Canny lass

My mother used those Words too, Eileen.

oxters = armpits

It's in no way 'posh', Vic. It's standard English - which every Child in Britain is taught in school. Standard English is in fact also a dialect - a dialect that is used as the institutionalized norm in a Community. It usually has a bit of prestige, because it's used in administrative institutions, but isn't posh. Standardization is not, as many seem to Think, a result of the influences of BBc and other media. Standardization of the English language started way back in the 11th century. That standard English has it's roots in a Southern county dialect isn't a matter of that dialect being deliberately chosen to represent the Enlish language. It just happened. There have been a great many influences at work over the centuries in making standard English what it is today. Prior to the Norman conquest the Brits used west saxon to communicate but after the Norman conquest, 1066, the seat of power moved from Winchester to London and most changes in the language started to emerge then and continued doing so for the next 300 years. By the mid 14th Century the growth of a standardized English from the London area can be seen in many old documents. The dialect in London at that time was really a mixture of several dialects and the central Londoner's way of speaking was influenced by the Essex-, Westminster- and Middlesex dialects but little by little these merged into one dialect. Most of the Changes that we can see relate to London's development as the political, social and Commercial centre of Britain. (The same can be said for most, if not all, 'standard' languages in Europé. They all have their origins in the dialect of the area which became 'the seat of power'). That's not so strange when you Think about it. That's where the Money was. In the case of English, the most significant influence was probably the setting up of the administrative offices of the London Chancery. Thanks to them, huge amounts of documents were hand-copied in and around London and many standardizations emerged thanks to the Chancery scribes. These standardizations spread among other scribes who worked privately and soon many other types of texts began to include their standardizations. It was only a short step then to the ultimate standardization that was necessary when Caxton set up his Printing press - also in the London area of Westminster. That's a very potted version of the major influences. There are of course many other influences at work, even today. Language is a living thing, it's constantly changing, it will Always be changing. It's Always trying to find ways of refining the process of Communication and there is nothing we can do to stem the tide of language change. Some see these Changes as progress and others see them as a sort of decay. We can't stop it. If we could then we would all still be speaking like Chaucer. I can understand Symptoms feelings about how it sounds to try speaking posh but often it's done without any conscious awareness and most often to aid Communication. Of course it can sound odd to hear a northern, or any other, accent (the vowelsounds and melody of a dialect) imposed on a Southern dialect. It's like hanging an easter egg on a Christmas tree - not quite what we are used to. But it's not wrong If it aids Communication and sense of identity/belonging it can never be wrong, only different.

Thanks Malcolm! It's 10 years ago. Just shows how much I know about what's going on back home. Hallelujah for sites like Bedders!

I don't know either CBS or Robson Green and I've never Heard them speak so I don't really know what Symptoms means, when he says "it sounds fake". There's a northern expression, "putting it on", which I've Heard people use when referring to people who are deemed to behaving in a manner above their station - so to speak. The same expression can be used when speaking of changing the way you speak. I wonder if this is what you meant - that they speak in a manner which we would normally connect with a higher social class? In that case we're not talking about dialects but sociolects. A sociolect has nothing to do with geographic origins, unless the speaker is adopting Another dialect to fit in with a Group for example a Geordie who moves to Yorkshire and starts to speak with a Yorkshire dialect at work but retains his Geordie dialect at home with the wife. Much depends on the context in which speech Changes are made. There are individuals who change their way of speaking several times a day depending on who they are talking to. They make these Changes for several reasons: to aid Communication: Changes in speed of talking, dialectal reduction/removalto show their sense of belonging, or wanting to belong to, a certain Group: adopting dialectal features, use of jargon (especially in the working environment), use of slang and swear words (in certain age Groups and social Groups)to diminish a sense of dialectal inferiorityto increase a sense of dialectal superiorityAll of these Changes can be made by conscious effort on the part of the speaker but they can also occur naturally, triggered by something in the situation. . We have to take into consideration the context in which the Changes are made. For example, a speaker with a strong Northumbrian dialect, who speaks broad dialect at home, at work and in social situations can change his speech to aid Communication when speaking to a doctor because it's important that the doctor understands the problem. Put the same person on radio to appeal for funds for his sports club and he'll change his way of speaking again - because he wants to get his message across to as many as possible. Give the same person a new neighbour from the home counties and he'll start speaking with him in dialect but will most likely start to reduce his own dialect and even adopt a bit of the new neighbour's just to aid Communication and to make the neighbour feel at home. These are natural Changes to aid Communication. The speaker isn't often aware that they are making Changes. However, if this same speaker then goes to the social club and starts speaking to his mates in the same way he's talked to the doctor, on the radio and with his neighbour it's not about aiding Communication. They already understand his dialect. There's no need for change. Then one of two things has happened: he's "putting it on" or he's adapted to a new way of talking because of the frequent use. He'll be speaking standard English with an accent. The accent is hard to lose. Not impossible but hard. So each of you is correct in some way.

Definitely not pulling anybody's plonker! I haven't Heard a whisper about it.

Dr. Hook? Sounds just like Björn Skifs.

I'll miss you Wilf!

Is the power station no longer with us?

Very best wishes for Cristmas and the coming New Year.

Happy Birthday Eileen. Hope it's a good one.

Still a few minutes to go Before it's over so here's a birthday wish from me as well.

That's a tremendous Disappointment.

#2 (Still not able to quote anyone) Great photo. We haven't changed a bit, have we Maggie!

Sorry! that should have been VERBOSITY not BERBOSITY. What was my 'crime' ? I was being loquacious on the one occasion and verbose on the other. In other Words I was talking when I should have been listening to the teacher. Pleased to see they've got these underlinings and crosing out problems sorted out. Just the mid-sentence capital letters to sort out now - and the new problem, I can't quote anybody's post!.

Happy Birthday Keith

Oh how I remember Mr. Johnson and I remember his 'punishments' even more! He Always made the punishment fit the 'crime'. For my sins I got to write a short essay on BURBOSITY and, on another occasion, LOQUACITY. I've never forgotten those Words - they were probably the start of my love affair with languages.

Do they take Swedish Crowns, Foxy?

Might just take you up on that. Where's the Travellers?

Welcome and good luck with the search. This site is a mine of information.

We have something here called a no-vote. You go to the poling station as usual and Place a special 'blank' vote in the ballot-box. Better then staying at home and doing nothing in my opinion. At least you're letting them know you are dissatisfied.

I Think you're right there Eileen. Bagies were White and quite small - more like a giant sized radish. Had a distinct 'peppery' taste as well. LOOK NO UNDERLINING!!!!!!!!

Any good pub grub in Bedlington these Days? ( I see Three weeks holiday hasn't done anything for the underlining/capital letter problem)!

My gog has never been so ticipated!! Don't really know what to make of it but I Think it could grow on me. I have to say though, that I Think that the Front Street is looking very nice. Got a good old dose of home sickness while looking at these photos.

That's me Adam. Always aim to please!