The first was raised by Pete Magill who commented that his old school teacher used to remark on the misuse of our and are.
The difference, of course, is obvious in writing but not so in speech. For example, it is perfectly feasible for someone to say the following two sentences in the dialect, but make no audible distinction between our and are :
- "I'm goin' to see our Mike later."
- "D'you know how old Mike and Steve are?"
Words like these are often referred to as homonyms and are erroneously defined as words that are spelled differently but pronounced in exactly the same way. The precise linguistic definition of homonym is words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but have different meanings. An example of true homonyms would be bow, which can mean to lean forward as a mark of respect; or the front part of a ship - both spelled and pronounced the same way, but with distinct meanings.
In the case or our and are they can be referred to in two different ways:
- homophones - the same pronunciation but a different meaning and/or different spelling
- heterographs - the same pronunciation but a different meaning and different spelling
The second point that came up is the name of the large traffic roundabout that forms the junction of Sankey Way, Lovely Lane, Froghall Lane, and Thewlis Street.
To me, it has always been and always will be "The Green". I had never heard it referred to as anything else until a couple of days ago when I saw it referred to as the "Pink Eye roundabout". Admittedly, I don't think that this name was used in all seriousness, but nevertheless, it got me thinking.
What do you call that particular place? Is it "The Green" to you?
Hiya Wirelector. Is I and A an example?
ReplyDeleteA bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
"I(A) saw an unusual bird in park yesterday"
I have always known it as The Green,but the "pink eye" is becomming a local land mark.
I was asked a few months ago where the eye building was. I was thinking of tourist information and all sorts until it clicked what he meant.
Hi Gaynor.
ReplyDeleteYour example is excellent!
We can often overlook words such as "I" and "A" because of their roles in language and the fact that they contain only one letter, but you are absolutely right, in your example they are indeed both homophones and heterographs.
I left Warrington in 1986, and have no idea what the "pink eye" might be, but the Green was always the Green, and one step up in shopping terms from the small Coop and corner shops of Sankey Bridges!
ReplyDeleteHiya Totty. I was talking to my older brother about the "eye and green question". He has known it as "the Green" but he says that people from outside Warrington eg Widnes,Liverpool more often refer to it as "The pink eye" roundabout. We didnt live near the green but it was known to us as that. Sankey Bridges was better known to me.
DeleteIve a feeling you would like the "pink eye" building.
I was born in Sankey Bridges in the 40's Gaynor, and remember the Co-op, Mr Knight's Newsagent and Tobacconist, Summerfield's, Litherland's and Amy Clarke's sweetshop amongst others. There was also a butcher's shop on the corner of Hepherd St, but the name escapes me for the minute.
ReplyDeleteHiya Totty. Cant help you with the butchers name. I remember Summerfields. It was the name that was known to me(Sankey Bridges) more than the area. My Dad raced pidgeons and Sankey Bridges was one of the first places he took the young birds to let loose and find their way home. They usually beat him back! I was born and brought up until the age of five near the "brickfield".
DeleteJust going back to Wirelector's homonymy:-) Been and Bin.
"I'm just going to put the bin out"
"Have you bin(been) t' pictures lately?
Me and my would be another example. "Had chips for mi tea" "you coming the pub with mi"
ReplyDeleteHi James.
DeleteAbsolutely! Our use of "mi" is a strong feature of our dialect.
Another example: You and your.
ReplyDeleteHave yer remembered yer keys?
Hello
ReplyDeleteIn my experience traffic islands and bridges take their name from something
in the immediate vicinity.
Pubs: Horse and jockey. The near bridge carrying the Warrington avoiding line was known as "The Jockey Bridge" both now gone.
Lord Rodney: Rodney island (Remaining) It was normal for people to reply when asked where they were going for their holidays, either Rodney Island or Argate.
Other islands have been given official names such Brian Bevan, George Duckworth and Hilden. Poor George Duckworth, England wicket keeper and originator of the famous "Owzatt" cry, remembered by an overgrown mini traffic island
The island in question close the pink eye was know as Crosfields island in the near past. The area around the Mad Hatter is still known as the green.