LL-L "Phonology" 2004.10.07 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 07.OCT.2004 (07) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Lexicon" 2004.10.06 (02) [E]

John Duckworth wrote:
"We have a word in the north of England, _summat_ meaning 'something', that
is very commonly used. It seems to be quite widespread and I am sure
(someone will probably jump in here to confirm or deny this) that I have
heard it as far north as Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and as far south as Chester."

It is a key component of Nottingham and Derbyshire English too, John, along
with _oat_ for 'anything' and _noat_ or _nowt_ (I should standardise my
Nottingham English orthography sometime this decade) for 'nothing'. I would
definitely describe them as characteristically northern English forms, along
with the [ae] for [a:] in words like _path_ and _glass_. From what I can
gather, _summat_ seems to derive from _some what_ or _some ought_, as do
_noat_ and _oat_.

"Wos up wi je? Oot e noot?"

Criostóir.

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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Lexicon" 2004.10.06 (06) [E]

Gary wrote:
"If you did hear [summat] from someone living in London I would expect that
they'd spent some time living in the North."

This is intriguing, because _summat_ and _noat_ and _oat_ in my experience
are highly persistent. They seem to be badges of northerness that are not
given up without a fight. I've lived away from Nottingham for years now, in
places where _samink_ (Australia) and _somhing_ (Derry) are predominant
(quite aside from being bombarded with standard _something_ on television
and radio all my life), but I have never dropped _summat_ or even thought
much about it (except insofar as if I hear it, I will usually know the
person is a lexical northerner like myself).

Perhaps southerners when they move north feel a more pressing desire to fit
in lexically than northerners do when they leave their areas?

"Summat ron wi 'something' in ma jiers."

Criostóir.

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