Bostin! Black Country dialect dissected at library event
Library-goers enjoyed a bostin' time as they reminisced about all that is good in the Black Country.
A special event, called Cup On Tay and a Gud Old Chinwag, explored the region's history, traditions and dialect.
Dr Brian Dakin, a university researcher of languages, hosted the event to an audience of about 35 people at Halesowen Library.
He said the event uncovered some hidden gems, such as rare phrases that are no longer used within communities.
One woman, from the Cradley area, recalled a Black Country phrase that her grandmother would say, which was: "I'm older than my tongue but I'm younger than my teeth."
Dr Dakin said: "It meant giving some wise information. Say they had done something wrong but when you get older, you learn these things. You are older than your tongue but younger than your teeth."
These phrases are known as idiolects which are special phrases used within communities.
Alongside recalling tales and stories from the Black Country, the event is also an information gathering exercise.
In a follow-up event, guests will be encouraged to share their tales and recollections of the Black Country with the library.
These could be personal knowledge or recollections from family members, past or present.
Dr Dakin hosted the event free of charge thanks to his passion for all things Black Country. He appeared by his stage name Billy Spakemon alongside Tom Stanton.
Dr Dakin continued: "The event was brilliant. We used ourselves as an explanation as of what we are trying to do.
"People were sharing their own memories. At the end, people were coming up to us that reminded me of a certain thing."
The next event is taking place at Halesowen Library, located in the Cornbow Shopping Centre, in Halesowen, on February 28.
