Whare de yea belang?

A Dictionary of North East Dialect

by Bill Griffiths

Published 6th June 2024

Paperback £14.99

ISBN 9780857162700

ebook ISBN 9780857162717

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Larn yarself Geordie!   Hippin,’ croggie and dickers are just a few of the words defined in this wonderful book dedicated to defining the North East dialect.
This dictionary is a guide to exploring the dialect as well as explaining where the words come from. Words like boilie – bread and milk, booler – child’s hoop, croggie – a ride on a bike’s crossbars,dickers – to dare someone, farntickles – freckles, leach – hard work, and panhaggerty – a dish with meat and potatoes. Who would have known it!
The author explains that North East dialect is at heart a spoken language, a flexible experience and open to change. This book is not intended to fix it but to encourage a better appreciation of what thankfully is becoming recognised at last as an essential part of the region’s ‘intangible heritage.’’’
As well as the dictionary section, the book explains how the dialect evolved over the centuries, charting the influence of the Vikings and Normans and looks at how immigration, local industry and trade contacts abroad all had an impact.

‘… a vivid guide, not only to the distinctive vocabulary of the North East, but also the ways in which dialect words contain echoes of the long history of the region and its people. By explaining the meaning of words he helps us to understand the place.Prof. Keith Wrightson, Yale University


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