A dictionary of the Kentish dialect and provincialisms in use in the County of Kent

W D Parish, W F Shaw

ISBN 10: 9390382483 / ISBN 13: 9789390382484

Published by Alpha Editions, IN, 2020

About this Item

Seller Inventory # LU-9789390382484

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A dictionary of the Kentish dialect and provincialisms in use in the County of Kent
• Publisher: Alpha Editions, IN
• Publication Date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9390382483
• ISBN 13: 9789390382484
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New
• Dimensions: 15.24W x 1.6H x 22.86D centimeters 15.24 centimeters width by 1.6 centimeters height by 22.86 centimeters depth
• Weight: 499 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Discover a vanished voice of England. Language lives in every lane. This kent dialect dictionary offers an intimate map of speech across rural towns, down lanes and along the coast of a single county. At once a kentish vocabulary guide and a plainspoken english regional language record, it sets out the idioms, everyday trades and seasonal terms that once shaped daily life. Clear, measured entries and a sympathetic ear make the work inviting to casual readers while remaining rigorously useful for specialists. Entries range from the plainly descriptive to the idiosyncratic, often noting how words were used in harvest, market and hearth. Readers encounter the local rhythms behind familiar English phrasing, a reminder that national language is made of small, living scenes. More than mere glosses, the book functions as a victorian language reference and an indispensable historical linguistics resource: it illuminates regional word origins and the social practices they name. Essential for county of kent study, it complements wider english dialect studies and belongs on any language researchers' collection. Local history enthusiasts will relish the colour and specificity; students of nineteenth century England will find evidence of speech patterns and social vocabulary; collectors of classic literature will prize its authenticity as a store of british provincialisms. For those engaged in etymology or oral history, the book supplies tangible traces of speech to compare with parish records, letters and newspapers. It is an accessible reference for language teachers, writers and anyone seeking authentic regional voice in historical fiction or local studies. As a bridge between lexicography and social history, it rewards slow reading and episodic browsing alike. Whether dipped into for curiosity or consulted for scholarship, the volume reveals how words hold place and memory. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike.