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Hull Accent

(97 Posts)
vampirequeen Thu 05-Feb-15 15:03:49

I know we've discussed accents on another thread but I heard a radio advert on the local radio that truly sums up the Hull accent.

What do you think 'Arthur Gnome' sells?

I'll tell you later.

durhamjen Sat 07-Feb-15 17:29:07

When my son went to visit his ex in-laws in Norway, he could understand a lot. However, I cannot understand at all when my other son's partner speaks Danish. I know which place names have Danish roots, but that's about it.

Deedaa Sat 07-Feb-15 18:38:59

After 24 years in Cornwall I got pretty good at understanding the accent, but I used to have an awful time when I had to organise events with one of the local farmers. He had a very thick accent, talked very fast and had a speech impediment. The combination was pretty lethal and I was lucky if I picked out one word in three! Things always got organised in the end, but I was never sure how.

TriciaF Sat 07-Feb-15 19:15:16

I lived and workd in Hull for 20+ years but still couldn't reproduce the accent. Though I still remember children saying "haitch" for aitch.
But I was born and grew up in Northumberland and can switch to Geordie at the drop of a hat - whye aye man!

annodomini Sat 07-Feb-15 19:46:23

When we came back to England from Africa at the end of 1970, we lived for a while in deepest Devon, sometimes enjoying a drink at a local pub. Could we understand a word the other drinkers spoke? I'd have stood a better chance with Swahili.

alisonobrien Sun 08-Feb-15 09:43:34

The best one I heard was when discussing what to cook for tea with a lady from Lancashire." I've got some cheese left" she said " and " I'm goin' fer't 'ave fer't use it"

Greenfinch Sun 08-Feb-15 09:54:52

I was talking to a Scottish lady the other day about the names families give to their children. She said she particularly liked her neighbour's choice of the name "Peril" I looked at her thinking only of Beryl the Peril and why anyone would choose that and she said "Well, how would you pronounce Pearl?

annodomini Sun 08-Feb-15 10:56:55

Yesterday, before the Scotland/France match, Jill Douglas was interviewing the new Scottish number 10 and even I could barely understand a word he said. Note to Scotland management: media training needed for new star!

granjura Sun 08-Feb-15 11:19:25

Pheeew Anno, I was trying to understand him and couldn't, and thought 'my English is slipping, been away too long (6 years in March)- but then OH said he didn't get a word either! When I first went to work in the UK, I was supposed to go and work for Reckitt and Coleman in Hull- but then was sent to London- lucky escape for my English then ;) lol.

trisher Sun 08-Feb-15 11:37:28

Oh granjura you missed out:
"Reckitt's girls, Reckitt's girls,
Eyes like diamonds, teeth like pearls."
Used to skip to this when I was a kid. I think it is probably because this was a better job for girls than the fishing industry.

rubysong Sun 08-Feb-15 11:52:47

I have happy memories of Ferens Art Gallery * DJ* we used to go quite often as children (also Wilberforce House , transport museum and the whaling museum when it used to have the huge whale's jawbones outside). I can remember vividly some of the art work at Ferens. There was a bronze thing like an enormous beetle and a scary painting of a saint (Sebastian?) pierced with lots of arrows.
We might be going up there next week (if DH can get a football ticket) maybe I'll get a chance to go to the gallery and see what it's like.
Lots of culture in Hull already when we start to think about it.

durhamjen Sun 08-Feb-15 12:05:38

www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Monaco-Hull-actually-Michelin-Guide-s-tweet-helps/story-25991355-detail/story.html

Have you been to the History Centre, ruby? It's where the archives are kept, just off Freetown Way. Can't remember the street name, but then I never had to when I lived on Spring Bank or Spring Bank West.

granjura Sun 08-Feb-15 12:09:12

In all my years in the UK (39) I never did go further North East than Durham (which I love, especially the amazing Cathedral, in all its simple and huge Norman glory) - very much one of my dreams to go to Northumberland, Alnwick, Lindisfarne and the wild coast. When we visit the UK, we have so many things to do and have never made it yet. And I've never been to either Newcastle (we live in Newcastle-u-Lyme for 4 years though) or Liverpool on t'other side.

granjura Sun 08-Feb-15 16:37:20

Trisher, that is funny and never heard it before. I went to work for Beecham's in Brentford, London, instead. Used to get teased mercilessly about Beecham's powders. Must say I loved my 3 years in SW London.

TriciaF Sun 08-Feb-15 17:09:28

Reckitts was a company with very advanced views about its employees - James Reckitt was a philanthropist who, among other things built a quite luxurious housing estate for his employees, Garden Village, still very much occupied (BIL lives there.)
They even had a keep fit scheme for their workers - I'm still in touch with a friend from Hull who was at one time a sports teacher there.

rosequartz Sun 08-Feb-15 17:15:56

we live in Newcastle-u-Lyme for 4 years though granjura you should be able to translate my post of
Fri 06-Feb-15 10:09:32

'I wunna gunna go on buzz down town terday, me duck'

granjura Sun 08-Feb-15 17:25:00

Ahaha I loved the Stoke accent and the people i worked with found it hilarious to teach me, the little foreign girl, hos to speak proper potteries! But we digress- back to Hull ;)

rosequartz Sun 08-Feb-15 18:24:30

'Ull

or Kingston-upon-Hull is you want to sound posh.

rosequartz Sun 08-Feb-15 18:24:43

if not is

durhamjen Sun 08-Feb-15 22:25:16

Do not know anyone who ever called it Kingston-upon-Hull. We do not want people confusing us with those upstarts from the other Kingston.

MamaCaz Sun 08-Feb-15 23:28:41

This thread has reminded me of last summer.
I was back in my native Yorkshire for a few days (Huddersfield, to be precise), and couldn't help smiling when I saw a hand-written sign outside a workshop, next to a pile of old wooden pallets. It said "elp yer sens".

Ah, it was good to be back home and realise that I still understood the language even though I haven't lived there since I was 18 smile

rubysong Sun 08-Feb-15 23:46:31

(Sunday 12:05) DJ No but I have been to the new(ish ) archives in Beverley.

durhamjen Sun 08-Feb-15 23:51:17

I ought to go there. I am trying to find out why William Hutt became MP for Hull, about the same time as William Wilberforce.

rubysong Sun 08-Feb-15 23:57:57

I have the Wilberforce family on my family tree (5 generations back) but haven't found a link to the great William.

durhamjen Mon 09-Feb-15 00:19:11

My mother's family were Milners. Mary Milner married William Hutt. He was her second husband; her first was John Bowes father, of the Bowes Museum. People always said that Mary Milner's family shunned her, but she left money in her will to a niece, by the same name, so obviously she was in touch with someone.
He had no obvious connections to Hull, unless it was through her family.
Intriguing, isn't it, family history?

rosequartz Mon 09-Feb-15 15:40:54

djen DD2 was born in Kingston-upon-Thames

She is a lot posher than the rest of us. grin