It was on the radio news this morning that local authority workplaces in the North East are banning the use of coloquial expressions such as 'pet' and 'hinny' as they are patronising.
I don't really mind 'pet' that much but 'hinny' is a horrible ugly word. I was actually quite surprised that anyone is using 'hinnny' these days. The only person I've heard use it recently is my sister's on/off boyfriend who is a bit of a 70s throwback and I think he just says it for effect.
I tried to search for this news story, but couldn't find it. Instead I found an interesting article on the BBC about the Geordie dialect dying out. I've not seen much evidence of this (besides hinny's fall in popularity) and 'clammin' is still very much in use in Sunderland (to be desparate for something to consume i.e. I'm clammin for a pint). I can still the difference between someone from Newcastle, Sunderland and all the places in between.
It would be just my luck though to be saddled with the reminants of a defunct accent. It isn't that strong - people still in the north don't think I have any accent at all, but then to other people in the south it seems quite strong. Someone at university years ago accused me of 'putting on a northern accent because I thought it was cool' and a few people have thought I was Irish or even Norwegian. I do still get paranoid about it though and worry it goes against me in interviews. If I had the time and money, I would consider elocution, but I think my family would be a bit offended.
2 comments:
Interesting article - must go and read it through properly.
I think it would be a shame if all colloquialisms died out - although, I'm sure there are some that are offensive, that perhaps should be used with restraint.
I personally love all my Scots words and am forever being asked by people what on earth I'm babbling on about.
Apparently though the cows are picking up regional accents.
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