Talking for Britain: A Journey Through the Nation's Dialects

by SimonElmes (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2005

  $3.30

  Do you say 'gooseberries' or 'goosegogs'? Do you wear 'daps' or 'plimsolls' at the gym? And do you take your 'tranklements' with you when you go to work? From Geordie to Scouse and Estuary English, Britain has a rich dialect tradition, and in 2005, for the first time in some fifty years, a major nationwide survey is being conducted to see how we talk, what words we use, and how accents and vocabulary vary from region to region. Radio 4, in conjunction with BBC local radio stations, will be out and about interviewing people all over the country from all walks of, and their survey will culminate in August with a major 6-part Radio 4 series. Penguin are delighted to be publishing the book of the series.

• Used

  Paperback
  2006

  $3.30

  Do you say gooseberries or goosegogs? Would you call someone hen, my luvver or me duck? Do you like to eat a cob, butty or just a plain sarnie? And do you know what a grockle is? Using material from the BBC's ground-breaking Voices survey, Talking for Britain explores regional English in the twenty-first century, painting a vivid portrait of the British people and uncovering fascinating facts about local language. We may think that English is becoming homogenized as words such as chav and knackered spread across the country, but there is still surprising regional variation. How, for example, would you describe someone who is a bit moody? In Barrow-in-Furness, you might say that they are narky, while in the Midlands, they're probably mardy. In Scotland, they might be crabbit, but in Northern Ireland, they could well be feeling distinctly thrawn. A fascinating and superbly browsable book, Talking for Britain proves that regional English is very much alive and well - and constantly changing.