Part 1 (1/2)
The Dialect of the West of England Particularly Somersets.h.i.+re.
by James Jennings.
TO THA DWELLERS O' THA WEST,
Tha Fruit o' longvul labour, years, In theaze veo leaves at last appears.
Ta you, tha dwellers o' tha West, I'm pleas'd that tha shood be addresst: Vor thaw I now in Lunnan dwell, I mine ye still--I love ye well; And niver, niver sholl vorget I vust draw'd breath in _Zummerzet_; Amangst ye liv'd, and left ye zorry, As you'll knaw when you hire my storry.
Theaze little book than take o' me; 'Tis all I ha just now ta gee An when you rade o' _Tommy Gool_, Or _Tommy Came_, or _Pal_ at school, Or _Mr. Guy_, or _f.a.n.n.y Fear_,-- I thenk you'll shod vor her a tear) _Tha Rookery_, or _Mary's Crutch_, Tha cap o' which I love ta touch, You'll vine that I do not vorget My naatal swile--dear Zummerzet.
JAS. JENNINGS.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
In preparing this second edition of my relative's work, I have incorporated the results of observations made by me during several years' residence in Somersets.h.i.+re, in the centre of the district.
I have also availed myself by kind permission, of hints and suggestions in two papers, ent.i.tled ”Somersets.h.i.+re Dialect,” read by T. S. Baynes in 1856, and reprinted from the Taunton Courier, in London, in 1861.
During the forty years which have elapsed since the first edition, very much light has been thrown on the subject of Provincial Dialects, and after all much remains to be discovered. I consider with Mr. Baynes that there is more of the pure Anglo-Saxon in the west of England dialect, as this district was the seat of cla.s.sical Anglo-Saxon, which first rose here to a national tongue, and lasted longer in a great measure owing to its distance from the Metropolis, from which cause also it was less subject to modern modification.
I shall be happy to receive any suggestions from Philological scholars, which may increase the light thrown on the subject, and by which a third edition may be improved.
_Hagbourn Vicarage, August,_ 1869.
PREFACE.
The usefulness of works like the present is too generally admitted to need any apology for their publication. There is, notwithstanding, in their very nature a dryness, which requires relief: the author trusts, therefore, that, in blending something imaginative with the details of philological precision, his work will afford amus.e.m.e.nt to the reader.
The Glossary contains the fruit of years of unwearied attention to the subject; and it is hoped that the book will be of some use in elucidating our old writers, in affording occasional help to the etymology of the Anglo-Saxon portion of our language, and in exhibiting a view of the present state of an important dialect of the western provinces of England.
A late excursion through the West has, however, induced the Author to believe that some valuable information may yet remain to be gathered from our Anglo-Saxon dialect--more especially from that part of it still used by the common people and the yeomanry. He therefore respectfully solicits communications from those who feel an interest in this department of our literature; by which a second edition may be materially improved.
To a _native_ of the west of England this volume will be found a vade-mec.u.m of reference, and a.s.sist the reminiscence of well-known, and too often unnoted peculiarities and words, which are fast receding from, the polish of elegance, and the refinement of literature.
In regard to the _Poetical Pieces_, it may be mentioned that most of them are founded on _West Country Stories_, the incidents in which actually occurred. If some of the subjects should be thought trifling, it must not be forgotten that the primary object has been, to exemplify the Dialect, and that common subjects offered the best means of effectuating such an object. Of such Poems as _Good Bwye ta thee Cot_; _the Rookery_; and _Mary Ramsey's Crutch_, it may be observed, that had the Author _felt_ less he might, perhaps, have written better.
_Metropolitan Literary Inst.i.tution, London, March 25, 1825._
OBSERVATIONS, &c.
The following Glossary includes the whole of Somerset, _East_ of the River Parret, as well as adjoining parts of Wilts.h.i.+re and Gloucesters.h.i.+re. West of the Parret many of the words are p.r.o.nounced very differently indeed, so as to mark strongly the people who use them. [This may be seen more fully developed in two papers, by T. Spencer Baynes, read before the Somersets.h.i.+re Archaeological Society, ent.i.tled the Somersets.h.i.+re Dialect, printed 1861, 18mo, to whom I here acknowledge my obligations for several hints and suggestions, of which I avail myself in this edition of my late relative's work].
The chief peculiarity West of the Parret, is the ending of the third person singular, present tense of verbs, in _th_ or _eth_: as, he _lov'th_, _zee'th_, &c., for he loves, sees, &c.
In the p.r.o.nouns, they have _Ise_ for _I_, and _er_ for _he_. In fact the peculiarities and contractions of the Western District are puzzling to a stranger. Thus, _her_ is frequently used for _she_. ”_Har'th a doo'd it_,” is, ”_she has done it_,” (I shall occasionally in the Glossary note such words as distinguis.h.i.+ngly characterise that district).