Michael Rouse interview on How to Speak Fen

[@sairhug]

I always thought "I shink so" was a contraction of "I should think so".

[@dalebates9817]

Yep! I should think so. That's a fave of my mother.

[@tuxar_uk]

Oi shink so, year!

[@fenrichlee2867]

Very interesting - as an ex Norfolk man myself. Doubtless you've listened to Alan, The singing postman singing in his broad Norfolk accent? To this day I love to hear him sing. The flip side to this is Tom Jones (say) is a 'Valley's boy born and bred but no trace of accent when he sings.

[@craignightingale8022]

Ooh, that's more like it: thass, go (come, as I used too hear it) a gutzer, bruck, owd boi- those remind me of back home. Snuck, frit, tret, ahind, amorruh- I remember those, too. Never heard anyone say 'bor' for boy, though.

[@johnyeulett7883]

I grew up in March. People used to say ‘there were an old bor’. Meaning ‘there was a young lad’ (of about 15 or 16.). I think it’s true that the accent varies widely across the fens. Wisbech is pretty different to Ely say.

[@craignightingale8022]

@@johnyeulett7883 Thaank yuw, thass' good to'ear!

[@kfwfb534]

Arguably the most Anglo-Saxon area of England. Is the official definition of the 'Fen region' Norfolk, Suffolk, parts of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire?

[@jakeyboy261992]

chaaattris

[@tallthinkev]

few white men have ventured there you knows, those that did return were quite mad

[@jakeyboy261992]

@@tallthinkev people who venture through Chatteris: You wasn't there man!!!! They made me eat my own brother man!!!!

[@RealUlrichLeland]

land of the stigs

[@jakeyboy261992]

@@RealUlrichLeland never heard that phrase, would you care to explain?

[@RealUlrichLeland]

@@jakeyboy261992 Definition 3, it is a casually used insult sometimes used as a term of endearment for someone that is either excessively frugal or just a bit chavvy www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Stig

[@hollyblue28]

I remember some of my Nan's neighbours speaking using phrases and words like these (especially Thass a Davil, and Fair to Middlin etc.). My Nan herself spoke RP as do I even though she grew up on a farm in the fen. It makes me sad that I hardly ever hear young people using any of these phrases.

[@kfwfb534]

Was your rp acquired through schooling if I may ask?

[@SgtTibbs31]

It’s black ovver Bill’s mother’s is a Lincolnshire phrase an all. I know it as ‘it’s black ovver yonder’ or ‘it’s black ovver yon owd fen’.

[@cjatkinson9096]

Delightfully charming interview. Found this after researching Fenland words and phrases.

[@bitinback2825]

Jerus or Dow or boffarnham

[@rbarnett3200]

"You bin 'en?" "Bin bout" "So ee's got us is stuff'en en is it?" "Some. Real. I guess" "Paid?" "Ay. Proper" "Sin im?" "Did and done" "Lets call it a day an be out, en" Hampshire Dialect. 1998.

[@craignightingale8022]

My grandad had a broad fen accent, my Nan to a large degree, too, but I don't remember any special vocabulary. My mum never spoke like her parents by the time I became aware of that sort of thing, despite living only a few miles from them. Despite spending probably thousands of hours with my grandparents, I can't do their accent properly:(

[@spook3d291]

ok matt

[@junctionfilms6348]

'bruck' 'thaass' 'fair to middllin' etc, is just a West Norfolk or Suffolk accent :-) from when the Ely Island was connected by boats to the mainland of Norfolk -

[@hourcide]

We use bruck/brock for broken in the Lincolnshire fens. I've heard fair to middlin my whole life n often say it myself. We also have wesh instead of wash. Giz instead of give. 'Giz it wesh and no one'll know yer bruck it'

[@anthonyfmoss]

Thass a lot of squit oi say!