Lancashire Dialect Literary Tradition Talk

Paul Salveson certainly didn’t disappoint as he explained the background to this fascinating dialect.  Bolton born and bred, Paul concentrated on the real Lancashire before politics got in the way and created Cumbria and Greater Manchester which robbed the county of some important industrial areas and beauty spots such as Coniston in the Lake District.

Authors which many of us would recognise like Edwin Waugh (possibly pronounced Waff), Samuel Bamford and Sam Laycock as well as less remembered names like David Halstead and Allen Clarke and including some ladies like Ethel Carnie.

Readings of dialect poetry showing real humour about the dire conditions in which people were living, helped to bring home the salient fact that these were intelligent people with a genuine understanding of the world around them and a desire to learn more.

Interestingly, postcards were sent from those at home to those on holiday with some delightful insights!  A total reversal of our understanding of postcards.

Concluding with a series of questions asking whether dialect is still important, still used and still relevant today could only leave the audience pondering.

An excellent and enlightening evening.  I for one cannot quite get my head around the fact that if I travel by rail to Silverdale, I’m still in Lancashire, Arnside is in Westmorland but after crossing the Kent estuary I’m back in Lancashire!  Try saying that in Lancashire dialect.