56 



already referred to the shortness of Cimibrian words, and jDointed out how 

 monosyllables in the dialect are frequently synonymous with ordinary 

 English words of two or three syllables ; and when we consider that, 

 besides this, many of the phrases, too, are extremely laconic, it is easy to 

 understand that a Cumbrian requires far less time and breath to express 

 his ideas to his neighbour than would be required to do it in Queen's 

 English. Take, for example, the questions, "Where are you going?" 

 " What are you doing 1 " and "What is the matter?" It will be observed 

 that each of these questions consists of five syllables, whereas, in the 

 dialect, they only require three each, thus, " Where's te gaan 1" " What's 

 te deiin ? " and " What's t' matter?" N umerous examples of this kind 

 might be given ; but as the above will give an idea of our meaning, we 

 will proceed to make a few observations on the expressiveness of the 

 Cumbrian mode of speech. We cannot illustrate this part of the subject 

 better than by giving a few specimens of the short saj's with which the 

 folkspeech of Cumberland abounds. Indeed, there is hardly a circum- 

 stance or incident in the lives of the dales people, but there is a figurative 

 phrase of some kind applicable to it. Here are a few. If a person is 

 thought foolish they will say, " He's nobbut hofe rock't," or " He"s as 

 thin as a cat lug." If one is slow in his movements, they say, " He'll 

 gang farder i' two days ner yan." When an old courtship is renewed, 

 they say, " Auld ke'all ur seuner warm't nor newens meade. " If a man 

 marries for money, they say, " He's weddit t'middin for 't seiike o't 

 muck." If a person is not to be depended upon, " He's not to ride a 

 watter on." If an insignificant per.son has had a narrow escape, it is said 

 " That 'at's nowt's niver i' danger. " If a person is cross and cantan- 

 kerous, " He's as creuk't as a tip horn." If one is sly and deceitful, they 

 say, " Smooth water runs deep." We might go on quoting these old 

 saws, but the few si^ecimens given may serve to give some notion of their 

 character, and though many of them may not be so very refined, we must 

 at least admit that they are uncommonly expressive and much to the 

 purpose. 



Alluding, in a former part of this paper, to the corruptions and 

 irregularities of speech which abounded among the dialect-speaking people 



