The Dialect of the West of England; Particularly Somersetshire

audiobook

The Dialect of the West of England; Particularly Somersetshire

by James Jennings

EN·~3 hours·52 chapters

Chapters

52 total
1

PARTICULARLY SOMERSETSHIRE; - WITH A GLOSSARY OF WORDS NOW IN USE THERE; ALSO WITH POEMS AND OTHER PIECES EXEMPLIFYING THE DIALECT. - BY JAMES JENNINGS, - HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE METROPOLITAN LITERARY INSTITUTION, LONDON. - BASED ON THE SECOND EDITION, - THE WHOLE REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED, WITH TWO DISSERTATIONS ON THE ANGLO-SAXON PRONOUNS, AND OTHER PIECES, - BY JAMES KNIGHT JENNINGS, M.A.,

0:33
2

TO THA DWELLERS O' THA WEST,

11:56
3

JAS. JENNINGS. - PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

1:14
4

Produced by Miranda van de Heijning, David Starner,

0:26
5

PREFACE.

18:04
6

BUT WHICH ARE NOT ACCCEPTED AS LEGITIMATE WORDS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE; - OR WORDS WHICH, ALTHOUGH ONCE USED GENERALLY, ARE NOW BECOME PROVINCIAL. - A.

2:35
7

B.

8:25
8

C.

5:14
9

D.

5:04
10

E.

0:34

Description

Step into the rolling hills and quiet villages of England’s western heartland, where the language itself feels like a living relic. This volume blends careful linguistic research with the warmth of everyday speech, guiding listeners through centuries‑old words and phrases that still echo in Somerset’s fields and farms. Interwoven with the scholarly analysis are vivid poems and anecdotes that bring the dialect to life, letting you hear the rhythm of a community that has long guarded its speech against the tide of modernity.

Beyond the fascinating glossary, the work offers charming verse and short narratives rooted in real local stories, each chosen to illustrate the unique sounds of the region. As you listen, you’ll discover how these expressions link present‑day speakers to their Anglo‑Saxon roots, while also witnessing a language slowly slipping from common use. The result is an engaging, educational journey that feels both like a warm conversation with a knowledgeable guide and a treasured glimpse into a fading cultural treasure.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (188K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2005-02-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

JJ

James Jennings

1772–1833

A self-taught Somerset writer, editor, and dialect scholar, he is best remembered for preserving the speech of the West Country in lively poems and glossaries. His work offers a rare, vivid record of everyday language in early 19th-century England.

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