Southlanders, those who have been here for more than 6 decades especially, use some expressions that I've not heard elsewhere. "Look the sheep" is the classic. Those of us who hail from the 'north' would say, I'll go and "look at the sheep", but down here, no such frills are deemed necessary. Today as we were visiting an old and very well known Southland character I heard "that a'mean" for "that's what I mean" and "said me" for "said to me". They've a nice sound to them, those colloqualisms, if indeed that's what they are.
Must go now - the table needs set.
2 comments:
"Look the sheep" came from Scotland with the early shepherds
That's my story as there were a few of them about in my youth
Check LGD Ackland's 'Early Canterbury Runs" which an intersting Glossary on these terms
He says "look" came out of South Canterbury (like the best of everything) but had never heard it himself
My wife's very interested in these things Ray and has a collection of books from the early days as well as parents who know these things from experience. I'll talk to her about it and see what she can uncover. Thanks for the heads-up.
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