Experts at the University of Birmingham are using a 600-year-old medieval manuscript to try to unlock the origins of the West Midlands accent.
The Vernon Manuscript, which dates back to about 1400, was written in the region's dialect. University researchers are asking local people to record parts of the text at a series of events.
They can then look at how the dialect has changed over time and what aspects are still used today.
Click here to read this article from the BBC