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Many
thanks to Tony Vincent who has sent in his special words from the
Fowey area:
The
following few comments relate to my knowledge of the Fowey area.
Obviously some are much more widespread throughout Cornwall. Some
are used in the West Country, or even further afield.
The
use of the first person singular of the present tense of the verb
'to be' throughout the present tense i.e. "they'm", "we'm",
"you'm".
Again
using the verb 'to be' in the phrase "where be goin to?".
"Where are you going?". Note that it is not, as elsewhere
"be ee", and that the 'oi' in 'goin' is pronounced the
same as the 'oi' in 'voice', or 'Goin up Camborne Hill'. (N.b. again
the verb 'to be' is not used in the accepted manner.)
The
word 'Maid' is used whatever the age of the lady in question.
'Scat'
to break up.
''Ling
hold' to hold on to an object. "Ling hold the door". "Could
you please hold open the door?"
You
are said to be "Like Jan Sparnall" when you are seen to
be eating straight from the saucepan, or other utensil you cooked
the food in. John Sparnall was a publican of the Ship in Fowey who
moved to Golant. When asked about his habit of eating straight from
the saucepan he said that it saved him washing up the dishes.
Different
prepositions when going elsewhere. In Tywardreath one is said to
be "goin in town". i.e. visiting St Austell.
In
Fowey, we go over to Bodinnick, or Polruan, up to Lostwithiel, and
Plymouth, and down to Truro. Sometimes the 'to' is dropped, i.e.
"Up Bodmin", or "Over Wadebridge". (Coincidently,
only last week a cousin , my wife, and myself had agreed to get
together later this month to discuss this!)
"Like
Launceston Jail", if a room or area is untidy. My father pronounced
Launceston as 'Lan...', not 'Laun..'
Instead
of saying "That", "Gat" is used.
"Half
a gallon of teddies." Five pounds of potatoes. (The use the
word gallon has been discussed on the programme this morning, but
not the use of the word 'teddies')
Are
you from Fowey - do you remember the words mentioned by Tony - do
you have more to add?
Click
here to email your words and meanings to the 大象传媒 Cornwall website.
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