The following pages claim to do no more than to set forth some of our
best known dialect words, and to somewhat explain or illustrate their
use by a sentence in which the word is introduced. So may not only
the word be preserved, but something also of unity of expression be
maintained at the same time.
Much of the matter has gone through the pages of the _Penrith
Observer_, in the form of weekly notes. These notes were subject to
some criticism. They were the means of eliciting a good deal of help
towards making the collection more complete and accurate.
The method of spelling was frequently commented upon as involving an
unnecessary innovation. A short explanation will, it is hoped, enable
the reader to grasp it. Take such words as _face_, _race_, _place_,
with the long _a_. We pronounce them as _fi_ + _as_, _ri_ + _as_,
_pli_ + _as_, with a short _i_ sound, and the _a_ short as in _as_.
Words like _master_, _plaster_, become _maister_, _plaister_, with the
_a_ sounded as in _pay_. The long _o_ sound is a pet aversion. _Home_
becomes _hi_ + _am_, _boat_ as if it were _boo_ + _at_, _poke_ takes
the form of _poo_ + _ak_. Such words as _post_ prove our consistency
and cause many a one to get laughed at for the hasty _o_ we assign it
just as if it were _copy_.
The deep sound of _oo_ shows our perversity. For _ow_ we give it place
every time, _hoo_, _thoo_, _doon_, _noo_, _coo_, and just as readily
depose it from its legitimate place in _boot_, _soot_, _nook_, _book_,
which in turn become _bi_ + _ut_, _si_ + _ut_, _ni_ + _uk_, _bi_ +
_uk_. _Go_, _going_, _gone_, we make into _ga_ (when short), _gah_,
_gahn_, _gi_ + _an_, and in some extreme instances almost _garn_.
Final _ing_ is too affected for us, so we drop it and substitute _en_.
_Quiet_ we quietly convert into _whiat_, because _q_ is a pet aversion
in all places with us. To give a hint as to the cause of this does not
come within our scope. But no one can come closely into contact with
the dialect without being struck with this aspect of it. A word like
_hope_ we evade or turn it into _hooap_ or _whop_, yet _daup_, _cauf_,
_mope_, _crope_, show that we can master the sound if we wish, and
stick to it. If we will not say _blue_ except as _blew_, we make up
for it in _hoo_ and _noo_. If the _r_ is our aversion, we can, as few
others can, say _faddr_, _muddr_, _cluddr_.
Having banished the _ow_ sound from most of its legitimate places in
the language, we put it in by way of amends where we can by “any manner
o’ means” do so. Thus we have _bowt_ for _bolt_ and _bought_; _browt_
for _brought_; _bowster_ for _bolster_; _cowt_ for _colt_; _thowt_ for
_thought_; _dowter_ for _daughter_; and so on.
In the present work no attempt is made to explain or account for
anything of a peculiar character in the dialect. If language grows
out of life, we are justified in regarding ours as a type, and those
who are most familiar with the life out of which it has grown, will
be most likely those to regard it most leniently. They will know
something of the social habits which the fair and market, the smithy
hearth, the shoemaker’s shop are dominating factors in forming. They
will understand what it is to be concerned with cattle, and the
elements, as others are with more mighty affairs. Out of the exigencies
of ploughing, sowing, reaping, and gathering; of boon days and sale
days; of shiftings and settlings; of hiring and term times they know
what to expect and will not be annoyed by grossness, or deterred by
affectations or their absence.
In these circumstances the word collector in Lakeland will find a
favourable condition for his operations if he know how to go about
it. Nor need he expect because so much of life is taken up with the
“struggle for existence” that the gentler and humaner phase of it will
not afford him specimens, “tender and true,” as in the most refined
circles.
An explanation is due to Cumbrians, who will find in this collection
words they did not expect, and will find omitted those they had
anticipated seeing. In many matters the two counties are indeed what
they are often termed—sisters. The words have largely been collected
in North Westmorland, but it must be borne in mind that Penrith, to
many, is to all intents as much as if it were in Westmorland, and to
have given one county only in the title would have been misleading and
far from accurate. This observation will apply to “Kendal side” of
Westmorland too.
Doctor Milner Fothergill says, “that up to Orton in Westmorland,
the speech is that of Lancashire; beyond its scar it is that of
Cumberland.” The genial, hearty doctor was too generous, and Cumberland
as well as Lancashire would disclaim his kindness. Likeness there is no
doubt towards the north, or towards the south, as the case may be, and
the fells mark a cleavage more distinct than some imaginary boundary of
counties, yet Westmorland men will never be prepared to be so quietly
effaced until a much greater extinction of dialect speech takes place
than has yet been effected, much as latter-day influences have done
towards modifying its most prominent features.
In the present work, such as it is, the help of Mr. Daniel Scott,
editor of the _Penrith Observer_, has to be acknowledged, also that of
“Northerner” in the same journal. The Rev. J. S. Davidson, the Rev. M.
B. Parker, Mr. R. E. Leech, M.A., Mr. John Harrison, Mr. Jas. Rennison,
Mr. Jos. Graves, Mr. Wm. Kerr, Miss Hunter, Miss Rudd, Mrs. Fauldrew,
Mr. A. Whitehead, and Mr. C. R. Farrer, with a number of correspondents
in various parts, whose names never transpired, have given generous
help to make the collection as comprehensive as possible. Also a very
able and representative body of critics was soon _en evidence_ to see
that it was as correct as possible. The Rev. Canon Thornley, the Rev.
John Wharton, and Professor Joseph Wright, M.A., were amongst those to
whose suggestions is due the fact of a permanent form being given to
what at first was only intended as a passing notice.
To Mr. Wilson, of Kendal, I am under the special obligation of the
adventurer who has help just when and where it is most wanted. From him
it has ever been an easy and pleasant task to obtain advice and counsel
without stint of pains or sympathy. With his aid and discrimination,
many otherwise insurmountable obstacles have been overcome. Without his
aid nothing of the present form could have been as much as attempted.
It is earnestly hoped that the rough and ready treatment of the
subject herein attempted will not in any way interfere with any of
the more thorough works dealing with the same subject now in course
of preparation by those capable of treating it from all standpoints
as specialists. Ours is the effort to present an inside view of the
dialect, marred no doubt by the leanings of prejudice, and for its
worst defects the only indulgence that is asked is that it may be
judged with that consideration kept in mind. It is a lover’s account,
and as such must be excused.