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Norfolk Talk, Dictionary and Tales


3. Important Links

1. : Acknowledgements

Keith Skipper's book "Larn Yarself Norfolk"
(See BIBLIOGRAPHY) is particularly recommended
(in fact, is compulsory reading); and is frequently
referred-to in all that follows.

Skipper provides an immensely long list of
"Norfolk" words in alphabetical order. There is
no point in re-inventing that particular wheel :
so this present effort lists "ordinary" English words
with their dialect equivalent.

Working from this dictionary, through Skipper's
index, will provide the fullest information
(outside of the text itself).

Other acknowledgements are far too numerous
to mention : consisting of parents, **grandparents,
relatives, neighbours and friends throughout
our Fine City; plus, in particular, the important
boroughs of Great Yarmouth and Thetford.


** N. B.  As a Norriger, I must put on record that
my maternal grandmother was born (c. 1871) in the
Norfolk village of Etling Green : so small a village
that the nearest "town" was Mattishall !
 

2. : Motivations

General influences and sources of inspiration are
another matter; and the following eminent names
(sadly, mostly deceased) come readily to mind.
The first three have strong connections with the
Castle Museum.

Dick Bagnall-Oakeley (formerly on the
        Museums Committee)
Geoffrey Goreham ("Mr. Norwich")
Rachel Young (leading local historian and teacher)
Eric Fowler ("Jonathan Mardle") :
        See BIBLIOGRAPHY
Keith Skipper (again!, but in his radio capacities)
Cliff and Pauline Godbold of Aylsham
        (and other notable folk-singers)
Various Masters at the City of Norwich School.

    (Who thought it better to sound Scottish, and be
    incomprehensible; than be understood speaking
    in the local dialect. They seemed unaware of the
    strong Scots connections . . .)
Len Stevenson and other leading local politicians :
who achieved great things without ever finding it
necessary to disown their humble roots.

3. : Important Links

I take a little pride in publishing my original website
in 1998, just before the founding - in 1999 - of the
Friends of Norfolk Dialect.

The founder was none other than Keith Skipper,
mentioned above. He has recently been given the
well-deserved recognition of an M.B.E. award.

The Hon. President is the acclaimed academic
Prof. Peter Trudgill, also a former pupil at the
City of Norwich School.

  Peter can be directly referenced by
his entry in "Wikipedia"

The current Chairman of FoND is Colin Burleigh.

The FoND website also features
Dick Bagnall-Oakeley (1908 - 1974).
Already mentioned, he was principally a
naturalist, but is now regarded as a pioneer
and leading-light in the preservation of the dialect.


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