Talk:Geordie/Archive 2

American Accent ??

Here is the magic question. What British accent most resembles General American accent? By General American accent it is meant the kind used by most newscasters in America. It is sometimes called "accentless" or "midwestern" because it is neither southern or extreme northern. I could not find the answer to this question. Someone told me that Geordie is the closest accent to general American...but I have my doubts. Any ideas? Thanks.

No British accent very closely resembles an American one, they are almsot entirely different. If pushed I'd say that people from Northern Ireland are the closest and people from the East of England have some similarities e.g. my mother pronounces 'garage' the same way as Americans do. A lot of the earlier settlers of America were from Essex and East Anglia or from Ireland (particularly Ulster). Geordie does not remotely sound like American, an American would have no chance whatsoever of understanding a broad Geordie accent.GordyB 13:46, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

True enough; I'd say that a fair number of Brits would also have trouble with a broad Geordie accent. But if the main difference between standard AmE and standard BE is that the former is a rhotic accent (ie, the letter R is pronounced at the end of words and elsewhere) and the latter is not, it should be pointed out that there are plenty of rhotic accents in Britain, particularly from southwestern England (listen to someone from Bristol speak) while there are also non-rhotic ones in North America (parts of Massachussetts and New England; eastern Canada, bits of the South). Geordie is pretty much non-rhotic (i.e., more "British"-sounding) although its pronunciation is obviously quite different, and its terminal vowels ("fatha") involve more than just dropping the r.  ProhibitOnions  ^(T) 09:45, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Canny

I've reverted an edit which (amongst other things) suggested that canny was also used in the "sly" or "knowing" sense. I thought I'd better check here since I haven't lived in the area for a while, but I don't recall ever hearing it used in that context; though I do recall some people being unhappy that its appearance in TV programmes etc invariably followed the Scottish meaning rather than the local one. Additionally, I don't think canny (cannae?) as "cannot" is used frequently enough in the region to get a mention, but someone more adept at dialects may wish to have the final say here.
-- Chris (blather • contribs) 07:28, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

File:Geordi.jpg File:Goldiethumb.jpg

You are completely right. Anjouli 08:44, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Sorry but you're wrong. A couple of points: a) "canny" is used all the time in the region b) It has several meanings/uses. I was born and bred in sunderland and I can tell you that, at least in Sunderland,canny was and is a wonderful word with several meanings. It can mean "nice;good;pretty" as in ' the baby's dead canny'and "it was a canny good film": it can mean 'a long way' as in "it's canny far". and it can mean 'sly or clever' as in " watch him, he's a bit canny". Khasab (talk) 23:13, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

You're right that "canny" for "cannot" is not a feature of Geordie, far more Scots. As for the sly sense I've certainly heard it used in this way, imagine someone having a complex plan explained to them, and as they understand it they nod their head and say "Riiiight". Imagine a drawn out 'canny' in its place and I think you have what you were referring to. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Skipsey (talk • contribs) 16:49, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Howay!

How is howay pronounced? Hoe-way? Haw-way? Does it rhyme with today or with high? JIP | Talk 18:14, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

It kind of rhymes with today--Williamsayers79 11:53, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

It's Ha (as in "had") Way (as in "way"). It doesn't rhyme with 'today'. Anjouli 08:38, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

It does rhyme with today! and its only Ha (as in "had") Way (as in "way") if its spelt haway which is more like a Makem accent! --Williamsayers79 21:04, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

As a geordie I usually pronounce it how way but blended in. The W is to pronounced for it to rhyme with today —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.66.152.36 (talk) 10:22, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Smoggy?

I thought "smoggy", as in "smog monster", was considered an insult. Have people from Teesside "reclaimed" this term and started using it with pride? 217.34.39.123 10:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Definition of "Geordie"

I always thought "Geordie" referred to anyone born in Newcastle, i.e. NORTH of the Tyne. I didn't think it applied to Gateshead. Surely this followed the County Durham/Northumberland distinction that has historically existed, but been blurred by confusion following the 1974 Local Government changes. Hence why a large number of people in my grandad's generation who lived in Gateshead followed Sunderland rather than Newcastle at football - because it was County Durham. Whatever, this article really needs some references, or at least needs to admit that definition of the term varies. Logoistic 19:10, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

I don't think it's possible to come up with anything but ar arbitrary definition of a dialect term that varies so considerably in usage! It has been said that a Geordie is anyone born within the smell of the Tyne, but I guess that depends on the wind-direction and the Tyne has not smelled for years. I would say a Geordie is anyone who speaks with a Geordie accent (honorary Geordies excepted).Anjouli 08:56, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

"I would say a Geordie is anyone who speaks with a Geordie accent": hmmmm, but again, one person's Geordie-speak is not another persons. Yet at the same time, we all accept it centres around Newcastle. Logoistic 00:30, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Considering one of the most popular origins for the term is with the miners it would be a bit daft to have Geordie just be spoken in Newcastle- no mines in the city, they were all in the areas around it mainly Co.Durham.--Josquius 11:41, 8 June 2007 (UTC) Duh, apart from the mines in Wallsend (Rising Sun) North Shields. Newburn,Seaton Deleval etc etc, the previous writers error might be because the mines around newcastle were generally older, and worked out earlier than some of those South of the Tyne but saying all minrs were based in co Durham is plain wrong —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.27.14.179 (talk) 14:28, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

Geordie in the Media

It seems strange that there has been no mention or either Purely Belter of Billy Elliot, both films that show Geordies.

For Billy Elliot: since when was County Durham Geordie??? I have no qualms with Purely Belter though, as its about Geordies, even if the actors are not. Logoistic 00:28, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Cannae

Of course geordies say cannae. Just imagine a bit of typical speach- "I can't do that". If cannae is not said by geordies this would be: "Ah can't dee that man" which...just doesn't sound right. There's no flow. "Ah cannae dee that man" however sounds much more natural and far more geordie. It sounds nothing like 'canny' also.--Josquius 12:11, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Hmmm, to be honest, I've never heard "cannae" used like that, but then I'm not a Geordie, and am mostly used to County Durham speak (having lived there all my life...). Somebody else also suggested that "cannae" isn't used for "cannot" either. ""Ah can't dee that man" sounds ok to me. Even if the "can't" isn't pronounced then it might be: "Ah cannet dee that man" sounds better. Whatever, I think we should get more opinions on this. Certainly "cannae" is definantly not used where I'm from... Logoistic 23:03, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

It's said by geordies, pronounced without the 'T' Michaeltyne 18:38, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Thats just can...If we said that then people wouldn't be able to tell if we could or couldn't do something. Its cannae thats said. Or occasionally cannit (though thats more of a Durham thing).--Josquius 21:55, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

We actually use 'Cannet' in Wearside, fairly sure it's the same up your bit anarl. "Eee man ya cannet dee that". Gazh 09:52, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

I find "cannit" is used when the word is emphasised. "Ya cannae dee that man." vs. "Ya cannit!" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.107.53.36 (talk) 10:27, 3 April 2009 (UTC)