The following text contains only a small example of Dr. Arnold Kellett's research on the grammar of the Yorkshire dialect. Differences between West Riding speech and North/East Ridings will be specified by (WR) and (NER)
Verbs
Present Tense
The verb will be put with examples of pronouns, showing how the word changes in different situations
Verbs
Present Tense
The verb will be put with examples of pronouns, showing how the word changes in different situations
To laik (play)
Ah (or Aw) laik
Tha (WR) Thoo (NER) laiks
'e laiks
shoo, sher, sh' Laiks
wer, wi laik
yer, you laik
Thet, ther, the' laik
Future tense
Indicated by 'bahn' (WR) or 'off ti (NER) Examples:
Ah'm bahn ter side them pots -> I'm going to put those dishes away
'e's off ti shut t' yat -> He's going to shut the gate
Past Tense
Tha (WR) Thoo (NER) laiks
'e laiks
shoo, sher, sh' Laiks
wer, wi laik
yer, you laik
Thet, ther, the' laik
Future tense
Indicated by 'bahn' (WR) or 'off ti (NER) Examples:
Ah'm bahn ter side them pots -> I'm going to put those dishes away
'e's off ti shut t' yat -> He's going to shut the gate
Past Tense
Gat or getten -> Got
Fahned, fan or fun -> Found Ett -> Ate |
Frozzen ->frozen
Putten ->put Shutten ->shut |
Negatives
In NER and WR speech 'nut' replaces 'not'. 'Nooan' is also used but only in West Riding dialect.
Thoo'll nut finnd owt -> You'll not find anything
Ah'm nooan bahn yonder -> I'm not going there
Double negatives are commonly used in the dialects of Yorkshire
'e nivver said nowt neeaways ti neean on 'em -> He never said anything at all to anybody
Reflexives are common in WR and NER as well.
Sit rhisses dahn, lad. (WR), Sit thissel doon, lad (NER) -> Sit yourself down, lad
Possessives
Possessives adjectives and pronouns generally do not differ very much from their Standard English counterparts.
In NER and WR speech 'nut' replaces 'not'. 'Nooan' is also used but only in West Riding dialect.
Thoo'll nut finnd owt -> You'll not find anything
Ah'm nooan bahn yonder -> I'm not going there
Double negatives are commonly used in the dialects of Yorkshire
'e nivver said nowt neeaways ti neean on 'em -> He never said anything at all to anybody
Reflexives are common in WR and NER as well.
Sit rhisses dahn, lad. (WR), Sit thissel doon, lad (NER) -> Sit yourself down, lad
Possessives
Possessives adjectives and pronouns generally do not differ very much from their Standard English counterparts.
My becomes mi or ma.
Your becomes this or thy His becomes 'is Her becomes 'er Our becomes wer or ahr (WR) Our becomes oor (NER) Your becomes yer Their becomes the'r |
Mine becomes mine or mahne
Yours becomes thine His becomes 'is Hers becomes 'ers Ours becomes ahrs (WR) Ours becomes oors (NER) Yours becomes yours Theirs becomes Theirs |
Plurals
In the dialects of Yorkshire plurals are usually not used to when talking about periods of time or quantities
Six pund -> six pounds
Two weeks owd -> two weeks old
Some plurals remain in their older forms such as these examples
Childer instead of children
Spice instead of sweets
Hosen instead of stockings
Shoon or Shooin instead of shoes
Prepositions
Some prepositions have a different pronunciation compared to standard English. Some have only subtle changes, where for others there is a significant and noticeable different
Above is replaced with Aboon
Behind is replaced with Behunt or Behint (NER)
Before is replaced with Afooar
From is replaced with Fra (WR) or Frev (NER)
Without is replaced with Baht
To is replaced with ter, tul (WR) or tiv (NER)
Demonstrative Adjectives
In this dialect demonstratives such as 'that' or 'this' are usually followed by theeare (there) or 'ere (here)
That theeare pig -> That pig
This 'ere cannle -> This candle
In the dialects of Yorkshire plurals are usually not used to when talking about periods of time or quantities
Six pund -> six pounds
Two weeks owd -> two weeks old
Some plurals remain in their older forms such as these examples
Childer instead of children
Spice instead of sweets
Hosen instead of stockings
Shoon or Shooin instead of shoes
Prepositions
Some prepositions have a different pronunciation compared to standard English. Some have only subtle changes, where for others there is a significant and noticeable different
Above is replaced with Aboon
Behind is replaced with Behunt or Behint (NER)
Before is replaced with Afooar
From is replaced with Fra (WR) or Frev (NER)
Without is replaced with Baht
To is replaced with ter, tul (WR) or tiv (NER)
Demonstrative Adjectives
In this dialect demonstratives such as 'that' or 'this' are usually followed by theeare (there) or 'ere (here)
That theeare pig -> That pig
This 'ere cannle -> This candle