Yes! it does sound different. One of the best ways to appreciate this is to obtain a copy of the cd which contains the collected works of Tommy Armstrong. Recitation combined with verses of song is a strong tradition of the North East.

The cd contains several passages of recitation from which you can get an idea of how the dialect sounds.

Of course advocates of proper standard written english have had a profound impact upon the use of the dialect in writing but when I was in Durham at University I saw many examples of it in written form both in the press and in written communication from locals. My "bedder" used to write me the most amazin notes to me in dialect.....usually something refering to my peasant living standards and interior decorating which employed bottles of broon placed strategically so that they cast wonderous amber shades of light upon the furniture and walls.....

I dont have the cd in hand but will find...

I have not searched the web for audio but it is quite possible that there is a bit of dialect in recorded form somewhere.

Anyone know of any?

Conrad