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5f. Characteristics of dialect speakers
Male, primary character
5g. Consistency of representation
Code-switching: The Provost‘s narrative switches, as in this extract, from highregister
standard English into his Scottish variety, and then returns just as abruptly to
standard English
6. Narrative comments on dialects and varieties
None noted
7. Other points of interest
Scottish / Edinburgh dialect words frequently appear in narrative sections. For
example:
There was, however, a gleg old carlin among the gossips then present, one Mrs
Sprowl, the widow of a deceased magistrate, and she cried out aloud:-- (p. 6)
Here, as throughout, there is no explanation or translation of the dialect terms.
The volume includes two other short stories (‗The Steam-Boat‘ and ‗The Omen‘).
In the first of these there is a lengthy narrative ‗The Soldier‘s Mother‘ included
(among many other narratives from fellow travellers). This claims to be the
woman‘s own story, and at the outset, is heavily marked for Scottish regional
dialect. The narrative has fewer and fewer markers as it continues. Three
extracts are shown below; the first from the beginning of the woman‘s story, the
second from the mid-point, and the third from the end:
My gudeman has frien‘s in East-Lothian and upon a notion of visiting them
between haytime and har‘st, I set out frae hame, about three weeks syne (p. 162)
As we were sitting, communing with the dead and gone, he happened to notice a
bit of a soldier‘s coat, and, pulling it out of the yird, drew with it an old rusty gully
knife (p. 165)
As I carried my bundle aye in my hand, I had nothing to make ready for the voyage;
so I steppit on board (p. 168)
Bullough Collection No. 217 Gurney Married by Theodore Hook
1. Publication details
Author: Hook, Theodore Edward
Title: Gurney Married; a sequel to Gilbert Gurney
Publication: London: George Routledge, (19--?)
First published: 1838
Library reference: 200350906
2. Genre / subgenre
Silver fork novel
3. Brief Synopsis
First-person narrative; sequel to Gilbert Gurney which is believed to be Hook‘s first
autobiographical novel. Makes universal comments on marriage as an institution
(often satirically)
4. Overview of dialects / varieties
Non-standardness occurs in the dialogue of only one character (Tom Falwasser), who
is step-son of Cuthbert, Gilbert‘s brother and benefactor. Although domestic or
menial workers‘ brief dialogue is slightly marked for dialect, Tom‘s is consistently
marked heavily throughout.
5. Variety #1: Tom Falwasser
5a. Sample of dialect
http://librarysupport.shef.ac.uk /bullough.pdf
Copyright © 2007, The University of Sheffield
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