On 29 Nov 2016 at 12:20pm The Greek wrote:
I've been reading up on this and it seems to have faced the same fate as many Southern dialects and accents: it's been swallowed up by London and RP. It's a shame we no longer have a distinct dialect or even accent here.
Anyone know any old Sussex words? You can still find some older folk who speak with a true Sussex accent, but they are now few and far between.
On 29 Nov 2016 at 12:21pm The Greek wrote:
Apparently we in Sussex had 30 different words for mud!
On 29 Nov 2016 at 12:48pm Tim wrote:
Fret, Twitten, Laines, Jugs, Pug .....
On 29 Nov 2016 at 1:40pm Meic wrote:
I don't kmow whether it's still in print, but there is a very good dictionary on the Sussex Dialect. It includes the information that Scarborough Fair was a herring fishery, which makes the rather cryptic words of the song easier to understand.
My favourite is "caterwomtious". meaning a bit out of order. We called one of our cats Womtious.
On 29 Nov 2016 at 2:22pm Nibbles wrote:
Yeah, in terms of english accents in the area, they do tend to sound either like Jacob Rees-Mog or Greg Wallace with little in between or variation.
On 29 Nov 2016 at 2:25pm Farrrrrmer Giles wrote:
See link for free Sussex online dictionary.
"Mudgelly. Broken, as straw is by being trodden by cattle."
Oi do believe that Suthern trains be mudgelly.
Check it out here »
On 29 Nov 2016 at 6:30pm Wotcha wrote:
I once came across a school kid who pronounced the final syllable of "broccoli" to rhyme with "Ardingly". This suggests that there is hope for the language.
On 29 Nov 2016 at 6:48pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
If you want to hear a real Sussex accent, visit the National Sound Archive's collection of recordings at the British Library website. There's a wonderful recording made in the 1950s of an old man in Firle - he has a beautiful accent and it's sad that it's been replaced by a sub-London accent. I remember hearing something of a Sussex accent as a child and recall a woman who always pronounced brown as something like 'brewn', but that was the exception rather than the rule.
On 29 Nov 2016 at 7:51pm Barcombe Boy wrote:
Ye gods you Lewes people should get out more. Dialect and accents still strong in Barcombe and Ringmer let alone the other villages!! Drop into any of the pubs or even better join the Cribbage League
On 29 Nov 2016 at 9:17pm Horseman7 wrote:
Search online for recordings of Lewes folk singer, George Townshend.
On 30 Nov 2016 at 4:34pm The Greek wrote:
Barcombe Boy, I grew up in Barcombe and have only recently left! It is true that the accent does exist amongst the older generation, but it seems to be dying out. Unfortunately, as someone with a Sussex born and bred family, I don't have the accent!
Thanks everyone for your responses. Definitely part of our heritage worth celebrating.
On 30 Nov 2016 at 5:31pm horace wrote:
Many thanks EoL just listened to old Harry from Firle - wonderful accent, the rising and falling cadence in his voice seems to mimic the downland landscape that he worked his life on.
On 1 Dec 2016 at 8:56am G'd bugggerrrrrrrrrrrr wrote:
That's how I remember a mild expletive pronounced by a "Forester " back in the '70s. They had a particular way of clipping certain words and elongating others, Met , for Mate is one. As to wit , they can be very dry and cutting, but generally good nature banter. I have been told I have a Sussex Burr, I remember when we went on holiday to the Norfolk Broads, in a small pub where it actually did go quiet as we entered, I spoke quietly to the landlord and exagerated the accent slightly. Worked a treat
I was chuffed at that because we were in Norfolk researching my ancestors.
On 1 Dec 2016 at 9:38am Always Rivalled, Seldom Equalled wrote:
Last summer I noticed the tourist info in Lewes were selling badges with sussex words on them.