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Description: | It is widely accepted that 'Northumbrian' was one of the original source languages of modern English. Its roots are predominantly Anglo-Saxon with some Celtic elements thrown in. During the last century these unique patterns of speech have been somewhat watered down by the influence of mass-media and increased mobilisation, but it is still distinguished by it's often musical tones and peculiar words that often originate from the ancient languages of Germanic and Scandinavian Europe. For example, the phrase 'gan hyem' (go home) is almost identical to the Danish equivalent.The unique way in which many Northumbrians pronounce certain words is often Anglo Saxon in origin. Thus words like Dede, Coo, Cloot, Hoos, Wrang, Strang and Lang are in fact the original Anglo Saxon pronunciations for Dead, Cow, Clout, House, Wrong, Strong and Long. Similarly, in the same way as the Anglo Saxons used the word 'wife' as a term for a woman whether she is married or not, so too do contemporary Northumbrians.A particular version of Northumbrian was spoken by miners of South East Northumberland (from places such as Blyth and Ashington) and is sometimes known as 'Pitmatic'. Examples of this variation of the language include howk - to dig out coal: kep - to catch and bait - food (as in bait box - lunch box).It is from this fount of linguistic wealth that stems the articulate and often subtle dialect poetry of Fred Reed of Ashington. A sprawling red brick town, Ashington was once known as the largest pit village in the world. A century ago green fields where replaced by extensive coal workings. From 1870 onwards the new settlement filled up with incomers - pitmen of Tyne and Wear, Scotland, North Tyne and Cumberland, Welshmen, Cornish and Irish. The polyglotal buzz can be imagined. The Northumbrian dialect was assimilated by all, but other elements had been introduced. This admixture thrived in a time of relative prosperity and intellectual advancement. It is not by chance that here in the late 1930s was also seen the development of the Ashington Group of pitmen painters through the influence of the Workers Education Association.The dialect poetry of Fred Reed is neither nostalgic verse nor comic doggerel. Rather it is a celebration of life and history stemming from a unique linguistic wealth. Fred Reed died in 1985 and was often referred to as the English Burns. This is one of four recordings of Fred Reed reading his own work which can be found on the FARNE database. The original reel-to-reel recordings can be found in the Border History Museum at Hexham. The book 'The Northumberman', a printed collection of the dialect poetry of Fred reed with forward by Melvyn Bragg is published by Iron Press (ISBN: 0 906228 71 9) and can be purchased from The Northumbrian Language Society. Visit the web site at www.northumbriana.org.uk for further details. . ; Recording of dialect poetry from Border History Museum, Hexham ; dialect poet reads own work | Publisher: | unknown | Rights holder: | rights holder : Reed, Raymond | Subjects: | dialect poetry & coal trade | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:H1900004 | Go to resource |
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