Peculiarities of British Dialects

The influence of immigrants from Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Scotland, other parts of northern England, and the Caribbean in the XVIII and XIX centuries was very strong.

The characteristic features of Scouse are:

• A fast, highly inflected manner of speech, with a range of rising and falling tones not typical of most of northern England.
• The final letters of many words are often lost in a glottal stop:    'get' becomes gerr
• The tongue tends to be swallowed, cutting off nasal passages and making it sound as if the speaker has a cold.

 

Irish influences include the pronunciation of the letter 'h' as 'haitch' and the plural of 'you' as 'yous'. The pronunciation of 'th' as 'd' ('there' becomes dere), and the 'ere' sound in 'there' as 'urr', are encountered in Northern Ireland. The dropping of the 'g' sound at the end of 'ing', hence 'doing' becomes 'doin' is also commonplace in Dublin. There are also idioms shared with Hiberno-English, such as "I know where you're at" ("I know who you are").

Welsh influences include the distinctive rolling 'ck' sound, pronounced as in the Scots 'loch'. The letter 'r' is rolled, similar to Scots.

Expressions include 'la' that is equal to lad – друг, приятель, товарищ, e.g. "Yer arright den, la'?" ("You all right then, lad?"). The interjection 'eh!' is equivalent to 'hey!' or 'oi!' in other parts of the UK.

There are a few features of southern dialects, e.g. using a "f" or "v" sound instead of "th", as in "bruvver" – brother and "baf" - "bath".

The vocabulary of this dialect is quite numerous and differs from others, e.g.

Baird – girlfriend, wife – подружка, жена

Boss – excellent – отличный, превосходный

Blower – telephone - телефон

Burr'I . – But I… - Но я ....

To buzz – to ring – позвонить ("Give us a buzz" - Ring me)

Carzy/crapper/bog – toilet – туалет, уборная

Char – tea – чай

Cop shop – police station – полицейское управление

Do – party – вечеринка

Gunnite – good night –спокойной ночи

Last – awful – ужасный

Moby – mobile phone – мобильный телефон

Nimps – easy – легко

Pezzie – gift, present – подарок

Tirraah – Good bye – До свидания

Ullo – Hello – Привет

Yeared? – Have you heard? – Вы слышали?

 

1.2. Midlands English

Midlands English includes dialects of: Derbyshire, Nottingham, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Black Country, Birmingham, Norfolk, etc.

1.2.1. East Midlands

The East Midlands is famous for its distinctive dialects from the Derbyshire drawl to Nottingham's no-nonsense style of talking. Despite the fading of old traditions and huge shifts in how people communicate globally, it appears that dialects are still going strong in the East Midlands. Much of the dialects developed in rural communities and in the industrial heartlands of the region. Mining communities in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire were renowned for their use of dialects. At a time when regions are losing some of their traditional dialect, the East Midlands is keen to retain its cultural identity and linguistic style. Although some words are dying out, East Midlanders are keen to celebrate their local language. Here are some phrases of East Midlanders:

It's black uvver Bill's mother's - it looks like rain – это похоже на дождь

Coggie - swimming costume – купальный костюм

Croaker – doctor - врач

Duck's necks - bottle of lemonade – бутылка лимонада

Gorra bag on - in a bad mood – в плохом настроении

Laropped – drunk - пьяный

Nesh – cold - холодный

Old cock – friend, mate – друг, приятель

Skants – pants – брюки, штаны

The rally - the railway line – железнодорожная линия

In Lincolnshire, local people are going back to the classroom to reclaim their linguistic roots. Words like "sneck" (a metal hook – металический крючёк), "blather" (mud on clothing – грязь на одежде), "dowking" (wilting vegetation – увядающая растительность), "wozzle" (root vegetable - корнеплод), "noggin'" (lump of land – ком земли) were dying out, but not now. Some scientists blame tractors and modern farm machines for the demise of the Lincolnshire dialect. When the machines replaced horses, many words and terms associated with the animals became redundant. They also blame the moving population and "frim folk" (people from other areas – люди из других мест) who have come into the county. This has resulted in a mixture of voices and the dilution of the Lincolnshire dialect.

The farmers of Derbyshire are proud of retaining their heritage, and are keen to preserve their local dialect. Here are some features of Derbyshire dialect:

• the use of words like "thee" and "thou"
• the shortening of words for more economical speech
• the use of very unusual words like "scratin'" (crying - плачущий) deriving from old Norse or Viking

Some words and phrases of Derbyshire dialect: ganzi - pullover or sweater – свитер, пуловер; Gerraht! - Get out! – Убирайся!; gone-aht – surprised – удивлённый; namor - no more – больше не, ничего больше; wang - to throw – кидать, бросать;

Some language experts recently declared Leicester the birthplace of modern Standard English. Academics claim that the culturally diverse mix of settlers to the East Midland a thousand years ago helped to shape the future of the English language. Anglo Saxons and Vikings lived side by side, sharing their customs and languages. Today Leicester has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the country, with Asian and Afro-Caribbean influences now filtering through. At the City of Leicester School, the pupils of all backgrounds find themselves using Leicester dialect. Traditional words like my yard (my house – мой дом), chuddie (pants – брюки, штаны), gis a gleg – (give me a look at it – дай посмотреть), ow a ya?- (how are you? – как поживаете?), worro – (hello - привет), wassup? – (What is going on? – Что происходит?), snitch – (tale teller – сказочник), oakey – (an ice-cream – мороженое) are in common usage, together with new expressions like "24/7" (непрерывно, постоянно; двадцать четыре часа в сутки, семь дней в неделю) derived from popular culture. This is then combined with words and expressions picked up from American culture and rap artists such as Eminem.

Nottingham is also renowned for its dialect and foreign nurses at the city's hospitals have trouble grappling with 'Ay up mi duck' (Hello there - Привет) and other expressions like "corshucan" (of course you can – конечно ты можешь). Nottinghamshire has many dialect words heard only within its borders. Many of these words originate from close European neighbours. During mediaeval times, Nottingham was a huge trading centre and merchants from France, Denmark and the Low Countries set up businesses in Nottingham and foreign communities grew around these businesses and some of their language was absorbed into the local dialect. For example: Gizza glegg (May I see that – Можно я взгляну?); from the Danish glegg (to look- смотреть), jitteh (an alleyway, cut-through between houses – переулок, проход между домами) - from the colloquial French 'jetez' (a small step, short cut – кратчайшее расстояние). 'Rammel' – Anglo-Saxon – meaning waste from a building site (строительный мусор) - now used to mean rubbish generally. There are many other examples of foreign words which have been adapted for local use, but one whose origin is unable to find is 'mazzgi,' a dialect word for a domestic cat – домашний кот.

 

1.2.2. West Midlands

There are two dialects in West Midlands: Black Country dialect and Birmingham dialect. These dialects have much in common with Old English, many features peculiar to Old English remain there. 

• BLACK COUNTRY

The dialect of the Black Country area remains perhaps one of the last examples of early English still spoken today. The region was described as 'Black by day and red by night' by Elihu Burritt, the American Consul to Birmingham in 1862 due to the amount of foundries, lime kilns, collieries that went on there. It's known as the 'Black Country' due to the colour of the ground that is black because of large quantity of coal. One of the most famous features is the 'yam yam' sound when saying certain phrases. 'You are' is pronounced yo'am and 'are you' is pronounced am ya. That’s why this dialect if also called Yam Yam. The Black Country dialect has its own vocabulary as well as grammatical differences, and quite a lot of it has similarities with Old English. It still contains words (Thee – you - тебя, Thy - your and Thou – you – ты) widely used by Shakespeare or Chaucer.

Vocabulary.

Nouns

Ackidock - aqueduct –водопровод

Babby – baby – ребёнок, младенец

Beezum - a broom of birch; a pert young woman – берёзовый веник; бойкая девушка

Blether - a bladder – пустомеля

Breffus – breakfast – завтрак

Cag-mag – gossip – сплетня

Chops/ gob – mouth – рот

Clobber – clothes – одежда

Dishle - cup of tea – чашка чая

Dollop - large quantity (usually of food) – большое колличество (обычно применимо к еде)

Donny/'Ond - hand – рука

Fai(r)ther – father – папа

Fittle - food, victuals – еда, провиант

Flics – cinema – кино

Gob - a piece of something – кусок чего-либо

Lezzer - a meadow – луг

Nuss – nurse – няня, медсестра

Ooman – woman – женщина

Opple – apple – яблоко

Owern - my husband, my son, my daughter (often used by women to denote member of family) – мой муж, мой сын, моя дочь (используется женщиной по отношению к членам семьи)

Puss – purse – кошелёк

Suck – sweets – конфеты, сладости

Sussifikut – certificate – сертификат, документ

Tai(tay) – tea – чай

Wench - girl (commonly used by parents towards daughters) - девочка

Wum(Whum) – home – дом

Yed - head – голова

Pronouns

Aither – either - любой

Anny(Onny) – any – какой-нибудь

Ar – our – наш

‘e – he – он

‘im – him – его

Nairun - none, not one – никто

Naither – neither - ни

Yer - your – ваш

Yow – you – ты, вы

Verbs

Aks(axe) – to ask – спрашивать, просить

Bamfoozle – to puzzle; to bemuse – озадачивать; ошеломлять

Bin(ben) - been, have been, are, have ("I bin" - affirmative reply to question)

Caw(cor) - cannot ("I cor goo the'er terday" – I can’t do there yesterday – Я не мог пойти туда вчера)

Coddin – joking ("Goo on, yum coddin me" – Go on, you joking me – Продолжай, ты меня забавляешь)

Coost - could you? – не могли бы вы?, also negative "thee coosnt" – you could’t – вы не можете 

Cost - can you ? – вы можете?, also negative "I cosn't" - I cannot – я не могу

Day(day) - did not ("I day see 'im comin" – I did not see him coming – Я не видел чтобы он пришёл)

Doe - do not (as in reply to question: "I doe" – I don’t – Я не...)

Ivver-ovver – hesitate – колебаться

Ketch – catch – ловить

Mo -  must not – не должен, нельзя

Mun – must – должен

Node - known ("I've nowd 'im for 'ears" – I’ve known him for years – Я знал его в течении многих лет)

Ood/Oot -  would you/will you

Soople - to soften, make supple - смягчать

Tek – to take – брать

Tek after - to resemble - походить

Trussen - to trust – доверять

 

Adjectives

Aud(oud) – old - старый

Chuffed – pleased - довольный

Joobus - suspicious, dubious – подозрительный, вызывающий сомнения

Lickle – little - маленький

Natty - tidy, neat – чистый, опрятный

Noo – new - новый

Adverb

Agen – again - снова

Forby – nearby - вблизи

Terday – yesterday - вчера

Wurse(Wuss) – worse – хуже

Conjunction

Lief - as soon as – как только

 

 

 

 

Grammar.

The grammar of this dialect is quite different from Standard one. They use 's'- inflexion for the first person singular present simple: I looks, I comes, I misses, etc. For plural form of the noun they have ending –en instead of –s: housen – houses – дома.

Phonetics.

Instead of initial W they usually use OO. In the closed syllable a is pronounced as [o]: apple [opl]. Consonants in the centre of words sometimes are doubled: Tummy – a snack – закуска, Thissen – this one – этот, Kissa – face – лицо, etc. The dropping of the 'g' sound at the end of 'ing' is usual. Vowels are also often changed. When people greet each other they use the phrase 'Yow awight' meaning 'you alright'.

 

• BRUMMIE

Brummie (or Brummy) refers to things connected with the city of Birmingham in England: particularly its people, known as Brummies, and their accent and dialect of the English language. The word is derived from Brummagem (commonly shortened to Brum) which is a local name for the city. A large number of local words and phrases exist derived from the mixture of various cultures and dialects. Brummie should not be regarded as the only dialect of the Midlands or West Midlands, although the term is often used by outsiders to refer to all dialects of the region. For example, speakers from the Black Country have a dialect which is very different from Brummie in many respects. A large number of local words and phrases exist derived from the amalgamation of various cultures and dialects which have combined to produce an unusual but familiar voice. Some claim that 'old' Brummie is the most likely accent that William Shakespeare would have used, at that time Birmingham would have been in Warwickshire. Some words are simple variations of those used elsewhere, such as mom for instead of Standard English ‘mum’, while others are unique to Birmingham.

The older generation sometimes use words like bab when referring to ‘a spouse’ or ‘female’.

A saying that is not often heard anymore is it's lookin a bit black over bills mothers, this referred to the prospect of rain – так говорится когда надвигается дождь. Keep away from the 'oss road was often said as a warning to children who were thinking of playing on the busy tracks frequented by horses, carts, trams and early cars – так звучало предостережение детям, чтоб они не играли на дороге. Another old phrase that is sometimes used today is o'rite our kid or simply ows it goin kid which is another way of asking how you are – как поживаете?

You got a beak on ya en ya was a term used against someone that was nosey without reason – использовалось по отношению к тому, кто не в меру любопытен. Our nip was another word for ‘younger brother’ – младший брат. You talkin to me or chewin a brick was a confrontational term when you thought someone was being aggressive verbally (it was usually followed up with, Cause' either way you're gonna get your teeth smashed in!') – ответная реакция на чьи-либо грубые слова. He's ded yampee was a term for Scatty – сумасшедший, чокнутый. You ad your eyeful was used to deter someone staring in your direction for too long – используется для того, чтобы отпугнуть (отвязаться от) кого-то кто пристально смотрит на вас. Got a face like a bosted arse was a way of saying someone looked in a bad mood – так говорилось тому, кто был в плохом настроении. Giz a rock meant 'can I have a sweet' (a rock was often used as an alternative to sweet) – можно мне конфетку (леденец)?

Got a face as long as Livery Street that one was a way of saying that someone looked miserable – так говорилось тому, кто выглядел жалким (печальным). The term bostin was sometimes used as an alternative to ‘brilliant’ - бриллиант.

All these examples are still used in Birmingham but not so often as the following, which are more recent:

O'rite - alright – хорошо

Man - mate - товарищ

Sound/sweet/mint' – excellent – прекрасный, превосходный, отличный

Outdoor - off-licence – бар, где разрешена продажа спиртных напитков на вынос

Have a doss - laze about – лентяйничать, бездельничать

Fair play - well done – отлично сработано, хорошо

Buzz – bus - автобус

Def it out! - Leave it alone! – Оставь в покое!

Soz - 'Sorry' – Извините

Also, many younger Brummies have adopted the Caribbean pronunciations of 'this' and 'that' - 'dis' and 'dat'.

 

Phonetics.

In such combination as "al+consonant" letter ‘l’ usually is not pronounced and ‘a’ sounds as [o:].

 

1.2.3. East Anglia

East Anglia is a region of eastern England, named after one of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Its boundaries are not rigidly defined, but it includes the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, with part or all of Cambridgeshire and Essex, and a small part of southern Lincolnshire bordering The Wash. East Anglia has its own dialect - Norfolk, perhaps because of the fact that the impact of Scandinavian tribes, Teutonic tribes and other early European cultures, was greater upon East Anglia than upon the rest of England. There are aspects of the dialect that still reflect the influence of early, dominant European languages.

 

• NORFOLK

The Norfolk dialect, also known as Broad Norfolk, is a dialect that was once spoken by those living in the county of Norfolk in England. Much of the distinctive vocabulary of Broad Norfolk has now died out and only the older generations use the fullest amount, so the speech of most of Norfolk is now more an accent than a dialect. There have been attempts to revive the Norfolk dialect. The Friends of Norfolk Dialect (FOND) is a group which formed in 1999 with the aim of preserving and promoting Broad Norfolk. The group campaigns for the recognition of Norfolk as a dialect, and for the teaching of "Norfolk" in schools.

 

Vocabulary.

Afront - in front - впереди

Ahind – behind - позади

Atwin – between – между

Bishy barney bee – ladybird – божья коровка

Bor – neighbour/boy – сосед/мальчик

Dickey – donkey – осёл

Dodman – snail - улитка

Dudder - to shiver – дрожать

Gret - great, big, or significant – большой, значительный

Harnser – heron - цапля

Hold yew hard! - Hang on a moment! – Подождите минутку!

Loke – lane, alley – тропинка, аллея

Lummox - clumsy or ungainly person – неловкий, неповоротливый человек

Mavish – thrush - дрозд

Mawkin – scarecrow – пугало, чучело

Mawther – girl/young woman – девочка/ девушка

Old year’s nyte -New Year's Eve – канун Нового Года

Rum - curious, strange, funny – любопытный, странный, смешной

Titty - totty - very small – очень маленький

Warmint - varmint or vermin, troublesome person – преступник, шалопай

Zackley - exactly - именно

 

Many words beginning with V take a W start in Norfolk - warmint and willage among them. There are also examples of the letter being changed in the middle of the word i.e. aggravating becomes aggraweartin (раздражающий, ухудшающий).

 

Do is characteristically used in the sense of "otherwise" ("Don’t you take yours off, do you’ll get rheumatism") and time is used to mean "while" ("Go you and have a good wash time I git tea ready").

 

 

 

Phonetics.

Norfolk is popularised as a yod-dropping dialect where /ju:-/ is pronounced /u:-/ . Other features of Norfolk are that "here" and "hair" (and "hare") are homophones while "daze" /de:z/ and "days" /dæiz/, "nose" /nu:z/ and "knows" /näuz/ are not.

        In such combination as a+nd vowel is pronounced as [o:], e.g. candle [ko:ndl], land [lo:nd].

The initial "h" is dropped from the beginning of words.

 

1.3. Southern English

Such dialects as: Estuary English, Cockney, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, etc. represent a group of Southern English.

• ESTUARY ENGLISH

"Estuary English" is a term coined in 1984 by British linguist, David Rosewarne¹². It is widely spoken in and around London and, more generally, in the southeast of England and along the river Thames and its estuary. Most people consider EE to be a variant (accent) of Standard English that is rapidly spreading in England. Crystal¹³ (1995: 327) argues, "the variety is distinctive as a dialect not just as an accent" because apart from pronunciation, what distinguishes EE speakers from others are grammatical and lexical features (an essential condition for a variety to be called a dialect). David Britain¹⁴ (2003b) calls Estuary English "a relatively new regional dialect of the south-east of England" because of its geographical distribution.

The Sunday Times, one of Britain’s most famous newspapers, has described it as a dialect existing between "Cockney and the Queen" and the Tory (Conservative) Minister of Education condemned it as a "bastardized version of Cockney dialect".

Estuary English, as the advanced speech of the young, has been characterised by the older generation as slovenly and debased.

Vocabulary.

Rosewarne sees certain lexical changes within EE pronunciation. Cheers is often used in place of "thank you" (спасибо), but it’s also possible for it to mean "good-bye" (до свидания). The word basically is used frequently in conversation. An increased use of Americanisms can also be seen in EE and evidenced by such examples: There you go being used in place of the more standard "Here you are" (продолжим, поехали, вот, пожалуйста) and There is acts as an invariable form of usage in both singular and plural contexts. In addition, "sorry" (извините) is often replaced with excuse me and engaged, in the context of the telephone it has been replaced by the word busy.