Thursday 27 February 2020

Some things just don't translate!

When we moved house in the summer of last year one of the first things we noticed was the difference in the accents and the way people spoke. We moved from Northumberland to North Lincolnshire. There is a big difference!


My family sound really Geordie compared to people here even though we lived nowhere near Newcastle and I am ashamed to admit it, we sound so common. People here talk really posh! It is hilarious though, there is lots of times people have looked at Stu and I like we're talking a different language. 

The best example I can give is when we were at my dad's one of my dad's friends was walking past and Stu said something like "that bonfire is really stinking" and he answered with "quarter to three". Stu, my dad's partner Sarah and I just looked at each other trying to hide our giggles. 

When Stu and I are talking to anyone which isn't my dad or Sarah we try to talk slowly. Stu does talk fast and people just can't understand him. I remember when I first met him I asked him to speak slower so it does take some getting used to. I was born and brought up in the North East but in Stockton on Tees and Durham. My dad's partner Sarah is born and bred here and she talks so slowly compared to us. My dad has lived here for about 12 years so is used to how people speak but he has picked up the accent a bit.

There are some words and phrases which Stu and I say and we realise that people don't have a clue what we're on about.

Bubbling!
Meaning: Crying!
If the kids cry (not that they do often), I tell them to stop their bubbling!

Pease pudding!
Does not translate here. No one has a clue what Pease Pudding is and even the suggestion of ham and pease pudding sandwiches is frowned at. I can search for it online and see it in all of the supermarkets but as soon as I log in with my delivery address it vanishes. Hmmf!


Dee as ya telt!
Meaning: do as you're told. When I shout at the kids my accent really comes out. Oops.

Clamming!
Meaning: Starving, hungry to the point of being in desperate need of some sustenance which goes with the next one.

Scran, Bait
Meaning: food

Marra
Meaning: friend, colleague, workmate.

Clarty!
Meaning: wet and muddy.

Workyticket
Meaning: someone being mischievous or downright annoying, mostly Ellie. lol

Lush
Meaning: To describe something that has been enjoyed or something that's liked. A lot of people just don't use that word here and I over use it. That top is lush, that drink was lush, that pie was lush. lol

A few months ago there we met a woman at the local auction who's Scottish and it's wonderful, she understands every word we say, especially Stu. She gets where we're coming from not being able to be understood sometimes. The man who runs the auction is from London and has a strong accent and he understands us. It makes me chuckle. All the non-local people can understand us. 

What does make me laugh is that Ellie's accent is the one that is really changing and not into a typical North Lincolnshire accent. I don't know how and why but she's picked up a Birmingham accent. Some of the words she say's sound really Brummy. My dad first noticed it and Stu and I have since. lol

Have you ever moved somewhere where people have struggled to understand you?

6 comments :

  1. Yes, no-one understands us Brummies lol. I have no idea what you are on about with your weird words. I guess we have our own that you wouldn't get either. I know that when my eldest daughter goes away with her friends she always comes back with a different accent. I know how to speak properly and I got away with a whole week of being on a course with other people and no-one knowing I was a Brummie. Then someone found out where I was from and as I went past he said 'ya awright?' and I instantly replied with 'awright.' The game was up, lol. I'm sure you'll all be sounding different in time. Ellie is bound to be first as she will be talking with the kids at school. x

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    1. lol. That did make me chuckle about you being on the course. x

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  2. Haha! I love this. The town where Craig and I come from have a very broad accent. So when we moved further out in the sticks our accent was noticed as well. I LOVE 'clarty', never heard that one before.
    I say lush for everything too! :) x

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    1. hehehe! Clarty is one of my favourite words. The kids always say it too and have had to explain what it means to their friends and they have started saying it now. lol

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  3. One of my best friends at school was a Geordie and I can hear her saying all your phrases. I found it hard when we moved to Somerset. They have their own phrases. I've got used to it and once found myself translating between two neighbours. You should visit Bristol. They use lush all the time. Gert lush. #mmbc

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