David Patterson, The provincialisms of Belfast and

THE
PROVINCIALISMS OF BELFAST
AND THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS
POINTED OUT AND CORRECTED:
TO WHICH IS ADDED
AN ESSAY
ON
MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES.
BY
DAVID PATTERSON,
INDUSTRIAL TEACHER OF THE BLIND AT THE ULSTER INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB
AND THE BLIND, AND A RESIDENT OF BELFAST FOR THE LAST FORTY YEARS.
"If there's aliole in a your coats
I rede ye tent it;
A chiel's amang ye takin' notes,
And faith he'll prent it."—BuaNs.
BELFAST:
PRINTED BY ALEX. MAYNE, HIGH STREET.
1860.
[PRICE ONE SHILLING.]
PREFACE.
WHEREVER the English Language is spoken, whether in town or country, at home or
abroad, it is almost sure to be more or less corrupted in pronunciation. London
itself has its vulgarisms ; and it would, perhaps, be difficult to point out any particular district in the United Kingdom of which the same might not be said. It is not
to be expected, then, that Belfast should be altogether without error in this respect.
Many of its present inhabitants have been brought up in other parts, and the provincialisms of many other districts have thus been introduced into its vocabulary.
There are many places in the United Kingdom, however, in which erroneous pronunciation prevails to a much greater extent; but it is not enough that we should be
able to point to others as bad or worse than ourselves, or to say that we are at least
as good as our neighbours. This might be sufficient if Belfast were now what it was
fifty years ago ; but now that the continually-increasing importance of our town has
already brought us into communication and intercourse with most parts of the world,
and is daily bringing us more and more into notice, it behoves us to look a little more
sharply to our P's and Q's. It is much better that we should investigate the subject
for ourselves, with a view to the detection and correction of our own errors, than that
we should have to thank our neighbours for directing our attention to what we might
long since have discovered for ourselves. It is with a view to this that the writer proposes, for the consideration of his fellow-townsmen, the following remarks on erroneous
pronunciation in Belfast. They contain nothing m proof of which he cannot safely
refer the reader to his dictionary ; and, as it is not his purpose to introduce any new
principle or system of pronunciation, and as he does not intend to manufacture any
new words, but simply to mend a few old ones, he flatters himself that he can have
little to apprehend from criticism.
The writer's attention was first directed to the subject by a suggestion made by
Professor Sullivan in the Introduction to his Dictionary for the Use of Schools (p. 24).
After describing a number of provincialisms common in Ireland, he says, "The learner
should collect all the words in which such errors are likely to occur, and habituate
himself to a correct pronunciation of them." Thanking the Professor for the hint,
the writer determined to act upon it on his own account. Necessity rather than
choice had made him prefer the study of science to that of literature, and a little attention to the subject soon showed him that in ordinary conversation he was in the habit of
corrupting the pronunciation of a considerable number of words, and on comparing
notes, he found that he was far from being alone in this respect. He commenced
noting down the words in which he found himself deficient, as they occurred to his
mind, or turned up in conversation, and for some time practised their correct pronunciation at least once a day. His success equalled his most sanguine expectations, and
he went on adding to the list until he found it necessary to divide the words it contained into classes, in order to facilitate the practising of their correct pronunciation.
It now occurred to him that what he had found so useful in his own case, might, if
properly carried out, be useful to the people of Belfast, who, with but few exceptions,
were liable to the same errors. The present little work is the result. It will thus be
seen that the present has been a work of necessity, commenced and carried on by the
writer for his own use, until, by experiencing its value, he felt warranted in proposing
it for the use of his fellow-townsmen. The whole amounts to nothing more than the
thorough carrying out, in the name and for the use of the people of Belfast, the plan
recommended by Professor Sullivan for the use of individuals. The writer
ialready
rs v
aware tha bt ienn e Belfast
a
,
asbuotthsh
eroui
pld
aches,
e sth
ucecreeedin
gaining
who
hth
oecgo
are many
onosiddeorpini
suot
tmuch
th theirasnotice;
well
of the intelligent and unprejudiced, he will attach but little importance to the opinions
of the prejudiced and unthinking.
TESTIMONIALS.
to the time at which the writer applied for the following Testimonials, he
was entirely unknown to the gentlemen who have given them,:and has not been,
in the slightest degree, recommended to their notice by any other parties, his
only letter of introduction being his manuscript :—
Ur
Holywood, 14th )(arch, 1860.
DEAR SIR, —I have looked over the MS. of your little work so far as be satisfy
myself that it is the produce both of great labour and of great ingenuity, and is
eminently deserving of public encouragement. The Essay on Mutual Improvement
Societies, too, is excellent. I cannot but feel impressed with the greatest respect for
such powers of mind, such activity of observation, and such ardour both in the pursuit
and in the diffusion of knowledge, evinced under such difficulties as you have had to
contend with, in the great deprivation with which Heaven has seen meet to afflict yon.
Please to put my name down for three copies of the book. And believe me to be,
Dear Sir, very truly yours,
GEORGE L. CRAIK,
Professor of English Literature, Queen's College, Belfast.
Mr. D. Patterson.
Royal Academical Institution,
Belfast, 12th of March, 1860.
Mr. DAvm PArrmsoN has, I think, done good service to his fellow-townsmen by
this treatise on the Provincialisms of Belfast. He appears to me to possess much
ingenuity, and to have acquired very considerable literary information, notwithstanding the disadvantage of total loss of sight, under which he has suffered for the last
twenty years.
Mr. PArrEnsoN intends to publish his little work by subscription, and I earnestly
hope he may be liberally rewarded for the precious time and very great care which
he has bestowed upon it.
THOMAS
BLAIN, LL.D.,
Head Master of the English School.
TO THE READER.
As the local nature of this little work, and the limited sale to be expected in consequence,
are likely to prevent the Author from receiving much pecuniary benefit from its publication,
those who have read it, and are therefore in a position to speak of its merits or demerits,
are respectfully requested to assist in increasing its circulation by recommending it to others
as far as they may feel warranted in so doing.
THE PROVINCIALISMS OF BELFAST.
IT must be evident to any intelligent and unprejudiced observer, that the pro-
nunciation given to the English words used in ordinary conversation by the
people of Belfast and the surrounding districts, is, in general, very different from
that recommetded by English orthcepists, and taught in our common school
dictionaries. In many words, one or more of the proper sounds or letters are
exchanged for other, and therefore improper sounds. Some words are spoiled
by the addition of sounds and syllables which do not belong to them, and some
by the omission of sounds and syllables which they should contain. Some are
spoiled by improperly transposing the sounds of which they are composed ; and
some by laying the accent on a wrong syllable. In one or more of these ways,
mistakes are made in the use of almost every elementary sound in the language.
In Belfast and the surrounding districts, the uneducated, and sometimes even
the educated, err in the pronunciation of the following sounds and letters :—The
six long vowel sounds heard in the words, me, fate, far, fall, note, and move,
and their short sounds, heard respectively in the words, pit, met, mat, not, nut,
and put ; the diphthongal sounds heard in the words, five, tube, and ounce ; and
the consonants and consonant sounds, p, b, f, w, th, t, d, s, z, sh, eh, y,l, r, k, hard
g, m, n, and ng. The following will show the various ways in which these errors
are committed :—The sounds represented by the letters in column A, are improperly pronounced, added, omitted, or transposed, as shown in column B, and
as exemplified by the words in column C, which are, in consequence, erroneously
pronounced as they are spelled in column D. In columns A and B, the longvowel sounds heard in the words, me, fate, far, fall, note, and move, are represented, respectively, by ee, ay, ah, au, oa, and oo ; and their short sounds, heard
respectively, in the words, pit, met, mat, not, nut, and put, are represented, respectively, by s.i, s.e, s.a, 8.0, s.u, and s.00, the s. in each case standing for the word
short—thus, shortvi, short e, &c. ; l.i stands for long i, as in five; 1.u, for long u,
as in tube ; red. for redundant ; om. for omitted ; and tran., for transposed.
A
B
ee
ee
ee
ay
ay
ay
ay
ah
au
an
an
oa
oa
on
on
on
oa
00
oo
s.i
ay
s.i
s.e
ee
ah
s.a
3,e
au
ah
oa
s.0
oo
of
ou
s.a
s.0
pea
ou
s.0
es
C
D
Weak
Wake Besom
Bizzim
Leap
Lep Staple
Steeple ,
Dare
Dar
Panorama
Panoramma
Plait
Plet
Form
Farm
Na
Gnaw
Auger
Ogre
Assult
Assault
Goold
Gold
Oisier
Osier
Old
Oul Fellow
Fella Mourn
Mum
Portmanteau Portmantyea
Chew
Chow
Look
Luck Idiot
Eedyet
A
B
s.i
s. i
s.e
s.e
s.e
s.e
s.e
s.a
s.a
s.a
s.a
s.a
s.o
s.o
s.0
s.0
s.e
s.0
ee
ay
oh
s.a
s.i
ay
au
s.o
s.i
s.e
s.a
s.0
au
oa
oo
AN
s.0
8.?‘
un
s.i
s.a
on
C
Milt
Whip
Deaf
Bet
Divert
Terrier
Yes
America
Canal
Tassel
Hang
Mangle
Soft
Hod
Turpentine
None
Supple
Just
Puppet
Unwell
D
Melt
Whup
DeefBait
Divart
Tarrier
Yis Americay
Canaul
Tossel
Hing
Menai°
Saft Hud
Torpentino
None
Soople
Jist
Pappet
Onwell
6
A
B
shun shin
s.00 s.0
/.i ay
1.i 8.e
1.1
of
/.0
1.0
ay
yea
/.0 s.i
i.0 s.a
me oa
ou oo
p
b
b
v
b
em.
f
v
w
th,
th,
t
om.
d
red.
th
d
sh
t
at
t
t
t
t
d
d
d
1
k
red.
em.
th.
t
a
C
Addition
Woman
Lilac
Oblige
Giant
Argue
Value
Skewer
Matthew
Devour
Pouch
Baptism
Gable
Thimble
Staff
Swore
Farthing
Thunder
Drought
Protestant
Papist
Beestings
Brittle
Once
Empty
Ladder
Crabbed
Breadth
D
Addishin
Wumman ••
Laylock
Obledge Joyant
Argay Valyea
Skivver
Matha
Devoar
Pooch
Babtism
Gavel Thimmel
Stay
Sore
Fardin ,
Thundther
Drooth Proddisin
Paypish •
Beeslins
Bruckle
Waunst Empy
Leather
Crabbit
Brenth -
A
d
B C
D
Drowned Dthrownded
it
Ground
Groun
s
Spancel Spenshil
s
Quinsy
Squinnisy s
Corpse
Corp z
s
Lozenge
Lossenger
sh s Dictionary Dicksinary
oh eh
Rubbish Rubbitch
shr sr
Shroud Sroud
eh, k
Guttapercha Guttaperka
th
Yon
Thon y
y red. Column Tolyum
y om. Ruffian
Ruffin
n
Flannel
1
Flannen Eldther
red. Udder
1
om. Soldier
1
Soger
red. Poker
r
Proker
r em. Cartridge Ketthridge
Girn
trap. Grin
r
Kelligo
k
Calico
9
k
om. Lukewarm Luewarm
Iran. Ask
Ex k
m n Mushroom Musheroon
Chimley Chimney
n
1
Brime
no Brine
n
red. Immediately Immaidyently
n
Length
Lentb. ng n
Sittin.
Sitting
ing in
red.
om.
sh
red.
om.
It will be seen by columns A and B of the above arrangement, that thirty out
of the thirty-two or thirty-three simple sounds, and three out of the four diphthongal sounds of which the language is composed, are corrupted in pronunciation ; and by columns B and D it will be seen that almost every one of these is
corrupted in various ways, the total number of ways in which error is thus occasioned amounting to ninety- six. Besides these, a number of words in which
the sound of hard q, should be pronounced after that of ng, are spoiled by being
pronounced without the g; thus, finger and single, which should be pronounced
fingfger and singryle, are, by many, pronounced finger and sing'le. Some words
are made a syllable too long, as umbrella, which is pronounced umberella; and some
a syllable too short, as lancet, which is pronounced lance; and in some the accent
is laid upon a wrong syllable, as lamentable, which is pronounced lament'able ;
thus making the various ways in which error is occasioned amount to at least
one hundred, and all these exclusive of what is generally known as the broad
speaking, or half Scotch of the country people, of which we say nothing, as it is
not supposed to be in use among the natives of Belfast.
All the errors exemplified above are committed in the pronunciation of the
words contained in the following lists. To get rid of bad habits in pronunciation,
it is not enough that we should be simply aware of our inaccuracies, it is necessary that we should have before us, in a convenient form, a list of the words in
which we are inaccurate, in order that by dint of practising their correct pronunciation, the bad pronunciation to which we have been accustomed may, as it
were, be ground out, and a correct pronunciation substituted in its stead. In
this view, the erroneously-pronounced words contained in the following lists
(upwards of three thousand in all) have been so arranged that the habit of pronouncing them correctly may be easily acquired by occasionally reading them
over, and giving each its correct pronunciation while doing so. Many persons
may find themselves sufficiently correct in the pronunciation of some of these
words, while they are incorrect in others. Such persons might mark off the words
in which they are sufficiently correct, and practise the pronunciation of the unmarked words only, marking off others as soon as they find themselves sufficiently
habituated to their correct pronunciation. The writer is aware that there are
many in Belfast who do not require the help of such a book ; but he is also aware
that there are many who do, and who will, he doubts not, recognise as old acquaintances many of the errors in pronunciation which he is about to introduce
to their notice. Observe, that where oo is printed in italics, it represents what
has been called the middle sound of u, as in full and pull, in which case it should
be more rapidly pronounced upon the consonant by which it is followed, than oo
is in the words fool and pool, in which it has its long sound ; and that where
dth and tth are used to represent the coarse and thickened pronunciation usually
given to d and t, when followed by r or er, as in dry, butter, and yon, which are
usually pronounced dthry, butcher, and thou, the th is supposed to have its fiat
or vocalized sound, as in other and thus.
The following words in the columns marked A should be pronounced as they
are spelled, but are improperly pronounced as they are spelled in the columns
marked B
A
B
B
A
B
A
Commercial Commarcial Examine Exemine
Wick
Week
Ma'am
Mem
Brick
Hercules
Harklis
Breek .
Ridiculous Rideekilis Mercury Markery Example Exemple
Giggle Geegle Vermin Varmin January Jenuary
Entrim
Rid
Red Determine Detarmine Antrim
Milt
Slant
Melt
Slent
Sermon
Sarmin
Miracle
Bandy
Merricle
Infernal
Bendy
Infarnal
Kindle
Branch
Kennel
Eternal
Brench
Etarnal
Rinse
Canal
Rensh
Stern
Canaul
Starn
Whip
Whup
Consarn
.
Cabal
Concern
Cabaul
Chafe
Chaff
Jerk
Tassel
Jirk —
Tossel
Staple
Steeple
Kernel
Barrow
Kirnel
Borra
Plait Plat Plet
Whether
Whither
Vacation
Vocation
Wretch Batch Together Togither Have Hiv
Wrestle
Rassel Brethren
Has
Brithren
His
Desk
Dask
Jet
Hang
Hing Jit
Ferrule Farrel Yet Yit
America Americay
Terrier
Tarrier
Nag
Naig
Red
Rid
Terrible
Tarrible
Yes
Auger
Yis
Ogre
Derry
Darry
Bless
Assault
Bliss
Assult
Wren
Ran
Chest
Paw
Pa
Chist Grenadier Grannidier 'Yesterday Yistherday Fawn
Fan
Errand
Arran
Sheltie
Tawny
Shiltie
Tanny
Perpendicular Parpendicular Shelter
Saw
Shiltther
Sa
Serpent
Sarpent
Cherry
Chirry
Jaw
Ja
Serve
Sarve
Merry
Mirry
Hawthorn Hathorn
Deserve
Desarve
Next
Nixt Law
La
Twenty
Nerve
Narve
Flaw
Twinty
Fla
Engine
Divert
Divart
InjineClaw
Cla
Bench
Convert
Convart
Binch
Raw
Ra
Certain
Sartin
Wrench
Draw
Wrinch
Dthra
Desert
Desart
Bet
Bait
Sprawl
Spral
Perch Parch
Stretch Stthraitch Brawl Bral
Merchant Marchant Shed
Shade
Crawl Cral
Perjury , Parjury
Seeny
Gnaw
Senna
Na
Serge
Sarge
Carrickfergus Kerrickforgu
s Straw
Stthro
Clergy
Clargy
Farm
Form
Top
Tap
Person
Parson
Stap
Rather
Rether
Stop
Verse
Varse
Ballymacarrett Bellymekerrett Shop
Shap
Mercy
Marcy
Damsel
Demsel
Chop
Chap
8
A
B
B
A
A
B
Hop
Hap
Narra
Narrow
Uncreditable Oncreditable
Slop Slap
Borrow Borra Unscrew Onscrew
Prop
Prap
Sorra
Sorrow
Ungracious Ongracious
Drop Dthrap Morrow Morra Uncouth Oncouth
Crop
Crap
Puppet
Pappet
Unscathed Onscathed
Mop
Map
Supple Soople
Ungainly Ongainly
Bobbin
Babbin
Turpentine Torpentine Unmanly Onmanly
Dobbin Dabbin Such
Sich
Unknown Onknown
Job
Jab
Jist
Just
Unimportant Onimportant
Hob
Hab
Unauthorized Onauthorized Unabated Onabated
Lobby
Labby
Unoccupied Onoccupied Undefiled Ondefiled
Robert Rabert
Unarmed Onarmed Uninvited Oninvited
Knob
Nab
Unasked
Onasked
Unrewarded Onrewarded
Off
Aff
Unaided
Onaided
Unrequited Onrequited
Soft
Saft
Unerring
Onerring
Unattended Onattended
Loft
Laft
Uneducated Oneducated Unredeemed Onredeemed
Batts
Rots
Uneasy
Oneasy
Unassisted Onassisted
Fur
For
Uninjured Oninjured.
Undeserved Ondeserved
Poul
Pole
Unopened Onopened
Unassuming Onassuming
Moul
Mole
Unutterable Onutterable Unexampled Onexampled
Boult
Bolt
Unusual
Onusual
Unachieved Onachieved
Joult
Jolt •
Unpaid
Onpaid
Uncongenial Oncongenial
Coult
Colt
Unsparing Onsparing
Uninhabited Oninhabited.
Oul
Old
Unbosom
Onbosom
Unrelenting Onrelenting
BoulBold
Unfit
Onfit
Uncaressed Oncaressed
Tout Told
Unveil
Onveil
Unaccustomed Onaccustomed
Sold Sowl Unwell Onwell Undergo Ondergo
Hod
Hold
Untwist
Ontwist
Undiminished Ondiminished
Coul
Unswept
Cold
Onswept
Undeniable* Ondeniable
Scould
Unquestionable Onquestionable Loose
Scold
Louse
Pouny
Unthinking Onthinking Took
Pony
Tuck Untold
Goold
Ontold
Shook
Gold
Shuck
Boord -.
Unsteady
Onsteady
Board
Look
LuckUndone
Coorse
Coarse
Ondone
Foot
Fut
Oisier
Unseen
Onseen.
Osier
Wood
Wud.
Slot
Unshod
Onshod
Stood
Sloat
Stud
Tobacco Tobecky Unchaste Onchaste Hood Hud
Shadow Shedda Unjust Onjust Wool Wull
Meadow Medda Unyoke Onyoke Lilac Laylock
Widow Widda, Unholy Onholy Diameter Dayameter
Window Windey Unless Onless Oblige Obledge,
Talla
Unpleasant Onpleasant Strike
Stthreck
Tallow
Shelia
Unblest
Onblest
Giant
Shallow
Joyant
Unfledged Onfledged Riot
Fellow Fella
Royet
Yellow Yella Unclad Onclad Matthew Mattha
Pillow Pilla
Unglazed Onglazed Impudent Impident
Follow Folla
Unravel Onravel Education Eddication
Unprofitable Onprofitable Manufacture Man nafectthir
Swallow
Swalla
Unbroken Onbroken Skewer Skivver
Hollow Holla
Aigay
Unfruitful Onfruitful Ague
Arrow Arra
Argay .
Sparrow
Sparra K.
Unthriving Onthriving Argue
Value
Harra
Untried
Ontried
Valyea
Harrow
Yarrow Yarra Unstrung Onstrung Pouch Pooch
Slouch
Marra
Undress
Slooch
Marrow
Ondress
* To some it may appear that we have introduced too many examples of the incorrect pronunciation of the prefix en, the terminations lion and eon, the participial termination ing, and t and d
when followed by r or er. We believe, however, that the plan we have adopted is best calculated
to bring these errors prominently before the mind. In each case every word is different from the
other words of the class to which it belongs with respect to the sound by which the sound in
question is preceded or followed, thus affording a varied means of practice to such as may wish in
this way to habituate themselves to its correct pronunciation.
9
B
A
B
A
Lar
Lard
Cooch
Couch
ddener Garner
Crooch
Crouch
Devour Devoar B
and
Band Ban
Scrape
Stan
Son
n
Stand
Babtisra
Baptism Scrab
Gavel
Gable
H
S nannad
Marvel
Marble
Lan
Land
Ramble Rammil
Stthran
Strand
Brammil
Bramble
nn
G
Da
ran
Scramble Scrammil Grand
il
Dandle
Gamble Gammil
Hannil
Handle
Thimble Thimmil
Kennel
Fumble Fummil Candle
ddler Chanter
Tummil
Tumble
Feel
Field
Stummil
Stumble
Hell
Held
Jumble. Jummil
En
End
Rummil
Rumble
Sen
Send
Crummil
Crumble
Len
Lend
Grumble Grummil
Fen
Friend
Mumble
Mumma
Spindle Spinnel
Timmer
Timber
Wn
i
Wind
Cucummer
Cucumber
Windlass Winlass
Stay
Staff
Skeffil
Scaffold
Calve
Calf
World
SworeS
ml
Athwart Aotrheort Bundle
Farthest Fardest Trundle Tthrinnel
Wile
Farthing Fardin Wild
n
iilleee
Child.
Fathom Faddom
Fathom
Bind
Protestant Proddisin
Fine
Find
Redicule
Reticule
Behine
Behind
Beestings Beeslins
Bline
Blind
Bruckle
Brittle
Grine
Grind
Kind
TwysteTwice
inee
K
ldin
Attest
Attack
Mind
Suddent .
Sudden
Poun
Pound
Swep
Swept
Boun
Bound
Slep
Slept
Foun
Found
Crop
Crept
Soun
Sound
Kep
Kept
Houn
Hound
Empy Empty
Roun
Round
Temp
Tempt
Ground Groun
Joice
Joist
Vagabond Veggabone
Hoice
Hoist
Tthroth
Troth
meant
Instant
Tthrot
Trot
Leather
Ladder
Tthrod
Trod
Blether
Bladder
Consider Consither Strong
S
Tttthrranpn g
Trap
Fother
Fodder
Tthraffic
Traffic
Sother
Solder
Tthravel
Travel
Crabbed Crabbit
Tthrash
Nakit
Naked
Tthrack
Track
Crooked Crookit
Tthrect
Tract
Wiekit
Wicked
Tthramp
Tthrade
Killed
Kilt
Stthraddle
Straddle
Breadth Brenth Tramp
Drowned. Dthrownded Trade
Tthrace
Necessity Needcessity Trace
Tthrial
Trial
Fardther
Farther
Tthram
Nearer Neardther Tram
Stthray
Stray
Harty
Hardly
B
B
A
Stthraight
Straight
Stthrain
Strain
Stthrange
Strange
Tthreble
Treble
Tthrett
Trett
Tthread
Tread.
Tthrespass
Trespass
Tthreasure
Treasure
Stthress
Stress
Tthree
Tree
Stthreet
Street
Tthrip
Trip
Tthrick
Trick
Tthrigger
Trigger
Tthrim
Trim
Stthrip
Strip
Stthrict
Strict
Stthring
String
Stthroll
Stroll
Stthroke
Stroke
Tthrouble
Trouble
Tthrudge
Trudge
Tthrust
Trust
Tthruck
Truck
Trumpet Tthrumpet
Tthrunk
Trunk
Stthruck
Struck
Stthruggle
Struggle
Tthroop
Troop
Tthruth
Truth
Intthrude
Intrude
Tthry
Try
Tthribe
Tribe
Tthripe
Tripe
Tthrifle
Trifle
Contthrive
Contrive
Stthripe
Stripe
Stthrive
Strive
Stthride
Stride
Destthroy
Destroy
Tthrout
Trout
Tthrousers
Trousers
Paltthry.
Paltry
Sultthry
Sultry
Pantthry
Pantry
Entthry
Entry
Sentthry
Sentry
Gentthry
Gentry
Wintthry
Wintry
Countthrjr
Country
Potthery
Pottery
Totther
Totter
Lotthery
Lottery
Cotther
Cotter
Impostor Imposthir
Fostther
Foster
Haltther
Halter
Mortthir
Mortar
Quartther
Quarter
Doctthir
Doctor
Batthery
Battery
10
A
B
A
B
A
B
Saturday
Satthirday Cinder
Cindther
Lukewarm Luewarm -,
Latter
Latther
Hinder
Hindther
Ask
Ex Flatter
Flatther
Murder
Murdther
Asked
Ast
Matter Matther Thunder Thundther Damson Demsel
Chapter
Chaptther
Plunder
Plundther
Chimney
Chimley After
Aftth er
Blunder
Blundther
Remnant
Remlet
Rafter Raftther Spider Spidther Ransack Ramsack
Bastard Bastthard Powder Powdther Brine Brime
Plaster
Plastther
Flounder
Floundther Immediately Immaidyently
Master Mastther Fleece Fleesh Blacking Blecknin
Barter
Bartther
Grease
Creesh
Length
Leath-,
Lantern Lantthern Mince Miruth Strength Stthrenth
Gaiter Gaitther Sluice Sloosh
Kingdom Keendom
Better Betther Harass Harrish Herring Herrin
Letter Letther Spancel Spenshil Cunning Cunnin
Fester
Fest ther
Utensil
Utenshil
Evening
Evenin
Bitter
Bitther
Blunderbuss Blundtherbush Gnawing
Gnawin
Titter
Titther
Sneeze
Neeze
Paying
Payin
Litter
Litther
Corpse
Corp
Toying
Toyin
Sister
Sistther
Molest
Mislist
Ploughing Ploughin
Blister Blistther Lozenge Lossenger Jobbing Jobbin
Filter
Filtther
Rubbish
Rubbitch
Laughing Lau ghin
Winter Wintther Shriek Sriek Having Havin
Splinter Splintther Shrew Srew
Bathing Bathin
Porter Portther Shrewd Srewd Waiting Waitin
Stutter Stutther Shrine Srine
Shedding Sheddin
Flutter Flutther Shroud Sroud Blessing Blessin
Gutter
Gutther Shrub
Srub
Squeezing Squeezin
Mutter Mutther Shrivel Srivel Pushing Pushin
Cluster
Clustther Shred
Sred
Broaching Broachin
Shrill
Ulster
Ulstther
Srill
Judging
Judgin
Hurter Huxtther Shrug Srug Boiling Boilin
Shrank
Loiter
Loitther
Srank
Curing
Curin
Oyster Oystther Shrink Srink Looking Lookin
Counter Countther Shrunk Srunk Digging Diggin
Dross
Dthross
Guttapercha Guttaperke Climbing
Climbin
Yon
Drab
Dthrab
Thon
Drowning Dthrowndin
Draft
Dthraft Splendour Splendyour Ringing Ringin
Dthram Flannel Flannen Emptying Empyin
Dram
Udder
Drake
Dthrake
Eldther
Swallowing Swallowin
Alabaster
Dthrain
Allyblastther Carrying
Drain
Carryin
Dress Dthress Finch Flinch Arguing Argayin
Potato
D thrift
Pratie
Drift
Galloping Gallopin
Thistle
Thristle
Dthrill
Drill
Harassing Harassin
Poker
Proker
Drink
Dthrink
Nourishing Norrishin
Speckled Sprickled Managing Managin.
Droll
Dthroll
Drub
Dthrub Partridge Patthridge Levelling Levellin
Drudge Dthrudge Cartridge Ketthridge Ordering Ordtherin
Drug
Dthrug Burst
Brust
Fastening Fastenin
Drunk Dthrunk Curb
Crub
Curiosity Curossity
Drowsy
Kerb
Pome
Dthrowsy
Crib .
Poem
Process Press
Foundry Foundthry Curd
Crud
Bristle
Birse
Scoundrel Scoundthrel Scurf
Scroof
Fidget
Fidge
Pretty
Order
Ordther
Purty Bordther February Fayberwary Mushroom Musheroom
Border
Quiet
Disordther Afraid
Afeard Disorder
Quate
Slander Slandther Children Childther Lancet Lance
Enlist
Girn.
Glanders Glandthers Grin
List
Hundthert
Hundred
Appprentice Prentice
Fender
Fendther
Corporal
Corpolar
Coroner
Crowner
Tender
Tendther
Slender Slendther Calico
Kelligo
Malleable Mallible
11
B
A
Gibraltar Gibberaltar
Liberary
Library
Proprietor Properietor
Propriety Properiety
Soberiety
Sobriety
Seraff
Shrove
Squinnisy
Quinsy
Umbrella Umberella
Crummil
Crumb
Ellim
Elm
Hellim
Helm
A.
Realm
Rellim
Whellim
lmline Discipline
Wh
Dis'Cip
Dis'ciplined Discip'led
Disrputable Disputable
Dielputant Disputant
District'
Dis'trict
Parish'ioner Partshioner
In'ventory Inventory
In'dustry Industry
Des'ultory Desultory
A
Ex'emplary Exem'plary
Maintenance Mantai'nance
Lam'entable Lament'able
Contrary Contrary
Sub'altern Subaltern
Mankind' Man'kine
Brigadier' Brig'adier
Grenadier' Gran'nidier
Cav'alier
Cavalier'
Fu'silier
Fusilier'
Engineer' En'gineer
The following words in the columns marked A are spoiled by being pronounced as they are spelled. They should be pronounced as they are spelled in
the columns marked B :—
B
A
B
A
B
A
Char Chair Squad Squod Nothing Nuthing
Constable Cunstable
Wosp
Wasp
Sed
Said
Googe
Gouge
Wosh
Wash
Agen
Again
Toor
Tour
Wollet
Wallet
Agenst
Against
root
Alderman Aulderman Wallow Wollow Put
Swallow Swollow Pudding Pooding
Spae Spau
Poos
Puss
Quolify
Qualify
Waur
War
Boosh
Bush
Quolity
Quality
Waurp
Warp
Warble Waurble Warrior Worrier Bushy Booshy
Booshel
Bushel
Quorry
Quarry
Waurt
Wart
Ward Waurd Quarrel Quorrel Ambush Amboosh
Warn Waurn Swan Swon Cushion Cooshion
Pool
Warm Waurm Quantity Quontity Pull
Swarthy Swaurthy Want Wont Pulley Pooley
Swarm Swaurm Squander Squonder Pullet Poolet
PooPpit
Pulpit
Swomp
Swamp
Swop
Swap
Bool
Bull
Bole
Bowl
Swob
Swab
Booly
Bully
Sole
Squabble Squobble Soul
Boolet
Bullet
Pour
Pore
Wottle
Wattle
What Whot Door Dore Bulletin Booleteen
Boolock
Bullock
Floor
Flore
Squot
Squat
Watch Wotch Hover Huvver Bulwark Boolwark
Bullion Boolion
Nun
Wadding Wedding None
Waddle Weddle Oven Uvven Bulrush Boolrush
Swaddle Swoddle Govern Guvvern Full Fool
The following words in the columns marked A should be pronounced as they
are spelled in the columns marked B, but are improperly pronounced as they
are spelled in the columns marked C :—
B
A
C
C
B
A
Divvil
Devil
Devvil
Sne3vel
Snivvel
Snivel
Clever
Clevver
Clivver
Eedyet
Iddiot
Idiot
Delicious Delishus Dileeshayis Crevice Crevvis Crivvis
Malicious Malishus Mileeshayia Never Nevver Nivver
Women Wimmen Weemen. Ready Reddy Riddy
Mezhur
Mizhir
Threepence Thrippence Thruppence Measure
Bury
Birry
Berry
Acorn
Aycorn
Ahcorn
Premises Premmiaes Primmises
Dayr
Dar
Dare
Ration Rayshun Rashin Many Menny Minny
Weppon Waypin
Panorama Panorayma Panoramma Weapon
Evver
Endeavour Endevvur Endaiver
Ever
Ivver
Swait
Every
Evvery
Sweat
lvvery
Swet
13
12
A
Threat
Thret
Thrait
Treacherous Tretcherus Tthraicheriss
Lead
Led
Laid
Peasant
Pezzant
Payzant
Pheasant Pezzant Fayzant
Precious Preshus Prayshayis
Deaf
Deef
Deff
Deafen
Deffen
Deeve
Earth
Arth
Erth
Darth
Dearth
Derth
Search
Serch
Sarch
Heard
Herd
Hard
Lem
Learn
Lam
Wer
Wur
Were
Apparel Apparrel Apperrel
Jaundice Jandiss Jendiez
Milisha
Mileeshy
Militia
Watther
Wauter
Water
Coard
Caurd
Cord.
Soart
Saurt
Sort
Ur
Aur
Or
Nur
Naur
Nor
Buddy
Boddy
Body
Wuz
Woz
Was
Roul
Role
Roll
Shoulder Shoalder Showldther
Moul
Moald
Mould
Coart
Coort
Court
Coorse
Coarse
Course
Mourn Moarn Mum
Portmanteau Portmanto Portmantyea
Borough Burro Borra
Thorra
Thorough. Thurro
Nourish Nurrish Norrish
Waun
Wun
One
Waunst
Wunce
Once
Diz
Duz
Does
Donegal Dunnegal Dinnegal
Caushun
Caushin
Caution
Fashion Fashun Fashin
Notation Notaishun Notaishin
Staishin
Staishun
Station
Depredation Depredaishun Depredaishin
Conversation Conversaishun Conversaishin
Relation Relaishun Relaishin
Devotion Devdashun Devoashin
Motion Moashun Moashin
Notion Noashun Noashin
Institution Institushun Institushin
Revolution Revolushun Revolushin
Seshin
Seshun
Session
Possession Pozzeshun Pozzeshin
Expression Expreshun Expreshin
Suspicion Suspishun Suspishin
Superstition Superstishun Superstishin
Addition Addishun Addishin
Position Pozishun Pozishin
Admission Admishun Admishin
Exception Excepshun Excepshin
Eruption Erupshun Erupshin
Convulsion Convulshun Convulshin
A
Portion Poarshun Poarshin
Excursion Excurshun Excurshin
Auction Aukshun Aukshin
Action Akshun Ekshin
Fraction Frakshun Frekshin
Inspection Inspekshun Inspekahin
Affection Affekshun Affekshin
Election Elekshun Elekshin
Connection Connekshun Connekshin
Conviction Convikshun Convikshin
Affliction Aftlikshun Afflikshin
Reduction Redukshun Redukshin
Junction . Junkshun Junkshin
Pension Penshun Penshin
Invention Invenshun Invenshin
Attention Attenshun Attenshin
Mention Menshun Menshin.
Invasion Invaizhun Invaizhin
Occasion Occaizhun Occaizhin
Explosion Exploazhun Exploazhin
Confusion, Confuzhun Confuzhin
Delusion Deluzhun Deluzhin
Conclusion Concluzhun Concluzhin
Division Divizhun Divizhin
Rout
Root
Route
Chow
Choo
Chew
Currier
Cooner
Courier
Wulf
Woolf
Wolf
Worsted Woorsted Wistit
Woman Wooman . Wummin
Cud
Cood
Could
Would Wood Wud
Shud
Shood
Should
Ate
Eet
Eat
Aitch
Eech
Each
Pay
Pee
Pea
Peece
Pace
Peace
Pale
Peel
Peal
Bait
Beet
Beat
Baste
Beest
Beast
Bake
Beek
Beak
Bane
Been
Bean
Favour
Feever
Fever
Fate
Feet
Feat
Vale
Veel
Veal
Weave Weeve Wave
Wake
Week
Weak
Wane
Ween
Wean
Tay
Tee
Tea
Stale
Steel
Steal
Dale
Deel
Deal
Dane
Deen
Dean
Say
See
Sea
Seel
Sale
Seal
Seem
Same
Seam
Heel
Hale
Heal
Leeve
Lave
Leave
Leed • Lade
Lead
Leece
Lace
Lease
Lake
Leek
Leak
Lane
Leen
Lean
C
B
A
Plays
Pleeze
Please
Flay
Flee
Flea
Rape
Reep
Reap
Raisin
Reezon
Reason
Rail
Reeal
Real
Rake
Reek
Wreak
Grace
Greece
Grease
Graze
Greeze
Grease
Kay
Kee
Key
Mate
Meet
Meat
Male
Meel
Meal
Mane
Meen
Mean
Snake
Sneek
Sneak
Aither
Eether
Either
Aist
Eest
East
Aize
Eeze
Ease
Aiquil
Eequal
Equal
Aigle
Eegle
Eagle
Aiger
Eager
Eager
Repait
Repeat
Repeat
Spake
Speek
Speak
Baid
Beed
Bead
Baigle
Beagle
Beagle
Bame
Beem
Beam
Faist
Feest
Feast
Faizible
Feezible
Feasible
Female Feemale Faimil
Feenix
Fainix
Phoenix
Inveegle
Invaigle
Inveigle
Wheat
Whait
Wheat
Tedious Teedious Taidious
Teech
Taich
Teach
Fateeg
Fitaig
Fatigue
Deecent
Daicent
Decent
Deacon
Daikin
Deacon
Seat
Sait
Seat
Seece
Saice
Cease
Seeze
Saize
Seize
Seecret
Saicret
Secret
Sheef
Shaif
Sheaf
Sheath
Shaith
Sheath
Cheep
Cheap
Chaip
Cheat
Cheat
Chait
Heathen Heethen Haithen
Leef
Leaf
Laif
Least
Least
Laist
Leezhur
Leisure
Laizhir
Leeg
Laig
League
Bleech
Blaich
Bleach
Cleen
Clain
Clean
Beech
Raich
Reach
Preech
Preach
Praich
Breach
Breech
Braich
C
B
A
Braithe
Breathe
Breathe
Fraik
Freek
Freak
Frequent Freequent Fraiquent
Tthrait
Treet
Treat
Tthraizin
Treezon
Treason
Tthraiele
Treacle
Treacle
Intthraig
Intreeg
Intrigue
Stthraik
Streak
Streak
Stthraim
Stream
Stream
Extreme Extreeme Extthrairn
Dthraim
Dream
Dream
Craitthir
Creeture
Creature
Craice
Creece
Crease
Crake
Creek
Creak
Craim
Creem
Cream
Skaim
Skaem
Scheme
Maizels
Meezels
Measles
Nait
Neet
Neat
Herro
Heero
Hero
Lep
Leep
Letip
Squeamish Squeamish Squammish
Shoot
Sweet
Suite
Boy
Bwoy
Buoy
Koit
Kwoit
Quoit
Coat
Kwote
Quote
Quotient Kwotient Cotient
Quorum Kworum Comm
Dthrooth
Drowt
Drought
Curtchy
Curtsy
Courtesy
Dictionary Dickshunary Dixinary
Tremendous Tremendus To.....aysy illS
Colyum
Collum
Column
Ruffin
Rufyan
Ruffian
Soger
Soaljur
Soldier
Massacre Massacker Massacree
Dangle Dang'gle Dang'le
Jang'le
Jang'gle
Jangle
Wrangle Rang'gle Rime.°
Strangle Strang'gle Strangle
Mang'le
Man g'gle
Mangle
Sing'le
Sing'gle
Single
Jingle
Jing'gle
Jingle
Mingle Ming'gle Mingle
Bungle Bung'gle Bungle
Eng'er
Ang'ger
Anger
Fing'er
Fing'ger
Finger
Ling'er
Ling'ger
Linger
Longer Long'ger Long'er
Stronger Strong'ger Stronger
Hunger Hung'ger Hunger
Younger Young'ger Young'er
Monger Mong'ger Mong'er
Blackguard Blaggard Bleggayard
The same errors are committed in the pronunciation of the following words,
which are chiefly derivatives of the foregoing :—
Farmer Farmyard Watered Warper Warbler Warder
Fanned Spamount Watering Warped Warbled Warden
Farming Watery
Waterworks Warping Warbling Award
14
15
Awarded Watchman Eagerly Teacher Leaky
Schemer
Reward Waddled Eagerness Teaching Leaked Scheming
Rewarded Waddling Pease
Teachable Leaking Measled
Unrewarded Swaddler
Repeated
Fatigued
Leagued
Mealy
Warmer Swaddled Repeating Stealing Leaner Oatmeal
Warmest Swaddling Repeatedly Decently Leanest
Meaner
Warmed Waspish Peaceable Indecent Leaning Meanest
Warmth Washed Peaceably Indecently Pleased Meanness
Warmly
Washing
Peaceful
Decency
Pleasing
Meaning
Warned
Washerwoman Peacefully Indecency Displeased Neater
Warning Unwashed Pealed Dealer Bleached Neatest
Swarmed Wallowed Pealing Dealing Bleacher Neatly
Swarming Wallowing Appeal
Deanery Bleaching Neatness
Assaulted Swallowed Appealed
Seated
Unbleached Sneaked
Assaulting Swallowing Appealing Seating
Cleaner
Sneaking
Fawned
Qualified
Repeal
Deceitful
Cleanest
Beard
Fawning Qualifying Repealer Deceitfully Unclean Bearded
Rawness
Unqualified Repealed
Deceitfulness Reaper
Beardless
Drawer Equality Repealing Receipt Reaped Rear
Drawing
Warren
Unrepealed Conceit
Reaping
Rearing
Drawn
Warrant Beaten
Conceited Reasonable Reared
Gnawed
Warranted Beating
Ceased
Reasonably Arrears
Gnawing
Unwarranted Beaded
Ceasing
Unreasonably Queer
Cordage
Unwarrantable Beading
Ceaseless
Queerly
Reached
Record Quarried Beastly Unceasing Reaching Queerness
Recorded
Quarrelled Beastliness Unceasingly Overreaching Leaped
Sorted
Quarrelling Beamed
Seized
Really
Leaping
Sorting
Quarrelsome Beaming
Squeamishness
Seizing
Reality
Assort Wanted Sunbeam Sealed Preacher Roller
Assorted Wanting Fevered Sealing Preached Rolled
Assorting Wander
Feverish
Sealingwax Preaching Rolling
Assortment Wanderer Feature
Unsealed Breathed Bolted
Resort Wandered Defeat Concealed Breathing Jolted
Resorted Wandering Defeated Concealing Freakish Bolting
Stopped
Squandered Defeating
Concealment Frequently Jolting
Hopped
Squandering Feasted
Older
Unconcealed Treated
Hopping
Swampy
Feasting
Oldest
Secretly
Treating
Dropped Swamped Feasibly Secrecy Treatment Bolder
Dropping Dared Vealskin Seaming Retreat Boldest
Cropped Daring Reveal Sheathed Retreated Boldly
Boldness
Charwoman Revealed
Cropping
Sheathing Entreat
Jobbed Chafed Revealing Unsheath Entreated Shouldered
Plaited
Unrevealed Unsheathed Treasonably Holding
Jobbing
Eaten
Inveigled
Cheaper
Treasonable Holdfast
Hobby
Lobster Eating Inveigling Cheapest Intrigued Colder
Coldest
Easter
Weaver
Cheaply
Often
Streaked
Coldly
Easterly
Soften
Weaving
Cheapen
Streamer
Softened Eastern Interweave Cheapness Streamed Coldness
Thomas Easy
Weaker Cheated Streaming Scolded
Thompson Eased
Weakest Cheating Extremely Scolding
Mouldy
Anybody
Easing
Weaken
Heathenish Dreamy
Moulder
Weakened Heathenism Dreamer
Everybody Easier
Dreamed Moulded
Easiest
Nobody
Weakening Healed
Somebody Easily Weakly Healing Dreaming Poured
Creased Pouring
Squabbled Disease Weakness Leafy
Increased Floored
Squabbling Diseased Weaned Leaving
Creaked
Flooring
Weaning
Wattled
Uneasy
Leader
Somewhat Uneasily Wheaten Leading Creaking Boarded
Boarding
Watcher Uneasiness Teaspoon Leasehold Creamy
Courted
Creamed
Teacup
Watched
Equally
Release
Courting ,
Watching
Unequal
Tediously
Released
Greasy
Greasiness Coarser
Watchmaker Unequally Tediousness Leizurely
dti
Mumbled Dandling
Shrieked
Wretchedly Certainty
Coarsest
Shrieking
Mumbling
Deserter
Wretchedness
Coarsely
Shrewmouse
Handling
Fumbled
Deserted
Coarseness Wrestler
Shrewdly
mbbllienrg
Deserting
F
Tum
Discourse Wrestled
Shrewdness
Chandler
Desertion
.
Discoursed Wrestling
Smithfield
Enshrine
Tumbled
Searched
Discoursing Terribly
Enshrined
Tumbling Saintfield
Searching
Intercourse Terrify
Stumbled Friendship Shrouds
Perjured
Terrified
Mourner
Shrouded
Stumbling Windfall
Perjuring
Mourned Every
Enshrouded
Swindler
Clergyman Jumbled
Mourning Devilish
Shrubbery
Swindled
Rumbled Swindled
Merciful
Cleverly
Mournful
Shrivelled
Kindled
Mournfully Cleverness Mercifully
Shrivelling
Crumbled Kindling
Nevertheless Merciless
Loosed
Shredded
Crumbling Older
Tourist Yesterday Concerned
Shredding
Chewed Measured Concerning Grumbler Oldest
Shrilly
Grumbled Bolder
Chewing Measuring Learner
Shrillness
Bodnes
Grumbling Boldest
Looked Sheltered Learned
Shrugged
s
Mumbled
BuriedLearning
Looking
olves
Shrugging
Mumbling
Snivelled
Burying
Wolves
Yonder
Holdfast
Calfskin
Snivelling
Womanish Burial
Goldfinch
BuoyedColder
Sniveller
Womanhood Merrier
Bursting
Coldest
Bricklayer
Buoying
Merriest
Footstep
Curbed
Coldness
Buoyant
Giggled
Merrily
Footstool
Prettier
Bundled
Footman Merriment Giggling
Prettiest
Buoyancy
Lifebuoy Bundling
Wooden Clenched Rinsed
Grinning
Trundled
Sworn
Hardwood Endeavoured Rinsing
Trundling
Grinned
Whipped
Quoted
WoollenBetting
Perfectly
Wilder
Whipping
Quoting
Sweating
Putting
Ransacked
Gripped
Quotation Wildest
Threaten
Pushed
Newfangled
Threatened Hovered
Fathomed Wildness
Pushing
Dangling
Protestantism Childish
ildish
Cushioned Threatening Hovering
Treacherously Ovened
Protestation Childishness Wrangling
Pulled
Jangling
Stretcher Governor Brittleness Binding
Pulling
Stretched Governed Attacked Finder
Strangled
Fully
Stretching Governing Attacking Finding
Strangling
Fuller
Leaden
Government Suddenly
Winding
Mangled
Fullest
Peasantry
Thoroughfare Emptied
Fulness
Blindness
Singled
Deafness
Thoroughly Emptying Grinding
Jingled
Serving
°Obblliiggiendg
Nourished Tempter Grindstone Jingling
Service
Striking
Nourishing Tempted Kinder
Mingled
Impudently Servant
Nourishment Tempting
Bungler
Kindest
Skewered Serviceable Baptized. Attempt
Kindly
Bungling
Argued Deserved Baptizing Attempted
Kindness
Angry
Arguing Deserving Baptist Contempt
Unkind
Angered
Argument Earthen Baptism Instantly
Unkindly Lingered
Valued
Earthenware Rambled
Drown
Unkindness Lingering
Valuable Earthly Rambling Drowning
Aground
Fishmonger
Pouched Diverted Scrambled Standing
Minced
Ironmonger
Slouched Diverting Scrambling Landlady
Rinsed
Disciplined
Crouched Diversion Gambler Landlord
Rinsing
Disputable
Crouching Converted Gambled Grander
Harassed
Indisputable
Devoured Conversion Gambling Grandest
Spancelled Lamentably
Wretched Certainly Trembling Dandled
Nervousness Incomparably
THE SHORT SOUND OF A, AS IN MAT AND TAN.
In some places the short sound of e is improperly substituted for short a, in
almost every word in which it occurs; in Belfast, however, this error is almost
exclusively confined to those words in which a is preceded by e or g, or followed
by the sound of k, hard g, or ng, as exemplified in the following arrangement.
17
16
In the words in column A, the a should be pronounced exactly as in the corresponding words in column C ; in general, however, the words in column A are
erroneously pronounced as they are spelled in column B. The same error is
committed in pronouncing the words in column A as they are spelled in column
B, as would be in pronouncing the words in column C as they are spelled in
column D.
A
C
D
B
B
A
C
D
Cavern Kevern Tavern Tavern Bag
Beg
Bad
Bed
Carry Kerry Tarry Terry Hag Heg Had Head
Gabble Gabble Dabble Dabble Pang Peng Pan Pen
Galley Galley Dally Delly Fang Feng Fan Fen
Hack Heck Hat Het
Plank Plank Plant Plant
Knack Neck Gnat Net
Rank Renk Rant Rent
In consequence of this error the following words in the columns marked A,
are improperly pronounced like the corresponding words in the columns marked
B, though the a should be distinctly pronounced in the words in the columns
marked A :—
A
Pack
Cattle
Carry
B
A
Cannel Kennel
Peck
Kettle
Cant
Kent
Kerry Rack Reck
A
Knack
In fact
Gas
B
Neck
Infect
Guess
B
Beg
Leg
Dregs
A
Bag
Lag
Drags
In the columns marked B in the following list, short a is exemplified in connexion with almost all the consonants and combinations of consonants by which
it is, in English, followed in the same word when it is preceded by c or g, or by
which it is preceded in the same syllable when it is followed by the sound of
k, hard g, or ng. The same words have been placed opposite in the columns
marked A, with t substituted for c and ck, pt for ct, tsh for et when it is followed
by ion as in action, is for x, d for g, nt for nk, n for ng, and nd for ng when the
sound of hard g should be pronounced after it as in mangle. The pronunciation
of the words as they are spelled in column A is thus made to approach as nearly
as possible to the pronunciation which should be given to them in column B,
and without pronouncing the sounds before or after which it is difficult to pronounce the a. In practising the correct pronunciation of the words in column
B, therefore, each word should first be pronounced as it is spelled in column A,
and precisely the same sound given to the same letters in pronouncing the same
word as it is spelled in column B.
A
Tap
Taptain
B
Cap
A
B
A
B
Acme
Atme
Cackle
Tattle
Captain Tammel Camel Pat Pack
Back
Bat
Cabin
Tamp
Camp
Tabin
Faculty
Fatuity
Cavity
Tan
Can
Tavity
Tatholic Catholic Tanvas Canvas Vatuum Vacuum
Thwack
Thwat
Tanter
Canter
Cat
Tat
Whack
What
Tandid
Candid
Catch
Tatch
Quack
Quat Tancer
Cancer
Caddy
Tad dy
Tat
Tack
Stab
Scab
Castle
Tastle
Stat
Stack
Scaffold
Staffold
Caspian
Taspian
Sack
Stavanger Scavenger Sat
Cast
Tast
Shattle
Shackle
Scatter
Statter
Cask
Task
Jat
Jack
Scarify
Starify
Cash
Tash
Talumny Calumny Stamp Scamp Hat Hack
Lack
Lat
Stan
Scan
Talvinist
Calvinist
Black
Bl at
Scant
Stant
Calculate
Talculate
Slack
Slat
Standal
Scandal
Tarrot
Carrot
A
Clack
Clat
Rack
Rat
Brackish
Brattish
Track
Trat
Crack
Crat
Immattulate Immaculate
Smack
Smat
Knack
Nat .
Snack
Snat
Act
Apt
Pact
Papt
Fact
Fapt
Tact
Tapt
Dactyl
Daptyl
Lacteal
Lapteal
Practice
Praptice
Refraptory Refractory
Tract
Trapt
Distract
Distrapt
Cactus
Taptus
Axiom
Atsiom
Vatsinate Vaccinate
Wax
Wats
Tax
Tats
Saxon
Satson
Lax
Lats
Flax
Flats
Maxim
Matsim
Action
Atshion
Paction
Patshion
Faction
Fatshion
Fratshion Fraction
Tratshion Traction
Distratshion Distraction
Gap
Dap
Gabble
Dabble
Daff
Gaff
Gather
Bather
Bedatta
Das
Regatta
Gas
B
A
Gallop
Dallop
Dalvanize Galvanize
Garret
Darret
Gag
Dad
Dammut Gamut
Dannet Gannet
Dander Gander
Addravate Aggravate
Bag
Bad
Fag
Fad
Vaddabond Vagabond
Wag
Wad
Swadder Swagger
Quag
Quad
Tag
Tad
Stag
Stad
Dadder Dagger
Jag
Jad
Hag
Had
Lag
Lad
Bladdard Blackguard
Flag
Flad
Rag
Rad
Brag
Brad
Fradment Fragment
Straddle Straggle
Drag
Brad
Crag
Crad
Scrag
Scrad
Madnet Magnet
Snag
Snad
Pang
Pan
Ban
Bang
Fang
Fan
Twang
Twan
Whang
Whan
Tan
Tang
Stang
Stan
Hang
Han
Slang
Sian
A
Clan
Dan
Andle
Spandle
Bandor
Fandle
Tandle
Dandle
Sanduine
Jandle
Landuid
Clandor
Wrandle
Strandle
Tandaroo
Dandrene
Mandle
Antle
Spanter
Bant
Fant
Vantuish
Twant
Thant
Tant
Santity
Shant
Yantee
Hant
Lant
Plant
Blant
Flant
Clant
Rant
Prant
Frant
Trantuil
Crant
Tanter
B
Clang
Gang
Angle
Spangle
Bangor
Tangle
Tangle
Dangle
Sanguine
Jangle
Languid
Clangor
Wrangle
Strangle
Kangaroo
Gangrene
Mangle
Ankle
Spanker
Bank
Fank
Vanquish
Twank
Thank
Tank
Sanctity
Shank
Yankee
Hank
Lank
Plank
Blank
Flank
Clank
Rank
Prank
Frank
Tranquil
Crank
Canker
The same error is committed in the pronunciation of the following words,
which are chiefly derivatives of the foregoing :—
Capital
Capitalist
Capillary
Decapitate
Captive
Captivate
Captor
Capture
Capstan
Capricorn
Cabbage
Cabinet
Cavalry
Cavil
Caviller
Catalogue
Candlestick
Decamp
Calp
Cataract
Candlemas
Calvinism Camphor
Catacomb
Candour
Caterpillar Calculation Canopy
Cancel
Catechism Incalculable Cannibal
Cannibalism Scabbard
Scapular
Carry
Category
Cannister
Carrier
Cattle
Cannel-coal Scanned
Scamper
Catchpenny Carriage
Packet
Backward
Backwardness
Evacuate
Tackle
Tackling
Attack
Sacked
Canon
Carat
Catgut
Sacrifice
Canonize
Scanty
Carrion
Caste
Scandalous Sacrilege
Caster Caricature Cannon
Accurate Sacrament
Castigate Character Canvass
Accuracy Sackbut
Characterize Cant
Casket
Unshackled
Canton
Aquiline
Calendar
Cackling
Jacobite
Acrid
Caliber
Camelopard Candy
Acrimony
Jacket
Calico Encamp Candidate Package
Jackal
Calomel
Encampment Candle
C
18
19
Ejaculate Flaxen Attraction Wagtail Harangue Embankment
Jackdaw
Maximum Subtraction Swaggerer Gangway
Twankay
Hackney Active
Extraction Swaggering Angler
Thankful
Lac
Angular
Thankfully
Contraction Quagmire
Actor
Lackey
Triangular Thankfulness
Abstraction Tagrag
Actress
Quadrangular Thankless
Lacker
Stagger
Actual
Gaffer
Thanksgiving
Blackamoor Actually
Jagged
Aghast
Anguish
Haggard
Blacking
Gallop
Anger
Sanctifier
Actuate
Blackbird Factor
Gallows Hagridden Angry
Sanctity.
Blackthorn Factory
Gallery
Laggard
Bespangled Sanctimony
Blacksmith Manufacture Gallant
Flagon
Newfangled Sanctuary
Slackish
Manufacturer Gallantry
Flagstaff
Entangle
Sanction
Slacken Tactics Gallon Ragged Dangling Hanker
Galvanism Raggedness Sanguinary Hankering
Slackness Practical
Slackrope Practicable Garrison Ragman Languish Handkerchief
Racket
Ragstone
Languishing Lankness
Impracticable Gamble
Gambler ' Fragmentary Language
Blanket
Rackrent
Fracture
Trackless Tractable Gambol Straggler Languor Flanked
Crackle Attract Began Dragoman Wrangler Outflank
Mangel.wurzel Rankle
Dragon
Agony
Cracker
Attractive
Anxious Rankness
Mackerel Detract Aggregate Craggy
Rancour
Anxiously
Bagatelle
Magazine
Anachronism Subtract
Maggot
Anchor
Abstractedly Baggage
Rancorous
Accent
Distracted Bagpipe Magpie Anchorage Frankly
Axis
Magnify Anchorite Franklin
Contractor Fagot
Axle
Actionable Waggish Magnate Banker Faankness
Waxy
Waxwork Factious Waggery Magnetism Bankrupt Frankincense
Fractional Waggon Magnetize Bankruptcy Tranquillize
Laxative
Refraction Waggoner Magnitude Banquet Cankerworm
Laxity
B
A
B
A
B'
A
Counterstarp Counterscarp Dardroom Guardroom
Placard
Platard
Dardship Guardship
Starf
Scarf
Distard Discard
Intarnate Incarnate Starfskin Scarfskin Darden Garden
Dardener Gardener
Scarlet
Intarcerate Incarcerate Starlet
Dardening Gardening
Starlet-fever Scarlet-fever
Tarcass
Carcass
Starlatina Scarlatina Redard Regard
Cargo
Targo
Redarding Regarding
Cidar
Cigar
Carmel
Tarmel
Redardless Regardless
Darb
Garb
Tarmelite Carmelite
Disredard Disregard
Darter
Garter
Carnal
Tarn al
Darland
Garland
Dard
Guard
Carnally
Tarn ally
Tarnalist Carnalist Darded Guarded Darlic Garlic
Tarnalize Carnalize Dardedly Guardedly Dargle Gargle
Undarded Unguarded Darment Garment
Tarnival Carnival
Dardian Guardian Darnish Garnish
Star Scar
Dardianship Guardianship Undarnished Ungarnished
Scarp
Starp
In a few words which have been already noticed in another list, the uneducated sometimes pronounce short a like short e, though the a is not preceded
by c or g, or followed by the sound of k, hard g, or ng ; and a few, even among
the educated, fancy that they do the elegant in pronouncing ,fet for. fat, met for
mat, men for man, hend for hand, &c. ; ignorance is bad, but affectation is
worse.
THE LONG SOUND OF A, AS IN TAR AND CAR.
When this sound should be pronounced between c and r, and between g and
r, as in car, scarlet, and garden, some pronounce before it the sound of initial y,
and some substitute for it a somewhat lengthened pronunciation of e, as in met
and ten ; thus car and scar are by some prenounded kyar and skgar,* and some
give to these words the pronunciation usually given to the words care and scare:
The following are the most commonly used words of this class. The
remarks on the preceding list, with regard to the use of the columns A and
B, apply also to this :—
B
A
B
A
Tarbon
Carbon
Car
Tar
Tarbonate Carbonate
Tarman
Carman
Tarve Carve
Tarpet Carpet
Tarpeting Carpeting Tarver Carver
Tarpenter Carpenter Tarving Carving
Cart
Tarpentry Carpentry Tart
Tarbine Carbine Tarter Carter
Tarbinier Carbinier Tarting Carting
B
A
Tartwright Cartwright
Cartage
Tartage
Tartridge Cartridge
Tard
Card
Tarder Carder
Tarding Carding
Tardinal Cardinal
Tardtable Cardtable
* Walker seems to be the only English lexicographer of note who recommends this pronunciation. Those who have heard well-educated Englishmen pronounce such words without the sound
of initial y, must have been struck with the elegance of their pronunciation as compared with
that recommended by Walker.
TUE LONG ENGLISH SOUND OF A BEFORE R.
r
In all English dictionaries at present in use the long English sound of a, as
in fate and pale, is denoted as the sound that should be pronounced before r, in
such words as pare, stair, bear, ne'er, heir, and there; in all such words, however, a
lengthened pronunciation of e in met, is almost universally substituted for it.
This sound does not appear to be fully recognized as an element of the English
language; the majority of English lexicographers refer to it only as a means of
explaining foreign sounds, they never recommend it as an English sound, and
virtually condemn it by marking in its place the long English sound of a as in
fate and pale. If they are to be considered as authorities, the vowel sound preceding the r in all such words as pare, stair, bear, ne'er, heir, and there, should be
pronounced exactly like the vowel sound heard in the words pale, stale, bare,
wail, ale, and they. The following list contains almost all the words in common use
in which this sound occurs before r. Any person who may wish to acquire the
habit of pronouncing the long English sound of a in such words, may easily do
so by reading over these words occasionally, and pronouncing before each that
portion of itself which precedes the r, thus pay, pare; compay, compare; declay,.
declare, &e. In pronouncing by itself the portion which precedes the r, the long
English sound will, without difficulty, be given to the a, and the voice will thus
be prepared for giving it that sound when pronouncing the whole word* :—
Pare
Spared
Barenes's
Tares
Hare
Glaring
Parer
Sparing
Fare
Stare
Harebell
Glaringly
Pared
Spareness Fared
Stared
Harehound Rare
Paring Sparingly Farewell Staring Harelip Rarely
Parent
Unsparing Welfare
Dare
Hare scar
Rareness
Prepare
Unsparingly Wares
Dared
Flare
Care
Prepared Bare
Warehouse Daring
Flaring
Careful
Preparing Barefaced Aware Daringly Clare
Carefully
Unprepared Barefacedness Unawares
Share
Declare
Carefulness
Compare
Barefoot
Beware
Sharer
Declared
Careless
Compared Bared
Chinaware Shared Declaring Carelessly
Comparing Bareheaded Earthenware Sharing
Glare
Carelessness
Spare
Barely
Hardware Shareholder Glared
Scare
* We have introduced the above remarks on this sound, not because we are prepared to say
whether it should, or should not be pronounced before the r in such words, but because we wish
to call attention to the fact, that while it is in almost universal use, and recognized and used even
by our most correct speakers, English lexicographers have not, in any way, provided for it in the
notation of the vowel sounds adopted in the orthoepy of their works, but invariably teach that the
long English a in fate and pale should be pronounced instead of it. In this respect, at least,
brother Jonathan seems to be ahead of us. In a dictionary of the English language, published in
the United States (Worcester, 1852), this sound is not only recognized as an element of the
language, but is denoted by a short vertical line over the letter a, thus (a), and by the circumflex
accent over the letter e, as in French words, thus (5).
21
20
Prayerbook Swearer
Theirs
Airtight
Fairly
Scared
Scaring Airgun Fairness Prayerless Swearing E'er
Pear
Forswear Ne'er
Scarecrow Pair
Affair
Peartree Forswearer Ere
Unfair
Scarce
Paired
Forswearing Erelong
Bear
Unfairly
Scarcely
Repair
Tear (to rend) Erenow
Bearable
Scarcity
Repaired
Stair
There
Repairing Staircase Unbearable Tearer
Mare
Thereabout
Bearer
Dairy
Tearing
Snare
Despair
Thereafter
Snarer Despaired Dairymaid Bearing Heir
Despairing Dairyman Bearskin Heiress Thereat
Snared
Forbear
Heir-apparent Therein
Snaring
Despairingly Chair
Forbearance Heir-preimmptive Thereinto
Chaired
Impair
Ensnare
Ensnared Impaired Chairman Forbearing Heirdom Thereof
Thereon
Heirship
Overbear
Ensnaring Unimpaired Hair
Thereupon
Overbearing Heirless
Hairy
Air
Fair
Fairy Hairiness Wear Heirloom Thereout
Airy
Coheir
Thereby
Hairbreadth Wearable
Fairer
Airily
Airiness Fairest Haircloth Wearer Coheiress Therefrom
Therewith
Jointheir
Wearing
Lair
Fairish
Airing
Their
Thereto
Swear
Prayer
Fairing
Airpump
The same sound is improperly substituted for that of long e or ee, in the
words beard, rear, and queer: beard and rear should be pronounced beerd and
reer, and queer should be pronounced as it is spelled.
THE LONG DIPHTHONGAL SOUND OF I, AS IN SIZE AND SIGN.
In all words in which this diphthong occurs, it should be pronounced exactly
like the pronoun I, or as in the words five and size. The people of Belfast
pronounce the pronoun I correctly, and give long i and its equivalent long y
their correct pronunciation in almost all words in which they are followed by
r, v, z, or th ; and in a few which end in y, ye, and ie. The following are of
this order :—
Pie
Expire
Despise
Fie
Five
Fire
Vie
Revive
Revise
Tie
Tithe
Tire
Dive
Dire
Size
Sire
Desire
Hive
Hire
Alive
Blithe
Client
Arrive
Derive
Deprive
Prize
Prior
Brier
Friar
Contrive
Surmise
Mire
Connive
Spy
By
Buy
Byre
Thy
Sty
Dye
Scythe
Shy
Ply
Sly
Rye
Wry
Pry
Fry
Try
Dry
Cry
Descry
My
Deny
Long i and y are correctly pronounced in the above words, and should be
pronounced in precisely the same manner in every word in which they occur ;
but when the dipthong which they represent is followed in the same word by
the sound of any other consonant, a peculiar pronunciation, not recognized in any
English dictionary at present in use, is generally given to it, or rather an entirely
different sound is substituted for it. Any intelligent native of Belfast will understand this, when he is told that the correct pronunciation of this diphthong is
represented by the pronoun I, and that the peculiar pronunciation here alluded
to is represented by the word eye. The proper sound of long i and y, as
represented, by the pronoun I, seems to be composed of the two simple vowel
sounds, a as in far, and e as in me, thus, (tee, 1; while the peculiar
pronunciation represented by the word eye seems to be composed of the
two sounds, e as it is generally pronounced in the word there, and e as in me,
thus, eee, eye. The following will perhaps make this more clear: in the sentences on the left, the long sound of i and y is correctly pronounced in the words
in italics, while the peculiar pronunciation above referred to is given to them in
the corresponding words in the sentences on the right. The words in italics in
the sentences on the right should be pronounced exactly like the corresponding
words in the sentences on the left :—
I was hurt.
My native country I'll disown.
The die is cast.
He will dye it red.
He dyed his hair.
He was dyeing it first.
He pried into the secrets of all.
They tied Rose fast.
That gold is mine.
His eye was hurt.
I will my native isle disown.
They die at last.
He will die in bed.
He died in despair.
He was dying of thirst.
His pride was the cause of his fall.
The tide rose fast.
That is a gold mine.
The following list contains almost all the words in common use in which
long i and y are pronounced as in the above sentences on the right. Any
person who may wish to get rid of this pronunciation, and to acquire the habit
of giving long i and y the pronunciation exemplified in the sentences on the
left, may easily do so by occasionally reading over the following words, and
pronouncing each wanting the letters which follow the i before pronouncing the
whole word; thus, pi, pipe; bi, bible; imbi, imbibe, &c.,—care being taken that
in both the i is pronounced exactly like its name ; and that where y occurs the
same sound be given to it:—
Wife
Whitish' Tidings
Supineness Finest
Eye
Betide
Finely
Wives
Whiten
Item
Pint
Fineness Wight Whiteness Tile
Idle
Spite
Whitewash Tiling
Wide
Idly
Spiteful Define
Whitework Tiler
Idleness Spitefully Undefined Wider
While
Tyrant
Idol
Refine
Widest
Despite
Widely
Whilst
Tiger
Idolize
Despitefully Refiner
Ice
Refinement Widen
Meanwhile Tigress
Spider
Icy
Time
Confine
Wise
Whine
Spice'
Whining
Timely
Icicle
Confinement Wiser
Spicy
Aisle
Quiet
Unconfined
Wisest
Untimely
Spike
Isle
Quietly
Oftimes
Spine
Find
Wisely
Island Spinal Finder Unwise Quietness Sometimes
Islander Bible Viper Unwisely Quite Tiny
Islet
Stifle
Imbibe
Invite
Wile
Requite
Eyelet Bite
Stifling
Uninvited Wily Choir
Ireland Biter
Uninviting Wild
Quire
Stile
Irish
Backbite
Divide
Style
Wildest
Acquire
Irishman Backbiter Divider Wildly Require Stylish
Irishism
Abide
Undivided Wildness
Requirement Die
Iron
Bile
Provide
Wire
Died
Inquire
Ironmonger Combine
Provider
Wiry
Dying
Inquiry
Pipe
Bind
Unprovided Wine
Inquirer ,Diaper
Piper
Binder
Vice
Wind
Indite
Squire
Bagpipe Unbind Device
Winding Squireship Indict
Pile
Fibre
Advice
Unwind
Indictment
Esquire
Compile
Fibrous
Vile
Twice
Dice
Type
Compiler Fife
Vilest
Twine Stereotype Dicebox
Pirate
Fight
Vilely
Entwine
Tight
Diamond
Piracy
Confide
Revile
Swine
Tighter
Dine
Pike
File
Reviler
Swinish
Tightest
Condign
Pikeman
Defile
Vine
Why
Sigh.
Tighten
Pine
Defilement Vinous
White
Tightly
Site
Repine Undefiled Divine Whiter Tightrope Cite
Unrepining Fine
Divinely
Whitest
Tide
Recite
Supine
Finer
Wipe
Whiting
Tidal
Recital
22
Outline Millwright Affright Beguile
Reciter Highly
Mite
Cartwright Friday
Highness Plight
Excite
Mitre
Thrive
Write
Splice
Excited
Height
Thriving Mitred
Writer
Excitement Heighten Spliced
Incite Hyphen Unspliced Writing Thrice Might
Mighty
Tripe
Ride
Sight
Blight
Hide
Mightily
Tribe
Rider
Oblige
Sightless
Hider
Mightiness
Unsightly Hyson Obliging Riderless Trifle
Almighty.
Trifler
Deride
Sublime
Eyesight
Hind
Trifling Amlimce
Behind Sublimely Rice
Side
Miser
ie
me
nctrite
tie
Rise
Blind
Siding
Lie
Arise
Blindfold
Sidewise
Lied
Mild
Stripe
Rime
Blindly
Aside
Lying
Milder
Blindness Rhyme Strife
Beside Liar
Mildest
Stride
Rhymer
Fly
Belie
Outside
Mildly
Astride
Rind
Flying
Belied
Inside
M
milndeness
Bestride
Private
Highflier
Libel
Cider
Strike
Privately
Flight
Library
Suicide
Privateer Striking Miner
Sleight
Infanticide Life
Parricide Lifetime Slight Privacy Strikingly Mining'
Undermine
Drive
Pride
Slightly
Lifeless
Matricide
Driver Undermined
Price
Slide
Fratricide Lives
Mind
Shrine
Priceless
Slider
Light
Regicide
Enshrine Minder
Homicide Lighter Backslider Prime
Mindful
Crisis
Primed
Slice
Lightest
Silent
Remind
Christ
Priming
Slime
Lightly
Silently
Primate Crime Highminded
Silence Lightning Slimy
Smite
Scribe
Primacy
Alight
Clyde
Asylum
Smiter
Describe
Primary
Clime
Delight
Sine
Subscribe Smile
Delightful Climate Sprite
Sign
Subscriber Smiler
Sprightly
Delightfully Climb
Assign
Smiling
Sprightliness Inscribe
Climber
Enlighten
Consign
Circumscribe Nigh
Bribe
Consignment Enlightenment Decline
Nigher
Gripe
Bribery
Unenlightened Recline
Reside
Nighest
Griping
Bright
Incline
Polite
Design
Knife
Brighter Grind
Designing Politely Glide
Knives
Brightest Grinder
Designer Politeness Ripe
Brighten Grindstone Night
Riper
Like
Resign
Nightly
Kite
Brightly
Ripest
Liking
Resigned
Brightness (tineBenighted
Ripen
Liken
Shine
Knightj
Kind
Bride
Ripeness
Likely
Outshine
Knighthood
Bridegroom Kinder
Liklihood Unripe.
Chide
Bridecake Kindest Knightly
Child Likeness Rife
Bridemaid Kindly Nitre
Rifle
Childish Alike
Nice
Kindness
Bridal
Rifleman
Childishness Dislike
Nicely
Unkind
Bridle
Rite
Unlike
Chime
Chine Unlikely Right Bridewell Unkindly Nicety
Unkindness Nile
Righteous Brine
Lime
China
Nine
Mankind
Chinaware Limestone Righteously Briny
Nineteen
Guide
Righteousness Fright
Limekiln
Jibe
Frighten Guidance Ninety
Rightly
Line
High
Snipe
Guile
Frightful
Aright
Lining
Higher
Frightfully Guileless Snipeshooting
Wright
Highest Liner
With regard to what has been said under the last three heads, namely, the
long sound of a, as in tar and car, the long English sound of a before r,
and the long diphthongal sound of i, as in size and sign, the reader is, of
course, at liberty to adopt or reject it just as he pleases. We have, however,
advanced nothing that is not in full accordance with the principles laid down,
and the practice recommended in our most approved English dictionaries.
23
COMMON ERRORS IN THE USE OF VERBS.
A number of verbs in common use are incorrectly pronounced when used in
the past tense—in some the past participle is improerly used instead of the
past tense, thus, " He begun to sing," " He sung well,"" He drunk water," " He
rid home," should be," He began to sing," " He sang well," " He drank water,"
" He rode home." " He ta'en it away," " I seen him," " He done it himself," should
be, " He took it away," "I saw him," " He did it himself." In some a contraction' of the past participle is improperly used for the past tense; thus, throve,
drove, strove, and rose, are improperly pronounced thriv, driv, striv, and riz.
Give, come, and run, are improperly substituted for gave, came, and ran; thus,
"I give it to him an hour ago," " He come home this morning," " He run down
stairs," should be, "I gave it to him an hour ago," " He came home this morning," " He ran down stairs." Sat, spat, and let, are improperly pronounced sut,
sput, and lot, and brought is sometimes pronounced brung.
WORDS NOT TO BE MET WITH IN OUR ORDINARY ENGLISH
DICTIONARIES.
The following words, which are in everyday use in and around Belfast, are
not to be met with in our ordinary English dictionaries. Generally speaking,
they are in use among the low and vulgar only :—
Speel, to climb.
Wheen, a quantity; a number.
Sleekit, sly.
Cleek, a hook.
Bing, a heap.
Scringe, to creak.
Sevendible, thorough ; sound.
Skelly, to squint.
Slcelp, a slap; to slap.
Skelf, a small splinter.
Fart, a cake of bread.
Warsh, insipid ; tasteless.
Throw, to twist.
Sapple, to soak; to wet thoroughly.
Lappered, congealed ; clotted.
-Curnaptious, crabbed; captious.
Brash, a short or sudden illness.
Scam, to scorch.
Ramp, rank ; rancid.
-Dotther, to stagger.
Prod, to stab or thrust.
Slocken, to allay thirst; to quench fire.
Oxtther, the armpit.
Goggle, to shake ; to rock.
-Boke, to retch; to make an offer to vomit.
Fozy, spongy.
Thole, to endure or suffer pain or annoyance.
Hoke, to make holes; to burrow.
Thud, a knock or thump.
Smudge, to smirk.
Smush, refuse.
Dunt, a knock ; a blow.
Dunsh, to knock against ; to butt.
Scrunty, a niggard; niggardly.
Jundy, to jostle.
Scundther, to disgust.
Sheugh, a ditch.
Footy, mean; paltry.
ootther, to bungle; a bungler.
Stoor, dust.
Stoon, a pang ; to ache.
Jubious, suspicious; mistrustful.
Jeuk, to elude by shifting; to dodge.
Floostther, to wheedle.
Stroop, a pipe or spout.
D wine, to pine.
Clype, a large piece.
Coup, to upset.
ENGLISH WORDS IMPROPERLY APPLIED.
The following English words are often used to express meanings very
different from those ascribed to them in English dictionaries, thus :—
Even, to impute; to suppose capable of; Clash, a telltale ; an idle story.
or guilty of.
Gaunt, to yawn.
Them, those.
Loss, to lose.
Terrible, extremely; exceedingly.
Clod, to throw.
Welt, to flog.
Boast, hollow.
Crack, talk ; gossip.
Bloodshed, bloodshot.
Pang, to cram.
Gutters, mire.
24
Right, thorough.
Scout, a syringe; to spirt or spout.
Here, hither.
There, thither.
Where, whither.
A taste, a lock, a grain, a little; a small
quantity.
25
A ha'p'orth, for the word anything, in this
sense, ha'p'orth is always used negatively, thus, " I don't know a ha'p'orth
about it," "He wo'n't say a ha'p'orth
about it," " There wasn't a ha'p'orth
wrong with him."
Some are in the habit of embellishing their conversation with the following
elegant combinations :—Whose owe, for Whose is, or Who owns ; the t'other for
t'other, or the other ; throughother, for confused, deranged, or ravelled ; a sore
head, for a headache; let on, for let be known, or pretend; carry on, for misbehave;
put upon, for ill used, or imposed upon. The word lone, with a personal pronoun
before it, as, my lone, his lone, her lone, its lone, &c., is often improperly substituted for the word alone; thus, "I'll go my lone," " She likes to be her lone,"
"It can walk its lone."
The manner in which some of the foregoing are applied to use is rather
amusing,—" A wee taste of dirt on your shoe," "Not a taste of coals at the quay,"
"A tarble nice mornin'," " Tarble fine weather," "A tarble purty dress," " A tarble
good man," " A right rascal." We have some smart people among us who can
actually hear their own ears,—" Keep quiet you ones, why I can harly hear my own
ears with the noise a ye," is not an unusual expression. The person who first made
this rather odd appeal to the good sense and consideration of his fellows, may,
at the time, have been engaged in the performance of some queer outlandish
looking dance—perhaps an Irish fandango—the required music being produced
by some peculiar motion of his own ears, which, in this specimen of the biped,
must have been long enough to admit of their being rattled together behind the
head or under the chin. Such a performance might have astonished the natives
some centuries ago, but would not be at all surprising in these days of steam
and Indian rubber. But we must stop here, lest the good people of Belfast
should think us more inclined to caricature tha
n to instruct. Perhaps, after all,
the best remedy for such a disease is to laugh at it,—ridicule has often been
found serviceable where other remedies have failed, and may, in the present
instance, be useful as a stimulant,—the medicine may be rather unpleasant to
swallow, but produce good effects nevertheless. We would, however, recommend caution in using it, as it has often been known to produce rather striking
effects, in consequence of the peculiar manner in which it acts on the organ of
combativeness.
SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES.
The following have been selected from a list of Scripture proper names,
accented and divided for pronunciation by Professor Sullivan, in his dictionary
for the use of schools. In pronouncing them, the accent is generally laid upon
wrong syllable. Those who are liable to err in this respect, may easily habia
tuate themselves to their correct pronunciation by occasionally reading them
over, and pronouncing them as under :—
Re-gern,me-tech.
Ke zi'a.
Emlma-us.
Beth-ab'a-ra.
A-bi'a-thar.
Sab'a-oth.
Lab'a-na.
En'ge-di.
Beth's-rain.
A-bi'hu.
San'he-drim.
En'sbe-mesh. Leb'a-non.
Bethira.bah.
A-cePda-ma.
Sar'do-nyx.
Leb-be'us.
Ep'a
phras.
Beth'ra-pha.
Al-phe'us.
Sen-a-che'rib.
Mag'da-len.
Eph'ra-tah.
Beth're-bob.
A-mad'a-tha.
Mag-da-le'ne. Shech'i-nah.
A-mad'a-thus. Beth'she-mesh. Eu-ni'ce.
Shib'bo-leth.
Mar'se-na.
Gad'a-ra.
Ca'na-an.
Am-mi'hud.
Shi-lo'nites.
Mas're-kah.
Ga-ma'li-el.
Chal-de'a.
Am'ra-phel.
Shim'e-ah.
Mat'tan-nah.
Ched-er-la'o-mer. Gen-u'bath.
An-ti'o-chis.
Sil'o-am.
Mat'ta-tha.
Gibe-ab.
Chi-li'on.
An-ti'o-thus.
Stephia-na.
Med'a-lab.
Gil'bo-a.
Cho-ra'zin.
An-tip'a-tris.
Steph'a-nas.
Mek'o-nah.
GiVe-ad.
Cle'o-phas.
Aq'ui-la.
Me-phib'o-sheth. Tel'me-lah.
Gol'go-tha.
Cy-re'ne.
Ar'a rat.
Thad-de'us.
Mer'a-ri.
Go-thon'i-el.
Deb'o-rah.
A-rid'a-tba.
Th am'na-tha.
Me-rib'ba
al.
Gud'go-dah.
De-cap'o
Bs.
A S'ITI a•veth.
The-od'o'tus.
Na'o
mi.
Hacb'mo-ni.
Del'i-lah
A-zalre-el.
Neb-u-zar,e-dam.. Thes-sa-lo-ni!ca.
tha.
med'a
Ham
Do-rym'e
nes.
Az'ma-veth.
Tim'na thah.
O-ri'on.
E-bed'me-lech. Ha-mu'el.
Ba'al.
Pa-shan'da-tha. Tir'ha-kah.
Ha-nan'e-el.
E-bi'a-saph.
Ba'a-sha.
Tir'ha-nah.
Pass'o-ver.
Havii-lah.
El'a sah.
Bags-am.
Tir'sha-tha.
Hu'pham-ites. Pa-te'odi.
E-li'a-kim.
Ba-rab'bas.
Tons-nes.
Phe nice.
Hu'shu-bah.
E-li'a-saph.
Bath'she-ba.
Trip'o-lis.
Hy-men-e'us. Phi•le'mon.
E-li'dad.
Be-el'ze-bub.
Va.jez' atha.
Phi-lis'tim.
Ish'bo-sheth.
E-li'hu.
Be-e'ra.
Zac-che'us.
Phi-lis'tines.
It-u-re'a.
E-lish'a-ma.
Be-e'ri.
Zar'ta-nah.
Pil'e tha.
Ja ha'le-el.
E1'ka-nah.
Be er'she-ba.
Zeph'a-thah.
Po tiph'e-ra.
Ja-su'bus.
El'mo-dam.
Be'he-moth.
Ze-red'a-thah.
Prochro-ras.
Jem-u'el.
E1'na-than.
Be'li al.
Ze-rub'ba-bel.
Rab'sa-ris.
Jot'ha-tha.
El'to-lad.
Ben'ha-dad.
Zer-vi'ah.
Rab'sha-keh.
Ke'tu-rah.
Eliza-phan.
Ber-nice.
27
1
ESSAY ON MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES.
SOME time ago, a few acquaintances including the writer, formed themselves
into a little Society, with a view to their mutual improvement. This was to be
accomplished by the usual means ; essays were to be prepared and read by the
members, and it was agreed that the writer should produce the first Essay in the
form of an opening address. The following is an extract from it, and we give
it here because it is of general application, and because we believe that the principle of Mutual Improvement might be made more extensively available as a
means of correcting bad habits in pronunciation.
" Gentlemen, our Society is essentially a Mutual Improvement Society, and,
in addressing its members, I consider myself as addressing persons who value
knowledge, and who have come here in search of it. In the remarks I have to
make, I intend to deal chiefly with generalities; and what I have to say will
apply to all Mutual Improvement Societies as well as to our own. I intend,
then, to make a few remarks with regard to the nature and objects of Mutual
Improvement Societies generally ; but, before doing so, it may be well to say a
few words in reference to a very peculiar property possessed by knowledge, and
on which depend both the necessity for, and the use of Mutual Improvement
Societies—I mean that property of knowledge in virtue of which it may be
given away, and yet retained ; both giver and receiver retaining full and complete possession at one and the same time. Some writers of the olden time—
I will not say of undoubted veracity—assure us, that there was in circulation in
their day a very curious sort of coin called Flying half crowns.' Now, according to their account, if you possessed one of these half crowns you might go into
a shop and there purchase anything that a person possessing an ordinary half
crown might venture to purchase, and having pocketed your change, if any were
coming to you, and walked off with your goods; as soon as you want it, put
your hand into your pocket and there you have your half crown, the identical
half crown you gave for the goods, ready to be paid for more as soon as you
may want them : such half crowns must have been very convenient things in old
times, and even in our own day a pocket-piece of this kind would be very serviceable to a young man starting business; but it is not with the days of flying
half crowns we have to do—we have to deal with the hard matter of fact times
in which we live, and in which we must be content to possess and to dispose of
ordinary half crowns in the ordinary way. Now it would be very wonderful
to find this property possessed by a half crown—too wonderful, in fact, to be
true ; and yet, wonderful as it would be, the very same property, in its fullest
extent, is possessed by that which we all come here to seek, knowledge. You
may give away all the knowledge you possess ; you may sell it ; you may
bestow it; it matters not how or why you part with it; and the person to whom
you give it may receive and retain full and complete possession of it ; tad yet,
as soon as you want it for your own use, look back into your own mind, and
there you have all the knowledge you possessed before, whole and entire, and
all the better and the brighter for the turning over it has got. Now, a Mutual
Improvement Society simply is, a number of persons met together for the
purpose of taking advantage of this peculiar property of knowledge, and of so
encouraging and regulating the flow and interchange of thought, that whatever
may be the present amount of knowledge possessed by the whole Society, that
same amount may, in the end, be possessed by each individual member of it.
I consider that this is, or ought to be, the aim and object of all Mutual Improve-
ment Societies; and the more nearly we approach to this, the more fully do we
realize the objects for which our Association has been formed. From what I
have said, it will, I think, be evident to any intelligent mind, that the interchange of knowledge—provided that it be of the proper description—must
always be a winning, and never a losing game. But many are prevented from
availing themselves of the means of improvement thus placed within their reach
by a foolish, childish sort of feeling, or rather failing in our nature, which we
call bashfulness. I have endeavoured to analyze this feeling, in order, if
possible, to discover a remedy for it, and I have come to this conclusion, that
bashfulness, properly so called, is the result of natural causes over which we
can have little or no control, and which time and constant brushing with the
world alone can remove. This weakness—for weakness it is—has the singular
effect of making us feel stupidly ashamed when we have not the slightest reason
to be so—ashamed of acts which, in reality, may not only be blameless, but
praiseworthy. In many cases this feeling mars, and in some it entirely prevents
all attempts at Mutual Improvement in a public way. The best, I may say the
only means of fortifying ourselves against this feeling is, to come out into the
world and accustom ourselves to the company and conversation of our fellows—
bashfulness is a disease that will yield to no system of cure save Homeopathy :
to provoke and excite it, and so make it expend itself the sooner, seems to be the
only means by which it may be thoroughly got rid of. But there is another
feeling to which I would direct your attention, which, in its effects, so nearly
resembles bashfulness, that it is generally mistaken for it, though it arises from
a totally different cause. The feeling to which I allude differs from bashfulness
in being the consequence of our own act, the penalty we pay for a fault we have
ourselves committed, and in being, in a great measure, under our control and
removable at will. Most persons are fond of being well thought of, and well
spoken of by their friends; and if we desire simply a recognition of merits that
we really possess, the sentiment may not only be excusable, it maybe laudable;
but many, particularly the young and inexperienced, are so intent upon attaining
this end, that they practise every little means in their power to impress their
friends and acquaintances with the belief that they are much more clever and
much more learned than they really are. Having succeeded in this, they are
henceforward compelled, either to keep by themselves or to associate with persons more ignorant than themselves, and are, of necessity, prevented from associating with persons who know more than, or even as much as themselves. If
by any chance, or rather mischance, they find themselves necessitated to enter
into conversation with such persons, or to stand out before them as speakers,
they are in constant fear of exposing their own ignorance, and every attempt
they make to hide it only makes it more apparent—they become confused—they
hesitate—they stammer—they blunder,—and their friends call this bashfulness ;
but it is no such thing :—it is simply a guilty fear of detection and exposure—
the merited punishment of a mean deception to which they have been impelled
by vanity and self-conceit. Such persons should at once step down to their
proper level, as the only means of saving themselves from merited ignominy
which surely awaits them if they persist in their foolish attempts to enjoy
unmerited distinction. Those who have not yet committed themselves in this
way should be strictly on their guard against doing so; for it is only by starting
from our own, our proper level, that we can hope to rise, or to become either
wiser or better. And now, to apply this to our own case. We are all, comparatively speaking, but new acquaintances, and have scarcely had time, as yet,
to commit ourselves in this respect in our intercourse with each other—this is
certainly an advantage on our part, and each should avail himself of it by at
once assuming that position which he feels he can fairly and honestly maintain.
Let no one attempt to hide his ignorance from the others—no one but a fool
would conceal his disease from his physician : on the contrary, let each be foremost to proclaim his own ignorance, and let each inform the others of his defi-
28
ciencies in as far as he is himself aware of them—this will be necessary in order
that the others may know when and how to assist and correct him. To confess
our ignorance to each other will certainly be a strong provocative to bashfulness
for the time ; but it will, on that account, be its cure—no one will then be
ashamed to express his ideas on any subject—he will not fear being ridiculed
or laughed at for any little mistake he may chance to make, for he has already
told the Society that he is liable to make such mistakes. Let this be done, and
bashfulness—or sheepishness, as it has been perhaps more appropriately characterized by a friend—will soon disappear from among us ; and that free and
unrestrained flow and interchange of thought, so essential, so indispensable to
the proper carrying out of the objects of our Association will be promoted and
assisted, and it will be our own fault if we do not profit by it. In our search
after knowledge, however, let us always bear in mind, that true wisdom is from
above, and that of ourselves we are constantly liable to go astray; and feeling
this, let us, in all our undertakings, humbly seek counsel of Him who has promised to guide and assist all those who sincerely acknowledge their own insignificance, and look to Him alone for counsel and assistance."
LINES
ON THE ADAGE
" WHAT'S WORTH DOING AT ALL IS WORTH DOING WELL."
WE have numberless maxims all ready for use,
To guide us in using, and guard 'gainst abuse,
So clearly, so simply, so briefly they're told,
Th' experience of ages a nutshell might hold;
But there's one in the number, on which I have hit,
And its value and truthfulness all must admit,
One line will suffice this plain maxim to tell:
" What's at all worth the doing is worth doing well."
The sloven may growl, and the sluggard may whine,
The careless and idle will always repine,
But the man who this maxim has fixed in his mind,
Will soon leave the careless and idle behind:
In the journey of life he will always be first;
He is always prepared for the best or the worst;
In business he'll thrive, and in all things excel;
For whatever he does is done wisely and well.
'Tis the duty of parents and guardians of youth,
To impress on their minds this reliable truth;—
Time spent in such teaching is surely well spent,
For the tall tree inclines as the young twig is bent:
So, by those who in childhood this truth have been taught,
In manhood and age it is seldom forgot;
But the truth of this maxim their histories tell :
" What's at all worth the doing is worth doing well."
If your part in this world you would honestly do,
This excellent maxim keep always in view;
If your part in a better you wish to secure,
'Twill tend by its teaching success to ensure :—
If Heaven's worth seeking for, seek it with care;
Be zealous of good, and be constant in prayer;
Read your Bible, my friend, if you're able to spell:
You'll find it worth doing, and worth doing well.