat caps and atmospheric cinematography, the show introduced international viewers to the distinctive Birmingham accent and dialect. But how authentic is the language used by Tommy Shelby and his gang? Let us examine the linguistic accuracy of one of British television’s most acclaimed dramas.
Understanding the Birmingham Accent
The Brummie Sound
The Birmingham accent, affectionately known as “Brummie,” is one of the most distinctive and frequently misunderstood accents in England. Located in the West Midlands, Birmingham developed its own unique speech patterns influenced by its industrial history and the diverse communities that settled there.
Key features of the Brummie accent include the distinctive pronunciation of vowels, particularly the “i” sound which often becomes more like “oi.” The accent also features rising intonation at the end of sentences, which can make statements sound like questions to unfamiliar ears.
Unfortunately, the Brummie accent has often been ranked poorly in surveys about accent attractiveness, a perception the show has helped challenge by associating it with the charismatic Shelby family.
Historical Context of the Dialect
The language of early twentieth-century Birmingham differed somewhat from modern Brummie speech. The dialect of that era incorporated more influences from the Black Country, the industrial region to the west of Birmingham, and retained older English expressions that have since faded from use.
Working-class speech in 1920s Birmingham would have been more heavily marked by dialect features than the relatively standardized accents we hear in the show. The cast had to balance historical authenticity with modern audience comprehension.
The Cast’s Approach to the Accent
Cillian Murphy’s Preparation
Cillian Murphy, the Irish actor who plays Tommy Shelby, undertook extensive preparation to master the Birmingham accent. He worked with dialect coaches and spent time in the city, listening to native speakers and absorbing the rhythm and cadence of Brummie speech.
Murphy’s performance has been praised for capturing the essence of the accent, though some Birmingham natives have noted that it is not a perfect reproduction. The actor has spoken about the challenge of maintaining consistency across multiple seasons while also conveying emotion and nuance.
The Rest of the Cast
The show features actors from various backgrounds, creating some inconsistency in accent work. Helen McCrory, who played Polly Gray, brought her own interpretation to the role, while Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby adopted a more exaggerated version of the accent.
Some cast members are from the Midlands region and brought authentic speech patterns to their roles, while others required more coaching. This mix creates a varied soundscape that, while not perfectly uniform, captures something of the linguistic diversity that would have existed in real communities.
Dialect Features in the Show
Vocabulary and Expressions
Peaky Blinders incorporates various dialect terms that would have been common in working-class Birmingham. The word “babby” for baby appears throughout the series, reflecting a genuine West Midlands usage. “Bostin” meaning excellent or great is another authentic local term, though it appears less frequently in the show than it might have in real speech.
The phrase “by order of the Peaky Blinders” became iconic from the show, though this specific construction is more dramatic invention than historical dialect feature. Still, the show successfully introduces viewers to the idea of a distinct Birmingham vocabulary.
Romani Influence
The Shelby family’s Romani heritage adds another linguistic layer to the show. Romani words and phrases appear throughout the series, reflecting the real history of Romani communities in Birmingham. Terms like “dikdikoy” (used disparagingly for people of mixed Romani heritage) and “cushti” (meaning good) have genuine roots in Romani language.
The show generally handles this aspect respectfully, acknowledging the Romani cultural heritage of the characters without reducing it to stereotype. The linguistic blend of Birmingham dialect and Romani vocabulary creates a distinctive voice for the Shelby family.
Grammar and Syntax
Certain grammatical features in the show reflect working-class speech patterns of the era. Double negatives, non-standard verb forms, and simplified grammar appear in the dialogue, though perhaps not as consistently as they would have in authentic speech.
The show occasionally uses “thee” and “thou” forms, which might have persisted in some traditional speech patterns of the era, though their use in Birmingham specifically is debatable. These choices add historical flavor even if they are not precisely accurate.
What the Show Gets Right
The Rhythm and Cadence
Perhaps the most successful aspect of the show’s dialect work is capturing the musical quality of Birmingham speech. The accent has a distinctive rhythm, with stressed syllables and intonation patterns that differ from both standard English and other regional accents.
The cast generally captures this cadence well, giving their speech a recognisably Midlands quality even when specific vowel sounds or vocabulary choices might be imperfect.
Class Distinctions
The show effectively portrays how speech patterns would have differed between social classes. The working-class Shelbys speak differently from the upper-class characters they encounter, and the show uses language to reinforce these social divisions.
Tommy Shelby’s evolving speech as he moves between different social worlds reflects a real phenomenon of code-switching, where speakers adapt their language to different contexts. His ability to modulate his accent when dealing with aristocrats or politicians adds depth to his character.
The Black Country Connection
The show acknowledges the close relationship between Birmingham and the Black Country, the neighboring industrial region with its own distinct dialect. Some characters display Black Country speech features, reflecting the real mixing of populations in the region.
The Black Country dialect is even more distinctive than Brummie, with features that can make it challenging for outsiders to understand. The show touches on this without fully exploring it, keeping the focus on Birmingham while acknowledging regional linguistic diversity.
What the Show Gets Wrong
Anachronistic Language
Some viewers and historians have noted that the show occasionally uses vocabulary or expressions that would not have been common in 1920s Birmingham. Certain slang terms that appear in dialogue are more characteristic of later periods or different regions.
This is a common challenge for period dramas, which must balance historical accuracy with modern audience comprehension. Using entirely authentic period slang might make dialogue incomprehensible to viewers unfamiliar with early twentieth-century Birmingham speech.
Inconsistent Accents
The varying backgrounds of cast members and the demands of long-running production have led to some inconsistency in accent work. Some characters’ accents seem to shift between episodes or seasons, and the Birmingham accent occasionally drifts toward other Midlands varieties or becomes more generalized.
This inconsistency has been noted by Birmingham natives, who can detect when accents stray from authentic Brummie speech. However, for most international viewers, these subtle variations are unnoticeable.
Over-Romanticisation
The show sometimes presents Birmingham dialect as more exotic or archaic than it would have actually been. While the speech of 1920s working-class Birmingham certainly differed from modern standard English, the show occasionally emphasizes unusual features for dramatic effect.
This romanticisation serves the show’s atmospheric goals but may give viewers an exaggerated impression of how distinctive the dialect really was.
The Show’s Cultural Impact
Raising the Profile of Brummie
Peaky Blinders has significantly raised the profile of the Birmingham accent both nationally and internationally. The show has helped challenge negative stereotypes about Brummie speech, associating it with compelling characters rather than the unintelligent stereotypes often applied to the accent.
Tourism to Birmingham has increased, partly driven by interest in the show, and locals have reported greater interest from visitors in the local accent and dialect.
Dialect Tourism
The show has inspired what might be called “dialect tourism,” with fans seeking out authentic Birmingham speech and culture. Walking tours, museum exhibits, and other experiences have capitalized on this interest, often incorporating information about local language.
This increased attention has benefited academic research into Birmingham dialect, as funding and public interest have grown.
Expert Opinions
Linguistic Assessments
Linguists who have analyzed the show’s dialect work generally give it credit for capturing the broad strokes of Birmingham speech while acknowledging specific inaccuracies. The consensus seems to be that Peaky Blinders is more successful than most period dramas at representing regional dialect.
The show has been praised for not mocking or exaggerating the accent for comic effect, instead treating Birmingham speech with the same respect given to more prestigious accents.
Local Reactions
Birmingham residents have offered mixed reviews of the show’s authenticity. Some appreciate the attention brought to their city and accent, while others cringe at specific pronunciations or expressions that do not ring true.
Older residents and those with strong family connections to the areas depicted sometimes have more specific critiques, noting details that do not match their memories or family stories.
Conclusion
Peaky Blinders succeeds as a drama while falling somewhat short of perfect linguistic authenticity. The show captures the essence of Birmingham speech well enough to give international audiences a genuine sense of the accent’s character, even if specialists can identify various inaccuracies.
For viewers interested in British dialects, the show offers an accessible introduction to Brummie speech, inspiring many to learn more about the rich linguistic heritage of the West Midlands. While it should not be taken as a documentary record of 1920s Birmingham dialect, Peaky Blinders has done more than perhaps any other production to bring the Birmingham accent to global attention.
The show demonstrates that regional British accents can carry serious drama, helping challenge the long-standing bias toward received pronunciation in British television. By order of the Peaky Blinders, the Brummie accent has finally received its due.
