Dialect in British Fiction: 1800-1836Funded by The Arts and Humanities Research CouncilSupported by The University of Sheffield
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Currently displaying 11 - 20 of 270 records    |    Previous 10 records    |    Next 10 records    |    Order results by: Publication Year ~ Novel Title
11
Carver, Mrs (1800)
Courtship; Epistolary; Gothic; Inheritance / Identity; Castle (Arkeley Castle); country houses;
Dialect Speakers
I must give it to you in his own words, madam, because you would not like to lose any part of it. "Lord Fitzarnold, a fine young man with a very large estate, has made so free with an English gentleman, as to carry off his wife per force!" "Aye, " replied some of the company, "how happened that?" "True upon my soul!" says O'Nettle; "it was neither by your leave nor with your leave; and if report says true, what was most extraordinary, it was against the lady's own consent!" "Why then," replied others, "won't his lordship be hanged?" "Why no," says O'Nettle; "I suppose circumstances will come out to prevent that, for it seems the lady and her husband lived on very ill terms, and that will go a great way to exculpate Lord Fitzarnold." "O now I think of it," said Mrs. Lacy, "it was mentioned in our still room the other day, and one of our servants had got a letter from one Macardoe, who lives with Lord Fitzarnold; and moreover, he said that the lady was got away and gone nobody knew whither , and that she was the sweetest creature that ever was seen."
(Vol. 2,p. 66-67)
12
Carver, Mrs (1800)
Courtship; Epistolary; Gothic; Inheritance / Identity; Castle (Arkeley Castle); country houses;
Dialect Speakers
Speakers: All , Meg Barney
She stared at me for some moments, and then said, in a true Irish accent, "Arrah my dear, but you look like after being a gentlewoman! Pray God ye be not be a spy from the rebels." I assured her I was not; that I would do her no harm; and only wanted to take a little rest, and have something to drink. "Why then, come in," said the good woman; "and be after making yourself welcome, for ye seem to be haggard and weary."
(Vol. 2,p. 151)
13
Edgeworth, Maria (1800)
Anecdotal; Domestic; Historical; Humour; Manners / Society; Social Commentary; Ireland; Castle; ;
Dialect Speakers
2. glossary
Dialect Features:Idiom, Metalanguage

Extract #1 dialect features: Idiom, Metalanguage
Page 31. I thought to make him a priest . --It was customary of those in Thady's rank, in Ireland, whenever they could get a little money, to send their sons abroad, to St. Omer's, or to Spain, to be educated as priests. Now they are educated at Minnouth. The Editor has lately known a young lad, who began by being a post-boy, afterwards turn into a carpenter; then quit his plane and workbench to study his Humanities , as he said, at the college of Minnouth: but after he had gone through his course of Humanities, he determined to be a soldier instead of a priest.
Page 37. Flam.-- short for flambeau.
Page 40. Barrack room .--Formerly it was customary, in gentlemen's houses in Ireland, to fit up one large bedchamber with a number of beds for the reception of occasional visitors. These rooms were called Barrack rooms.
Page 41. An innocent --in Ireland, means a simpleton, an ideot
Page 58. The Curragh --is the Newmarket of Ireland.
14
Edgeworth, Maria (1800)
Anecdotal; Domestic; Historical; Humour; Manners / Society; Social Commentary; Ireland; Castle; ;
Dialect Speakers
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
Speakers: All , Thady Quirk
Having out of friendship for the family, upon whose estate, praised be Heaven! I and mine have lived rent free time out of mind, voluntarily undertaken to publish the Memoirs of the Rackrent family, I think it my duty to say a few words, in the first place, concerning myself.--My real name is Thady Quirk, though in the family I have always been known by no other than " honest Thady "--afterwards, in the time of Sir Murtagh, deceased, I can remember to hear them calling me " old Thady ;" and now I'm come to "poor Thady"--for I wear a long great coat, winter and summer, which is very handy, as I never put my arms into the sleeves, (they are as good as new,) though come Holantide next, I've had it these seven years; it holds on by a single button round my neck, cloak fashion--to look at me, you would hardly think "poor Thady" was the father of attorney Quirk; he is a high gentleman, and never minds what poor Thady says, and having better than 1500 a year, landed estate, looks down upon honest Thady, but I wash my hands of his doings, and as I have lived so will I die, true and loyal to the family.--The family of the Rackrents is, I am proud to say, one of the most ancient in the kingdom.--Every body knows this is not the old family name, which was O'Shaughlin, related to the Kings of Ireland--but that was before my time.
15
Edgeworth, Maria (1800)
Anecdotal; Domestic; Historical; Humour; Manners / Society; Social Commentary; Ireland; Castle; ;
Dialect Speakers
2. interlocutor
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction
"These shrubs?" said she-- "Trees," said he-- "May be they are what you call trees in Ireland, my dear, (says she) but they are not a yard high, are they?" -- "They were planted out but last year, my lady," says I, to soften matters between them, for I saw she was going the way to make his honor mad with her-- "they are very well grown for their age, and you'll not see the bog of Allyballycarricko'shaughlin at all at all through the skreen, when once the leaves come out--But, my lady, you must not quarrel with any part or parcel of Allyballycarricko'shaughlin, for you don't know how many hundred years that same bit of bog has been in the family, we would not part with the bog of Allyballycarricko'shaughlin upon no account at all ; it cost the late Sir Murtagh two hundred good pounds to defend his title to it, and boundaries, against the O'Learys, who cut a road through it." -- Now one would have thought this would have been hint enough for my lady, but she fell to laughing like one out of their right mind, and made me say the name of the bog over for her to get it by heart a dozen times--then she must ask me how to spell it, and what was the meaning of it in English --Sir Kit standing by whistling all the while--I verily believe she laid the corner stone for all her future misfortunes at that very instant--but I said no more, only looked at Sir Kit.
16
Edgeworth, Maria (1800)
Anecdotal; Domestic; Historical; Humour; Manners / Society; Social Commentary; Ireland; Castle; ;
Dialect Speakers
2. interlocutor
At this Judy takes up the corner of her apron, and puts it first to one eye and then to t'other, being to all appearance in great trouble; and my shister put in her word , and bid his honor have a good heart, for she was sure it was only the gout that Sir Patrick used to have flying about him, and that he ought to drink a glass or a bottle extraordinary to keep it out of his stomach, and he promised to take her advice, and sent out for more spirits immediately; and Judy made a sign to me, and I went over to the door to her, and she said-- " I wonder to see Sir Condy so low!--Has he heard the news?" "What news?" says I.-- "Did'nt ye hear it, then? (says she) my lady Rackrent that was is kilt and lying for dead, and I don't doubt but that it's all over with her by this time." --"Mercy on us all, (says I) how was it?"--"The jaunting car, it was that ran away with her, (says Judy).
17
Foster, Mrs E. M. (1800)
Humour; Inheritance / Identity; Manners / Society; Political; Cornwall;
Dialect Speakers
2. interlocutor
Speakers: All , Joanna, interlocutor
She enquired who was there, and was answered in a well-known key-- " 'Tis me, Miss; 'tis your old Joanna."
"Come in," said Miriam, wondering what could cause the appearance of Joanna at Menooth.
" Ah, Miss!" said Joanna, "I should not have made so bold as to intrude, but I have such news for ye ! Law , Miss, master's at the Castle!"
"Who? cried Miriam, in consternation.
"Mr. Fitzpatrick, Miss, but, Lord! don'tee look so pale; you needn't be afeard of he , for he's in a bad taking hisself ."
"What is the matter?" said Miriam; "come sit down, and relate your story."
" Oh Miss!" said Joanna, doing as she was bid, and wiping her forehead, "this comes of old gentlemen or elderly gentlemen marrying young beauties; never no good can come , I'm very sartin ; but howsomdever I'll tell you.--Last night, 'twas near ten o'clock, and Joseph was just stirring out the fire, and I was unpinning my cap, when helter-skelter we heard such a noise! " Lord , Joseph!" says I , "is that thunder?"
"No, I'fackins !" says Joseph; "but 'tis a carriage coming down the paved road."
Lack a-day , what a pother I was in! The bell ring'd at the door, and I ran to it, and held the candle while Joseph unlocked it."
"Who's here?" says Joseph.
"Friends," was the answer.
" Lack-a-daisy ," says I , "why sure that's master's footman?"
"Yes, 'tis indeed!" says Robert; "open the door directly, for my master's outside."
" Blessed Lord , how I did shake!"
"Now," said Robert, "is Mrs. Fitzpatrick here?"
"Here!" says I ; " Lord helpee , Robert be dreaming ?"
"Has she been here?"
"No, I'fegs !" says Joseph; " this be no place for a gay body like she ."
"I told my master so," said Robert, "but he wouldn't hearken to me." -- Well , Miss, the short and the long is, that Mrs. Fitzpatrick has 'loped and carried off a deal of money with her. Robert says all the sarvants know as 'tis with a young East Indian, as she has kept company with a great while; but master wouldn't hearken to him that she was gone sure enough , but thought 'twas all of a frolic , till he com'd down to the Castle, and found 'twas true. Poor gentleman, I do pity en , for he looks cruel bad , and 'tis hard to be so tricked:--however, he's paid now for all his wickedness to you, Miss, and all the sarvants , they does laugh about it, and say their master is well sarved for his pains, in vent'ring on such a mad-cap , hoity-toity thing ."
18
Foster, Mrs E. M. (1800)
Humour; Inheritance / Identity; Manners / Society; Political; Cornwall;
Dialect Speakers
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction
Speakers: All , Mrs Wilson
A tall thin female, of a most shewy appearance, came up close to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and making two very low curtsies close before them, said-- "How d'ye do, Mem ? How d'ye do, Sir? Welcome to our parts ; I shall be happy to see you at Burtel."
Mortimer disguised not his mirth at this speech .
(Vol. 1,p. 121)
19
Foster, Mrs E. M. (1800)
Humour; Inheritance / Identity; Manners / Society; Political; Cornwall;
Dialect Speakers
2. interlocutor
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction
" You'll be kindly welcome, Sir; our's are to the full as large as pigeons."
"Madam, as large as what?"
"As large as pigeons, Sir."
"Pigeons!"
"Yes, indeed, to the full as large as pigeons. Cousin Jenny, now ben't our turtle-doves as big as pigeons?"
(Vol. 1,p. 123)
20
Holloway, William (1800)
Courtship; Didactic / Moralising; Domestic; Gothic; Inheritance / Identity; Lauderbrooke Hall; Woodland Castle;
Dialect Speakers
Speakers: All , Dorothy Elmford
"If your honour chuses to stay till my daughter returns from yon village, I shall then have it within my power to treat you with an egg and a rasher of bacon. I expect her any minute."
"Thanks for your kindness," replied the Baron; "I wish for nothing better: nor should I make a heartier repast from the delicacies of my own table. Then, Dame, I conceive you have a daughter?" "Your Honour will see her presently," answered his hostess. "And a husband likewise living?" said he. "Yes your Honour. He is now at work at the vicar's, in the village," said she; and I am sure he would be glad of your good company; for we do not often see strangers at our poor habitation. The times are main hard, Sir, but, thank God, Providence is very kind to us. O, your Honour, that same vicar is a dear good man! Aye, and, Madam, his wife, is as good a woman; and he is a great scholard . 'Tis said as how ne'er a man in the country can read better. He writes out all his own sarments , and repeats 'em almost without looking in the book. He would fain take our girl; but he has a large family, and can't afford to keep no sarvants . Howsever , he always teaches her the catichize ; and is always giving her good device and instruction, which is better than gold and silver; for
[smaller font and indented from l. margin]
When house and land is gone and spent,Then larning is most excellent.
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Version 1.1 (December 2015)Background image reproduced from the Database of Mid Victorian Illustration (DMVI)