Accents

[dogmandouglas]

A short while ago there was a discussion on different accents in the UK.
I came across this old poem and thought it might interest you.

ERNIE DUNN
When Ernie Dunn wor still alive
Folks sed ’e wor no good.
But nah ’e’s dead, they changed their tune:
’E’s called “misunderstood”.
But Ernie Dunn can ’ear ’em not -
‘E’s climbed the gowden steer.
At last ’e’s come to t’gowden geet
And thunders, “Oppen theer!”
“What dost tha want?”, St. Peter sez,
“Why dost tha mek that din?”
“Ah’m Ernie Dunn,” Owd Dunn replies,
“Tha’d better let mey in!”
St. Peter shook ’is ’oary ’ead,
And tonned as if ter go:
“No Dunn can enter ’ere, me lad.
Thee ’op it - dahn below.”
“’Ark ’ere, owd chap,” sez Ernie Dunn,
“Thi face is nice and kind.
Thee tek a lowk in t’ gowden bowk:
Ah’m sure tha’ll change thi mind.”
“Well just to please thee,” Peter sez,
“Ah’ll go and look in t’book.
But goin' be what ah’ve ’eard o’ thee,
Ah’m ’fraid tha’s aht o’ luck.”
St. Peter went to look in t’book -
’E thowt owd Dunn’d weet.
When ’e com back, owd Dunn wor gone . . .
And so were t’gowden geet!
Anon.

[iamback]

That's great - I wish I'd know how to pronounce it though!

[LoisWakeman]

Lovely!

I like the old inscription you see on some cheap souvenir china too:

YY U R, YY U B, YY U R I C 4 Me

- a precursor to txtspk from the 19th Century

(Hint: count the Ys rather than sounding them out :) )

[dogmandouglas]

I found this on YouTube: Someone from east midlands has actually recorded the poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifeoP6DguIc

For those who don't want to watch here's a "plain" English version.

ERNIE DUNN

When Ernie Dunn wore still alive,
Folks said he wore no good.
But now he's dead, they've changed their tune,
He's called misunderstood.

But Ernie Dunn can hear them not,
He climbed the Golden Stair
At last he got to t'Golden Gates
And thunders "Open there!!"

"What dost thou want?" Saint Peter said
"Why dost thou make that din?"
"I'm Ernie Dunn, old Joe Dunn's son
Thou'd better let me in!"

Saint Peter shook his hoary head and turned as if to go
"No Dunn can enter here, me lad
Now hoppit, down below!"

"Look here, old chap" says Ernie Dunn
"Thy face is nice and kind,
Thou take a look in t'Golden Book
I'm sure thy'll change thy mind"

"Well, just to please thee" Peter said
"I'll go and look in t'Book
But going by what I've heard of thee,
I'm 'fraid thou's out of luck."

Saint Peter went to look in t'Book
He'd thought owd Dunn 'ud wait
When he got back, Owd Dunn were gone
And so were t'Golden Gates!!

[Michael Rowley]

Doug:

I found this on YouTube: Someone from east midlands has actually recorded the poemI noted he said afterwards, ‘It’s looking black over at Bill’s mother’s; ‘Bill’s mother’s was the answer I always got when I asked a great-aunt of mine the destination of a Sunday-afternoon walk. She had worked in Settle (that is in the West Riding of Yorkshire) and was married to a man from there. But thunderstorms always took place ‘up in Annie’s room’.

[Richard Waller]

Si Si Senor der dago
Forte lores in aro
Deyarnt lores, demar trux
Fula cowsan ens and dux

[iamback]

Si Si Senor der dago
Forte lores in aro
Dey arnt lores, dey are trux
Fula cowsan, ens, and duxFor some reason I had to read backwards to make out the words ... but I'm getting stuck on the first line. :(

[Richard Waller]

si si senor, there they go . . . .

[iamback]

Ah, :)