DIALECT AND WORD MEANINGS

[Stanley]

"Why bother?"
Quite Cathy. I doubt if I will ever use any of them.

[Tripps]

I learned a new word today " Dunkelflaute ". It's German of course, and I knew that dunkel bier was dark coloured - so curiosity was piqued. It's interesting that the Germans already have a word for this situation, whilst we don't seemed to be concerned - on our journey to Net Zero.

"Dunkelflaute is a German term that roughly translates to a "dark wind lull" or "dark doldrums". It describes a situation where there's minimal sunshine and wind for extended periods - meteorologists also refer to this as anticyclonic gloom. This phenomenon is a significant concern for energy systems that heavily depend on renewables like wind and solar power, as it means using alternative energy sources to keep the electricity flowing. In northern Europe, dunkelflaute is a fairly common occurrence during the dark winter months. However, countries like Japan can experience these events during both the summer and winter".

[Stanley]

Will you be using it David?

[Tripps]

In the wee hours - I composed in my head about three or four answers to that excellent question, including the rather flippant "I just did". One of the others would have given Giles Coren a run for his money. To summarise - probably not - but I'm pleased to have made its aquaintance.

[Stanley]

I get the same kick out of some German composite words David. I can remember the first one that grabbed me, 'fahrrad' : a 'go-wheel'. A very logical way to describe a bicycle!

[Stanley]

Later. I was thinking of one of my dad's sayings. He used to describe early in the morning as "Up before sparrow fart!"
I have two questions, is this an Australian usage or has anyone heard it over here. Second, do sparrows fart as soon as they wake up in the morning?

[Cathy]

Some google research says that “Up before sparrow fart.”, was used in WW1.
Didn’t see any particular nationality mentioned.

[Stanley]

Thanks Cathy. Looks as though it might be early army slang......

[Tripps]

or has anyone heard it over here.

Common slang in the British army I'd say. I'd doubt it was to be taken literally.

Speaking of German composite words - I always have a little snigger at "Ausfahrt". ( Out go / Exit) Childish I know.

[Stanley]

When the 22nd of Foot was travelling out to their next posting in Berlin we travelled in Germany on the Blue Train from The Hook. Due to my school certificate German I was in a good position. At one point, one of my mates commented that the Germans didn't have a lot of imagination and when I asked him why he said because they named all their stations the same..... 'ausfart'.
How about 'Luftschutzraum'? At first I thought it was 'air-tight room' and was perhaps some defence against poison gas or fumes.

[Tripps]

I'm not a fan of Mr James O'Brien of LBC, but sometimes he's the 'only game in town' . He had a chap on his show this morning who used the phrase "doubly unconnected" to illustrate his situation. He was born a 'working class scouser' but had received a good free education, that had enabled him to become a university lecturer. He now found himself alienated from his roots, but still not fully accepted by his current peers. The phrase used in that sense, seems to be unknown to Google.



If the cap fits though . . . .

[Stanley]

I can remember being quite distressed when I was at Lancaster because I found that many of my old friends bored me.... I saw the education I was getting and the way it changed me as being a barrier. I later realised that this was an illusion, it was only a barrier if I let it be. I was helped by some of my tutors who told me that they felt inadequate in some ways when interacting with me because in practical terms of knowledge of elements of real life (Like how to run a steam engine or a lathe) I was streets ahead of them.
(None of them could knurl a knob!)

[Tripps]

Thanks for a thoughtful reply. I think the aswer is to train yourself to react on different levels to different peer groups? It's quite possible. I used to really enjoy speaking (and perhaps teasing a bit) the Poet next door's intelectual guests, at her gatherings. I don't think they realised they were being teased.

ome of my tutors who told me that they felt inadequate in some ways when interacting with

Brave of them to admit it. Many would not have done so.

None of them could knurl a knob!)

Or show out as a Tic Tac, the odds at Blackpool dogs.

[Stanley]

I like the Tic Tac reference David....
A man called Dr. Mowatt taught me linguistics and when I asked him whether my Yorkshire dialect was a disadvantage when dealing with academics he told me no, my speech was actually more accurate and authentic than theirs. He gave me examples where I was more precise that 'Received English' would have been. (I remember him as a good man, I liked him!)

[Stanley]

I heard a man on Farming Today this morning talking about 'pantechnicons' in connection with farming which made me wonder if he knew what the word meant....
"a large van for transporting furniture.". Origin: mid 19th century: from pan- ‘all’ + tekhnikon ‘piece of art’, originally the name of a bazaar in London for all kinds of artistic work, later converted into a furniture warehouse."

[Stanley]

I first came across the Name 'Buffalo Wings' for hot and spicy chicken wings in a bar in Northfield Minnesota.
A popular bar food and appetizer, wings can be ordered mild or spicy, and boneless varieties are also common. The name comes from Buffalo, New York, where the dish was created. Several origin stories exist, but the basic recipe is the same.

[Tripps]

Not from the BBC website so of doubtful veracity - no source yet, but sounds right to me.

The Prime Minister received clothing donations worth £10,000 in October 2023 and £6,000 in February 2024, his office said on Friday. The donations were originally declared as money for his private office, but have now been “re-categorised”. The extra £16,000 comes on top of the £16,200 that had already been declared.


What does miscategorise mean? - to assign (someone or something) to an incorrect group or category : to classify wrongly.

Example - to categorise donated money as office expenses, when in fact it is most likely a bribe.

[Tripps]

Not from the BBC website so of doubtful veracity - no source yet, but sounds right to me. PS - It's from the Daily Telegraph.

The Prime Minister received clothing donations worth £10,000 in October 2023 and £6,000 in February 2024, his office said on Friday. The donations were originally declared as money for his private office, but have now been “re-categorised”. The extra £16,000 comes on top of the £16,200 that had already been declared.


What does miscategorise mean? - to assign (someone or something) to an incorrect group or category : to classify wrongly.

Example - to categorise donated money as office expenses, when in fact it is most likely a bribe.

[Stanley]

I used the word 'Mithering' this morning and it struck me that it might be very local. One of my mother's favourite descriptions of us kids. Has anyone else come across it?

[Steeplejerk]

I still use the word quite a lot

[Gloria]

Yes I know that word Stanley……..what’s tha mithering abart

[PanBiker]

Common usage with us also.

[Tripps]

Moidering: "nattering, moaning or generally making a nuisance of your self".

I think we've discussed this word before - where've you been when we needed you? I first heard it from my Irish Mother in law, (we'd have said mithered at home in Oldham) ,and thought it was Irish, but seems not.

First heard 'agate ' in Rochdale. Pronounced like agayit. I think there's a word for stretching vowels. Stanley will know.

Both included on this site Lancs words

Love 'amaftera'


PS " word for stretching vowels" I think it might be dipthong - but I can't be mithered to look it up.

We've done this word and derivatives to death over the years.
Does no harm though, to have another look. Words are always interesting.

[Stanley]

I forget whether we have done them and Stanley wouldn't have known what a diphthong is, he'd have had to look it up!
(Mention thong and my mind goes to scanty knickers..... )

[Mags]

Dad, thongs are what we wear on our feet (flip flops).

Not very big knickers are G Strings or holes held together with string as my step dad called them........