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5b.3 Vocabulary
Lexis low words
5c. Dialect area represented
Not specified, but assumed Westmoreland
5d. Density of dialect representation
Heavily marked
5e. Location of dialect
In dialogue
5f. Characteristics of dialect speakers
Either minor or peripheral; working class, male and female
5g. Consistency of representation
Consistent; male and female characters accorded same markers of local dialect.
Older character (mother) has slightly more marked use of archaic pronouns thee,
thy, tha
6. Narrative comments on dialects and varieties
Helbeck of Bannisdale makes the following comment about code-switching:
But the old man is dead, and the son, who now works the farm jointly with his
mother, is of no class and no character. He has just education enough to
despise his father and his father's hard work. He talks the dialect with his
inferiors, or his kindred, and drops it with you and me. The old traditions have
no hold upon him, and he is just a vulgar and rather vicious hybrid, who drinks
more than is good for him and has a natural affinity for any sort of low loveaffair
(p. 111-12) [emphasis added]
Also, regional dialect strongly associated with ‗country‘ rather than ‗town‘. Note
Laura‘s comments on first meeting Hubert:
And at her first glance she saw the signs of that strong and silent process
perpetually going on amongst us that tames the countryman to the life and
habits of the town. It was only a couple of months since the young athlete
from the fells had been brought within its sway, and already the marks of it
were evident in dress, speech, and manner. The dialect was almost gone; the
black Sunday coat was of the most fashionable cut that Froswick could
provide (p.210) [emphasis added]
7. Other points of interest
When Helbeck, whose dialogue is mostly StE, uses local dialect terms, these are
enclosed in quotation marks. For instance:
Evidently Augustina has no chance with her--she has been accustomed to
reign! Well, we shall let her ―gang her gait.‖‘ (p.3)
Bullough Collection No. 462 Marcella, by Mrs Humphry Ward
1. Publication details
Author: Mrs Humphry Ward
Author dates: 1851-1920
Title: Marcella
Publication: London: Thomas Nelson, 1919?
First published: 1894
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