this is just to say W.C.WILLIAMS

Having been brought up in the thirties I find the Lancashire dialect
natural although I don't often use it. but of course I still have
the accent in spite of my travels. I thought it would be interesting
to 'translate' a poem into dialect and one easy target was a short poem
by William Carlos Williams, a renowned American poet as well as
being a practicing doctor. Here is the original;

THIS IS JUST TO SAY
by
William Carlos Williams

 I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

And as it may have been articulated by a Boltonian joiner (like mi dad) in 1936

Note that the word ‘the’ is often written as t’ and is pronounced as
such by those unfamiliar to the dialect which grates on my ear.
In practice it is hardly articulated at all and is more of an unpronounced hesitation.


FORBIDDEN FRUIT
by
Frank Bryce

Ah’d better tell thi
ah’ve etten them plums
that were in‘ fridge

You sed they were
fer temorrer

But ah’ve et um
They were aw reet
a bit sweet







Having been brought up in the thirties I find the Lancashire dialect
natural although I don't often use it. but of course I still have
the accent in spite of my travels. I thought it would be interesting
to 'translate' a poem into dialect and one easy target was a short poem
by William Carlos Williams, a renowned American poet as well as
being a practicing doctor. Here is the original;

THIS IS JUST TO SAY
by
William Carlos Williams

 I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

And as it may have been articulated by a Boltonian joiner (like mi dad) in 1936

Note that the word ‘the’ is often written as t’ and is pronounced as
such by those unfamiliar to the dialect which grates on my ear.
In practice it is hardly articulated at all and is more of an unpronounced hesitation.


FORBIDDEN FRUIT
by
Frank Bryce

Ah’d better tell thi
ah’ve etten them plums
that were in‘ fridge

You sed they were
fer temorrer

But ah’ve et um
They were aw reet
a bit sweet