To begin the explanation, the colloquial term for the dialect of Birmingham's inhabitant, is derived from historical alternatives for the second city, Brummagem and Bromwichham. This was previously unknown to me, and provides an immediate answer to my question. The similarity of these two names with 'Brummie' can more readily be seen than with Birmingham.
Very wrongly so, Brummie is often used to describe all accents of the midlands, something that does not go down well! It should never be confused with the Black County accent.
Tell-tale signs are often in the pronunciation of vowels, with them often being exaggerated, extended and accented. For example the word 'goat' may sound more like 'gout'. The ends of words can be prolonged and said in a higher pitch to the rest of the word.
Having been raised in the area the accent offers welcoming and friendly tones, that assure me I'm on comfortable ground. Brummies may be barmy but they're not half-soaked!
What are your experiences of the Brummie accent?
Ta-ra a bit!
