I was born in the city of Leicester (Lesta), 46 years ago. So being an old fogie gives me years of experience living in this town of character. There are, I must admit, pockets of ugliness, yet there are areas of beauty and history going back to Roman times.
I was in a conversation this lunchtime with a friend at work and we were discussing the dialect of this great town. I dropped in a tried and trusted slang word, that only people from Leicester would understand but it still made my work colleague giggle. I can also travel anywhere in the country or abroad, and if I hear this familiar dialect I know exactly where the person is from. I also find that if I am in conversation with someone with a broad Leicester accent it does tend to set me off and I’m completely involved in this convoluted (folded into tortuous windings; The free dictionary) form of talking. Leicester talking can also be quite quick and difficult to understand for non-Leicester folk. It is quite funny though and a great dialect of the country.
Here are some words and phrases for your enjoyment, beginning with the first that I used today:
1 I’m gunoo…Meaning, I’m going to.
2 How muchisit…Meaning, How much is it.
3 Tis…Meaning, It is.
4 Dooont ya…Meaning, Don’t you.
5 If ya wanoo…Meaning, If you want to!
6 guuon then…Meaning, Go on then.
7 Al ave an am cob n tomatah…Meaning, Ill have a ham roll with tomato.
8 Ja wan a cuppa tea…Meaning, Do you want a cup of tea.
9 am not bovered…Meaning, I’m not bothered.
10 av gorra take the dog ow…Meaning, I’ve got to take the dog out.
11 a dooont wan oat…Meaning, I don’t want anything.
There, a selection of words that are definitely clipped in the Leicester tongue.
If you would like to share your local dialect I’d be very interested in the comments section.
x Pip