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3rd edn addenda - Provincial Words - pages 297-303
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Page 297:-
ARTICLE X.
SOME REMARKS
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Provincial Words
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RESPECTING THE PROVINCIAL WORDS, &C. USED BY THE COMMON
PEOPLE IN THE LIMITS OF THIS TOUR.
THE language of any people, however refined it may become in
time, has undoubtedly arisen from some rude original, and
he, therefore, who wishes thoroughly to understand its
genius and primary elements, must, if possible, make himself
acquainted with its formation in its earliest stages. Now
this knowledge is often best acquired from the mouths of the
vulgar, who, living far removed from refinement, have
probably retained a dialect nearly the same with that which
resulted from the last casual admixture it underwent among
their rustic ancestors; and which in England was the union
of the Saxon with the ancient British. On this account the
critic in our language would at present receive the best
information concerning its principles and character, by
studying the provincial dialects of the times in some of the
most retired districts. And as they are now suffering a
daily change from the rapid progress made of late in every
branch of politeness, it is to be wished, that for this end
our provincial historians had carefully attended to and
preserved the peculiar terms and phrases of the vulgar
dialects, current in their respective divisions.[1]
Particularly this was to be wished
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[1]
It is also to be wished (and in this wish I have the
concurrence of several judicious friends) that the ingenious
in these parts would immediately set about making
collections of the oldest words and peculiar phrases used by
their common neighbours, and preserve them in case some
learned and properly-qualified person should hereafter
undertake to give us a complete dictionary of the
Westmorland and Cumberland dialects, to whom they might be
of the greatest service. Of such a work the list of words
which has lately appeared in the Tour to the Caves, might be
a beginning.
There are also in these parts (as in every other part alike
retired) several stories of apparitions, witches, fairies,
&c.- several traditionary tales of strange occurrences,- and
many compositions of rural bards under the titles of speech
plays, masking songs, &c. which if collected as much as
possible in their provincial dress, and preserved in some
public library, before they are likely to be lost in the
more engaging amusements of these improving times, might be
of considerable use to the future grammarian, historian, or
investigator of the progress of society and manners. The
poet too, might from these traditionary narratives, and
superstitious ideas, gain more materials for some provinces
of his fanciful art, than from the richest invention: For it
is not easy to suppose he can form for himself as striking a
combination of events, and association of ideas, as may have
been furnished by the accidents of time, and the
fruitfulness of superstition; and on account of which
strikingness these fire-side tales have obtained so long and
general a tradition as many of them can boast - But I am
content with barely throwing out a hint, which if thought
worth notice will not need any further enlargement.
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