English Dialects From The Eighth Century To The Present Day Part 7

(_c_) Five groups: 1. Cambridge, Rutland, N.E. Northampton.

2. Most of Ess.e.x and Hertford, Huntingdon, Bedford, Mid Northampton.

3. Norfolk and Suffolk. 4. Most of Buckingham. 5. Middles.e.x, S.E. Buckingham, S. Hertford, S.W. Ess.e.x.

N.B. S.W. Northampton is Southern; see (_e_), 4.

(_d_) Two groups: 1. W. and S. Shrops.h.i.+re (W. of Severn). 2. Hereford (except E.), Radnor, E. Brecknock.

(_e_) Ten groups. 1. Parts of Pembroke and Glamorgan. 2. Wilts.h.i.+re, Dorset, N. and E. Somerset, most of Gloucester, S.W. Devon. 3. Most of Hamps.h.i.+re, Isle of Wight, most of Berks.h.i.+re, S. Surrey, W. Suss.e.x.

4. N. Gloucester, E. Hereford, Worcester, S. Warwick, N. Oxford, S.W. Northampton. 5. Most of Oxford. 6. N. Surrey, N.W. Kent.

7. Most of Kent, E. Suss.e.x. 8. W. Somerset, N.E. Devon. 9. Most of Devon, E. Cornwall. 10. W. Cornwall.

CHAPTER XII

A FEW SPECIMENS

There is a great wealth of modern dialect literature, as indicated by the lists in the _E.D.D._ Some of these dialect books are poor and inaccurate, and they are frequently spelt according to no intelligible phonetic principles. Yet it not unfrequently happens, as in the works of Sir Walter Scott and Charles d.i.c.kens, that the dialectal sc.r.a.ps indicate the p.r.o.nunciation with tolerable fidelity, which is more than can be said of such portions of their works as are given in the normal spelling. It is curious to notice that writers in dialect are usually, from a phonetic point of view, more careful and consistent in their modes of indicating sounds than are the rest of us. Sometimes their spelling is, accordingly, very good. Those who are interested in this subject may follow up this hint with advantage.

It is impossible to mention even a t.i.the of the names of our better dialect writers. In Scotland alone there is a large number, some of the more recent bearing such well-known names as those of R.L.

Stevenson, George Macdonald (Aberdeen), J.M. Barrie (Forfars.h.i.+re), and S.R. Crockett (Galloway). Dean Ramsay's humorous _Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character_ must not be pa.s.sed over. For Ireland we have William Carleton's _Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry_, and the novels by Lever and Lover. c.u.mberland has its delightful stories of _Joe and the Geologist_, and _Bobby Banks' Bodderment_.

Cornwall has its _Tales_, by J.T. Tregellas. Devon can boast of R.D.

Blackmore, Dorset of Hardy and Barnes, and Lincoln of Tennyson. The literature of Lancas.h.i.+re is vast; it suffices to mention John Collier (otherwise Tim Bobbin), author of _Tummus and Meary_, Ben Brierley, John Byrom, J.P. Morris, author of _T' Lebby Beck Dobby_, and Edwin Waugh, prose author and poet. _Giles's Trip to London_, and the other sketches by the same author, are highly characteristic of Norfolk.

Northamptons.h.i.+re has its poet, John Clare; and Suffolk can boast of Robert Bloomfield. According to her own statement, printed in the Preface (p. viii) to the E.D.S. _Bibliographical List_, George Eliot, when writing _Adam Bede_, had in mind "the talk of N. Staffords.h.i.+re and the neighbouring part of Derbys.h.i.+re"; whilst, in _Silas Marner_, "the district imagined is in N. Warwicks.h.i.+re." Southey wrote _T' Terrible Knitters e' Dent_ in the Westmoreland dialect.

Yorks.h.i.+re, like Lancas.h.i.+re, has a large literature, to which the _E.D.D._ Booklist can alone do justice.

SCOTTISH (Group 3): ABERDEEN.

The following extract is from Chapter XVIII of _Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk_, by W. Alexander, LL.D., fifteenth edition, Edinburgh, 1908. One special peculiarity of the dialect is the use of _f_ for _wh_, as in _fat_, what, _fan_, when. The extract describes how the speaker and his friends went to hear a bellman make a proclamation about the appointment of a new minister to a church.

It's a vera stiff brae, an' ere we wan up to the kirk, it was gyaun upon eleyven o'clock. "Hooever," says the mannie, "we'll be in braw time; it's twal ere the sattlement begin, an' I'se warran they sanna apen the kirk-doors till's till than." So we tak's a luik roun' for ony kent fowk. They war stannin' aboot a'gate roun' aboot the kirk, in scores an' hunners, fowk fae a' the pairis'es roun' aboot, an'

some fae hyne awa' as far doon's Marnoch o' the tae han' an' Kintore o' the t.i.ther, aw believe; some war stampin' their feet an' slappin'

their airms like the yauws o' a win'mill to keep them a-heat; puckles wus sittin' o' the kirk-yard d.y.k.e, smokin' an' gyaun on wi'

a' kin' o' orra jaw aboot the minaisters, an' aye mair gedderin' in aboot--it was thocht there wus weel on to twa thoosan' there ere a'

was deen. An' aye a bit fudder was comin' up fae the manse aboot fat the Presbytery was deein--they war chaumer't there, ye see, wi' the lawvyers an' so on. "Nyod, they maun be sattlin' 'im i' the manse,"

says ane, "we'll need a' gae doon an' see gin we can win in." "Na, na," says anither, "a bit mair bather aboot thair dissents an'

appales bein' ta'en; muckle need they care, wi' sic a Presbytery, fat they try. But here's Johnny Florence, the bellman, at the lang length, I'se be at the boddom o' fat they're at noo." And wi' that he pints till a carlie comin' across the green, wi' a bit paper in's han', an' a gryte squad o' them 't hed been hingin' aboot the manse-door at's tail. "Oo, it's Johnny gyaun to read the ed.i.c.k,"

cries a gey stoot chap, an' twa three o' them gya a roar o' a lauch.... "Speek oot, min!" cries ane. "I think ye mith p.r.o.nunce some better nor that, Johnny," says anither; an' they interrupit 'im fan he was tryin' to read wi' a' kin' of haivers, takin' the words oot o's mou, an' makin' the uncoest styte o't 't cud be.

Notes.--_brae_, hill; _wan up_, got up; _gyaun upon_, going close upon; _braw_, excellent; _twal_, twelve; _sattlement_, decision; _I'se_, I will (lit. I shall); _sanna_, will not; _till's_, for us; _kent fowk_, known people, acquaintances; _a'gate_, in all ways; _hunners_, hundreds; _fae_, from; _hyne awa'_, hence away, as far off; _the tae_, the one; _the t.i.ther_, the other; _yauws_, sails; _puckles_, numbers, many; _d.y.k.e_, stone fence; _orra jaw_, various loud talk; _mair gedderin'_, more gathering; _on to_, near; _deen_, done; _bit fudder_, bit of a rumour (lit. gust of wind); _fae_, from; _fat_, what; _deein_, doing; _chaumer't_, chambered, shut up; _nyod_, a disguised oath; _we'll need_, we must; _gin_, if; _win in_, get in: _bather_, bother; _at the lang length_, at last; _carlie_, churl; _gryte squad_, great crowd; _gey stoot_, rather stout; _twa three_, two or three; _gya_, gave; _mith_, might; _nor that_, than that; _haivers_, foolish talk; _mou_, mouth; _uncoest_, most uncouth, strangest; _styte_, nonsense.

SCOTTISH (Group 7): AYRs.h.i.+RE.

The following lines are quoted from a well-known poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796).

The Twa Dogs (Caesar and Luath).

_Caes_. "I've notic'd, on our Laird's court-day, An' mony a time my heart's been wae, Poor tenant bodies, scant o' cash, How they maun thole a factor's snash He'll stamp an' threaten, curse an' swear, He'll apprehend them, poind their gear; While they maun stan', wi' aspect humble, An' hear it a', an' fear and tremble!

I see how folk live that hae riches; But surely poor folk maun be wretches."

_Lu._ "They're no sae wretched's are wad think; Tho' constantly on poort.i.th's brink, They're sae accustom'd wi' the sight, The view o't gies them little fright....

The dearest comfort o' their lives, Their grus.h.i.+e weans an' faithfu' wives: The prattling things are just their pride, That sweetens a' their fire-side....

That merry day the year begins, They bar the door on frosty win's; The nappy reeks wi' mantling ream, An' sheds a heart-inspiring steam; The luntin' pipe an' snees.h.i.+n-mill Are handed round wi' right good will; The cantie auld folks crackin' crouse, The young anes ranting thro' the house-- My heart has been sae fain to see them That I, for joy, hae barkit wi' them!"...

By this, the sun was out o' sight, An' darker gloamin' brought the night: The b.u.m-clock humm'd wi' lazy drone, The kye stood rowtin' i' the loan; When up they gat, an' shook their lugs, Rejoic'd they were na _men_ but _dogs_; An' each took aff his several way, Resolv'd to meet some ither day.

Notes.--_wae_, sorrowful; _maun thole_, must endure, must put up with; _factor's snash_, agent's abuse; _poind_, seize upon, sequester; _gear_, property; _hae_, have; _no sae_, not so; _wad_, would; _poort.i.th_, poverty; _grus.h.i.+e_, of thriving growth, well-grown; _weans_, children; _win's_, winds; _nappy_, foaming ale; _reeks_, smokes; _ream_, cream; _luntin'_, smoking, emitting smoke; _snees.h.i.+n-mill_, snuff box; _cantie_, merry; _crackin'_, conversing; _crouse_, with good spirits; _ranting_, running noisily; _fain_, glad; _gloamin'_, twilight; _b.u.m-clock_, beetle (that booms); _kye_, cows; _rowtin'_, lowing; _loan_, milking-place; _lugs_, ears.

SCOTTISH (Group 8): EDINBURGH.

The following stanzas are from _The Farmer's Ingle_, a poem by Robert Fergusson (1750-1774), a native of Edinburgh.

Whan gloming grey out o'er the welkin keeks, Whan Batie ca's his owsen to the byre, Whan Thrasher John, sair dung, his barn-door steeks, And l.u.s.ty la.s.ses at the dighting tire: What bangs fu' leal the e'enings coming cauld, And gars snaw-tappit winter freeze in vain, Gars dowie mortals look baith blythe and bauld, Nor fley'd wi' a' the poort.i.th o' the plain; Begin, my Muse, and chant in hamely strain.

Frae the big stack, weel-winnow't on the hill, Wi' divets theekit frae the weet and drift, Sods, peats, and heath'ry trufs the chimley fill, And gar their thick'ning smeek salute the lift; The gudeman, new come hame, is blythe to find, Whan he out o'er the halland flings his een, That ilka turn is handled to his mind, That a' his housie looks sae cosh and clean; For cleanly house lo'es he, tho' e'er sae mean.

Weel kens the gudewife that the pleughs require A heartsome melt.i.th, and refres.h.i.+ng synd O' nappy liquor, o'er a bleezing fire; Sair wark and poort.i.th downa weel be join'd.

Wi' b.u.t.tered bannocks now the girdle reeks; I' the far nook the bowie briskly reams; The readied kail stands by the chimley-cheeks, And hauds the riggin het wi' welcome streams; Whilk than the daintiest kitchen nicer seems....

Then a' the house for sleep begin to grien, Their joints to slack frae industry a while; The leaden G.o.d fa's heavy on their een, And hafflins steeks them frae their daily toil; The cruizy too can only blink and bleer, The rest.i.t ingle's done the maist it dow; Tackman and cottar eke to bed maun steer, Upo' the cod to clear their drumly pow, Till waukened by the dawning's ruddy glow.

Notes.--_Ingle_, chimney-corner. _Gloming_, twilight; _keeks_, peeps; _ca's_, drives (lit. calls); _owsen_, oxen; _byre_, cow-house; _sair dung_, sorely tired; _steeks_, shuts; _dighting_, winnowing; _bangs fu'

leal_, defeats right well; _gars_, makes; _-tappit_, crested; _dowie_, melancholy; _fley'd_, frighted; _poort.i.th_, poverty.

_Divets_, turfs; _theekit_, thatched; _weet_, wet; _sods, peats, and heath'ry trufs_, various turf fuels; _chimley_, fire-place; _gar_, make; _smeek_, smoke; _lift_, sky; _halland_, part.i.tion forming a screen; _een_, eyes; _ilka_, each; _cosh_, cosy; _lo'es_, loves.

_Kens_, knows; _melt.i.th_, meal-tide, meal; _synd_, wash-down, draught; _nappy_, heady, strong; _downa_, cannot; _bannocks_, cakes; _girdle_, hot-plate; _reeks_, smokes; _bowie_, cask, beer-barrel; _reams_, foams; _readied kail_, (dish of) cooked greens; _by_, beside; _hauds... het_, keeps... hot; _riggin_, roof over the open hearth; _whilk_, which.

_Grien_, yearn, long; _hafflins steeks_, half shuts; _cruizy_, oil-lamp; _bleer_, bedim (the sight); _rest.i.t ingle_, made up fire; _dow_, can; _tackman_, lease-holder, farmer; _cod_, pillow; _drumly pow_, confused head.

NORTHERN (ENGLAND); Group 2: WESTMORELAND.

The following extract is from a remarkable tract ent.i.tled _A Bran New Wark, by William De Worfat_; Kendal, 1785. The author was the Rev. William Hutton, Rector of Beetham in Westmoreland, 1762-1811, and head of a family seated at Overthwaite (here called Worfat) in that parish. It was edited by me for the E.D.S. in 1879.

Last Sat.u.r.day sennet, abaut seun in the evening (twas lownd and fraaze hard) the stars twinkled, and the setting moon cast gigantic shadows. I was stalking hameward across Blackwater-mosses, and whistling as I tramp'd for want of thought, when a noise struck my ear, like the crumpling of frosty murgeon; it made me stop short, and I thought I saw a strange form before me: it vanished behint a windraw; and again thare was nought in view but dreary d.y.k.es, and dusky ling. An awful silence reigned araund; this was sean brokken by a skirling hullet; sure nivver did hullet, herrensue, or miredrum, mak sic a noise before. Your minister [_himself_] was freetned, the hairs of his head stood an end, his blead storkened, and the haggard creature moving slawly nearer, the mirkiness of the neet shew'd her as big again as she was... She stoup'd and drop'd a poak, and thus began with a whining tone. "Deary me! deary me! forgive me, good Sir, but this yance, I'll steal naa maar. This seek is elding to keep us fra starving!"... [_The author visits the poor woman's cottage_.]

She sat on a three-legg'd steal, and a dim coal smook'd within the rim of a brandreth, oor which a seety rattencreak hung dangling fra a black randletree. The walls were plaister'd with dirt, and a stee, with hardly a rung, was rear'd into a loft. Araund the woman her lile ans sprawl'd on the hearth, some whiting speals, some snottering and crying, and ya ruddy-cheek'd lad threw on a bullen to make a loww, for its mother to find her loup. By this sweal I beheld this family's poverty.

Notes.--_Sennet_, seven nights, week; _seun_, seven; _lownd_, still, calm; _murgeon_, rubbish earth cut up and thrown aside in order to get peat; _windraw_, heap of dug earth; _ling_, kind of heather; _skirling hullet_, shrieking owlet; _herrensue_, young heron; _miredrum_, bittern; _blead storkened_, blood congealed; _neet_, night; _poak_, bag; _yance_, once; _seck_, sack, i.e. contents of this sack; _elding_, fuel; _steal_, stool; _brandreth_, iron frame over the fire; _seaty_, sooty; _rattencreak_, potcrook, pothook; _randletree_, a beam from which the pothook hangs; _stee_, ladder; _loft_, upper room; _lile ans_, little ones; _whiting speals_, whittling small sticks; _snottering_, sobbing; _ya_, one; _bullen_, hempstalk; _loww_, flame; _loup_, loop, st.i.tch in knitting; _sweal_, blaze.

MIDLAND (Group I): LINCOLN.

I here give a few quotations from the Glossary of Words used in the Wapentakes of Manley and Corringham, Lincolns.h.i.+re, by E. Peac.o.c.k, F.S.A.; 2nd ed., E.D.S., 1889. The ill.u.s.trative sentences are very characteristic.