'Cumbrian phonetics cracked like a plaited whip'
Nicholson is by no means a dialect poet, but he does give his language and imagery a special Northern flavour in his choice of words. 'Word of the Month' took inspiration from the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies website, which for a time included a ‘Word of the Week’ article. Of course, much of Nicholson’s word-choice was completely standard – but there are enough words that might prove puzzling to the general reader without some kind of elucidation. And then, one might wish simply to explore and celebrate the Northern English energies in Nicholson’s opus – the Cumbrian phonetics which cracked like a plaited whip, as Seamus Heaney put it in a tribute poem written for Norman on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
![]() 'Word of the Month' is edited by Ann Thomson. She is always keen to hear from any reader who would like to contribute a suitable article. Get in touch via the Contact Form on this website here |
August 2018........................
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WORD OF THE MONTH ARCHIVE
July 2018....'brog' June 2018....'fratching' August 2017..'dub' April 2017.....'haemetite' January 2017..'lonning' July 2016.......'skerry' June 2016.......'lish' May 2016........'voe' January 2016....'unsnecked' December 2015..'backend' October 2015....'ghyll' August 2015.....'jammy crane' July 2015.........'syke' June 2015........'skear' May 2015..........'lass' March 2015........'stope' February 2015.....'glim' January 2015.......'spink' December 2014.....'mire' part 2 November 2014.....'mire, miry' October 2014....... 'neb' September 2014.... 'let' If you – or someone you know – might wish to contribute a short article for this column, please do contact us. We are not only interested in dialect – or near-dialect – usage, but also in a focus on any word which might, in the context of Nicholson’s poetry, drama or prose, contribute to its particularity, to a sense of Northerness… Click HERE for our contact details |