Greetings, fellow wordsmiths,
In a comment on one of my recent efforts, Andrea Dietrich pointed out a difference in pronunciation
on a particular word which, to her ear, would have crashed a rhyme out.
In this instance, being a Midlands lad, 'tongue' rhymes with long', whereas to Andrea, I assume it rhymes with 'lung'.
Which got me thinking, and I thunk that not only can Poetry suffer when passed around the globe,
but here in England one can run into trouble on a regional basis, for example-
Here in Derby, a small cake with cream and jam is a scone, which rhymes with 'gone'.
Move South, and it rhymes with 'tone'.
In the Midlands, tooth rhymes with 'sleuth', but way up North in Tyneside, it rhymes with
'scruff'.
If I take a bath, it rhymes with 'chaff', whereas the more well-heeled (or the cast of 'Downton Abbey')
make it rhyme with 'Darth'.
My late mother, being a Dublin lass, made a vase rhyme with 'ways', whereas we rhyme it with 'cars'.
It would be interesting if to know if there are any such instances in any other countries you can come up with.
On a final note, it's a good job I don't post verse in the Derbyshire dialect- with lines such as
goindan't rowad (going down the road)
anthee anowl (and you as well)
ee by eck (well, I never), and
athagonnabrewupthen (are you making a cup of tea for me, please).
Which I am.
Viv.