Latest news with #BillyConnolly
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- General
- Daily Record
Scottish accents may be 'hard to understand' but they could help you learn Dutch
Scottish accents are notoriously hard to follow but they could help you learn a new language faster The Scottish accent is known for being one of the hardest in the world to understand. Whether it's rolling your 'R's speaking in harsher, guttural sounds, or using too much slang, we can certainly leave a lot of people flummoxed. Half of Americans say the Scottish accent is the toughest to get their head round, with the Glaswegian accent always coming up as the one most likely to raise an eyebrow and leaving an out-of-towner particularly confused. However, new research from Preply is turning that perception on its head. The study suggests that the Glaswegian accent could actually offer an unexpected advantage - learning languages faster, thanks to its characteristics. The distinct rhythm and cadence of Glaswegian speech align with languages like German, and Dutch, where strong emphasis on syllables and guttural sounds can be important in conveying meaning. This makes it easier for Glaswegian speakers to adapt to languages with similar speech patterns. The Glaswegian accent has been showcased on the world stage many times by the likes of comics Billy Connolly and Kevin Bridges. But how might region accents improve language skills? "Generally, accents can help with language learning because they train your ear to recognise and reproduce sounds," Anna Pyshna, spokesperson at Preply, explained. "At the beginner level, language is mostly oral-oriented - you don't need perfect grammar, but it helps to know how to pronounce common words. "Ultimately, accents are not just about how we speak, they shape our ability to produce certain sounds." Three other British accents - Geordie, Scouse, and Brummie - were also highlighted in the study, each offering unique phonetic traits that support language learning in different ways. Folk from Newcastle have a glottal stop - a sound made by closing the vocal chords. This helps with languages including Danish, Czech, and even Hebrew, and Thai. Liverpool residents speak with a rolled 'r' sound, like in Spanish, Russian and Italian. Scouse speakers find it easier to master the trilled 'r' pronunciation. Its rising and falling tones are also well suited to Welsh, Irish, and Cantonese. Elsewhere, over in Birmingham, people speak in a monotone nature with long stretches on the same note. This will help if Brummies want to have a stab at Finnish or Russian. What's more, to expose more people to different accents, Preply has launched a unique Spotify series of accent-based sleep soundscapes, using Geordie, Scouse, Glaswegian, and Brummie voices. This is designed to boost language retention through passive auditory learning, as studies show that during deep sleep, the brain can keep forming new linguistic associations, especially when exposed to familiar phonetic rhythms. Not only will this help Glaswegians pick up new languages more intuitively, but it will help others tune their ear to the Glaswegian accent and appreciate its linguistic value - and make misunderstandings a thing of the past. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Edinburgh Live
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Billy Connolly's life from net worth to health and return to screen after six years
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Sir Billy Connolly has been bringing a smile to people's faces for more than 50 years, thanks to his long career in comedy. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin, meaning The Big One. Despite being recognised as one of the finest comedians, the much-loved star initially entered the entertainment industry as a folk singer with the Glaswegian group The Humblebums. However, by the mid-70s, he transitioned from being the band's humorous frontman to a full-time stand-up comedian. His debut solo album, a blend of music and comedy sketches, featured one of his most renowned routines, The Crucifixion, where he compares the Last Supper to a boozy night out in Glasgow. The success of the album and subsequent live performances catapulted him to UK fame, making his first appearance on BBC's flagship chat show, Parkinson, in 1975. (Image: Luke MacGregor/PA Wire) Is Billy Connolly married and does he have children? In 1968, at the age of 26, Billy married his first wife, fellow Scot Iris Pressagh and together the pair had two children. They divorced in 1985, and in 1989, Billy went on to tie the knot with New Zealand-born writer and psychologist Pamela Stephenson. The couple are still married and also have three children together. (Image: David M. Benett/for Audi) Billy Connolly's health battle Billy has been battling Parkinson's disease, a degenerative brain condition, since 2013. In 2018, he released a documentary titled Made In Scotland, where he reflected on his life, career, and illness. At the time he said that when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he felt like his life was "slipping away". He was dealt a devastating blow when he was diagnosed with both prostate cancer, which he later received the all-clear on, and Parkinson's at the same time. Last year, he teased that he may return to screens after retiring from the scene six years ago. He took a break from doing sketches when he started to forget his routines. At the time, Mike Reilly, who has collaborated with Sir Billy for over a decade, has revealed that the comedian has approached him about working on a new project. (Image: BBC) He remained secretive, telling the Metro: "I've been asked about doing something else with him, which we're in conversations about that. "But I'm not allowed to say what it is. But it'll be nice if it happens, it'll be great if it happens." Mike insisted that he was not putting pressure on the actor and comedy legend, saying they are working on new ideas at a pace that works for him. What is Billy Connolly's net worth? Billy has an impressive wealth thanks to his long career as an actor and comedian. It is reported that he has a fortune of £16.5M. This has been earned through Billy's work as a movie actor and stand-up comedian.
Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Zara Gladman: ‘My coffin will be sent off the nearest waterfall'
Zara Gladman is a Glaswegian comedian best known for her online sketches about a West End mum. She was recently shortlisted for the Billy Connolly Spirit of Scotland award and has a new sketch show coming to BBC Scotland. Eating mince and tatties from a cup on Largs beach during a nursery trip. My dad's family are from Elgin, so we'd drive up there a lot and visit beaches like Lossiemouth and Hopeman. The first time I went, aged seven months, my mum had refused to travel any sooner because of the risky weather. During that trip, we were caught in a blizzard, the windscreen wipers snapped off and the AA had to weld one back on so we could finish the journey. Our
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Subtle change to vision that is an 'early warning sign' of Parkinson's - experts say NEVER ignore it
A subtle change to vision may be the first tell-tale warning sign of the neurological disease Parkinson's, experts have claimed. Early indications of the condition have long included tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement and loss of smell. But a change in depth perception may strike before these other hallmark symptoms, one top NHS GP said. According to Dr Punam Krishan, who appears on BBC Morning Live, depth perception is a 'common challenge' for people with Parkinson's and 'poses significant issues with mobility'. More than ten million people worldwide are thought to have the condition, including Michael J. Fox, Billy Connolly and Jeremy Paxman. Parkinson's is caused by a loss of nerve cells in an area of the brain responsible for producing dopamine, which helps co-ordinate body movement. It gets worse over time as more cells die, with sufferers eventually left struggling to complete day-to-day tasks. While the condition can alter vision is multiple ways, including double vision, hallucinations and dry eyes, two specific areas in the house could pose a particular problem for those experiencing depth perception issues, Dr Krishan said. 'Stepping into the bath has the potential to be hazardous as surfaces are slippery when wet, so steady footing is all that prevents a fall from happening. 'For older loved ones, I'd recommend a walk-in bath, if not a shower, to minimise the risk. 'The stairs can also be dangerous for anyone facing depth perception or mobility issues. 'Ensure your, or your elderly loved ones', vision isn't impaired by checking that navigating the stairs isn't a challenge.' She added: 'Being able to move around the home confidently is key to maintaining independence as we grow older, so spotting this warning sign early—whether in yourself or an older loved one—can enable them to get the right support to continue enjoying life at home. 'Making changes around the home will help handle the condition, too. Grab rails or a stairlift will enable you to move around the home independently and safely.' Parkinson's affects around 153,000 Britons and 500,000 Americans. But this figure is set to rise to 172,000 adults in the UK by 2030, experts fear. Every hour, two people are diagnosed with the condition in the UK and the disease costs the NHS more than £725million a year. Other common signs of the condition include balance problems such as issues with coordination and muscle cramps are other common signs. But it is a poorly understood condition and experts are still working to uncover what triggers it. Current thinking is that it's due to a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors. While there is no cure, treatments are available to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life for as long as possible.
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Alan Cumming's BAFTA TV awards stint has viewers all saying same thing
Alan Cumming hosted the 2025 BAFTA TV awards on Sunday and many viewers had some questions about the Scots star's presenting skills. Viewers have flooded social media to say cast their opinion on Alan Cumming as host of the Bafta awards on Sunday night. And many at home were left questioning if the Scots star had taken inspiration for his style on the night ffrom Billy Connolly 's 'incontinence trousers'. Fans questioned Cummings presentation skills, calling him boring and self-obsessed. The US Traitors presenter, who has starred in films including X-Men 2 and The Flintstones Viva Las Vegas, made four costume changes during the awards show but it seems fans were more interested in the fact he was appearing 'boring' and 'self-obsessed'. Cumming presented the event held at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday at which winners included Mr Loverman's Lennie James, Baby Reindeer's Jessica Gunning and Mr Bates vs The Post Office. But the actor, 60, left some viewers irritated by his self-congratulatory behaviour after he opened with a series of innuendos, including: 'I'm popping my Bafta cherry with you all tonight. So, be gentle Britain.' Donning a shiny blue suit with significantly flared trousers, he then read from a children's storybook riffing at the common mistakes made by actors when accepting awards, including bringing too many people on stage and taking too long with their acceptance speeches. 'This host is ridiculously bad,' wrote one person on X/Twitter as Cumming opened the event. 'Of all the brilliantly funny hosts in a very large talent pool, you choose Alan Cumming? Why?' wrote another. One viewer added: 'Alan Cumming making it increasingly difficult to carry on watching this.' Others noticed that the host made several nods to his presenting duties. 'Will there be a reference to Traitors by Alan Cumming before every award?' asked one exasperated viewer. Some were also distracted the star's statement trousers and 'terrible' suit. One referred to a Billy Connolly stage routine in which the Big Yin once talked of inventing trousers like incontinence pants to hold people's urine. 'WTF is Alan Cumming wearing? He looks like a mash up between Del Boy and Elton John,' hit out one Bafta viewer while another compared the trousers to 'Billy Connolly's incontinence phishing trousers'. Another joked: 'I see that Alan Cumming is hosting the TV awards tonight. I'm assuming he is wearing that sparkly blue suit for a reason. It must be to prepare himself in the role of Nightcrawler for Avengers: Doomsday.' Another wrote: 'Alan Cumming turned the Festival Hall into a laugh-free zone. Switched Off After Two Minutes!' Taking to social media, one viewer penned: "possibly the worst presenter EVER #baftas. Just get on with it.... #baftas #BAFTA2025'; 'Oh get on with it love #BAFTAS." One wrote: 'Immediate turn off is Alan Cummings hosting the Baftas.' Another said: 'Possibly the worst presenter ever'. But not everyone was disappointed. One viewer asked: 'Can I just say I loved Alan Cumming's story book moment at the start of the Bafta awards.' Others said the actor's hosting had led to one of the most memorable ceremonies ever. 'So far, this has been one of the best Baftas. Alan Cumming is brilliant, doesn't drone on for too long and is genuinely entertaining. Great speeches too. They've got it spot on," they said. Another agreed, writing: 'This is the best #Baftas show I've ever seen - largely due to Alan Cumming. Still, it's been funny, emotional, and a pleasant change from normal awards shows.'
