Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

47364

Title

Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Elizabeth Mary Wright's *Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore* explores the richness of English dialects, challenging the notion that non-standard speech is merely ignorant. Wright celebrates dialect words, archaic literary terms, and the unconscious grammatical rules followed by speakers. The book also chronicles superstitions, charms, and customs, offering a comprehensive survey of rural life, language, and belief that appeals to scholars and general readers alike.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore*, Elizabeth Mary Wright presents a comprehensive survey of English dialects and folk traditions, challenging the prevailing notion that dialect deviations stem from ignorance or vulgarity. Wright argues that dialect speakers adhere to sound laws and grammatical rules with even greater naturalness and fidelity than educated speakers. The work serves as both a linguistic resource and a cultural history, preserving the 'hail-fellow-well-met spirit' of rural life towards nature. The book is divided into two primary sections. The first half examines vocabulary, phonology, and the survival of archaic forms. Wright details how dialects retain old words and phrases found in early literature and the Bible, such as 'paddock' (toad) and 'paddock' (green field). She explores popular etymologies, illustrating how names like 'Proud Tailor' for the goldfinch or 'Magot' for the magpie derive from historical linguistic roots rather than corruption. Wright also analyzes foreign loan-words from French, Scandinavian, and Celtic origins, as well as the retention of archaic meanings in modern speech. The second half focuses extensively on folk-lore. Wright chronicles superstitions regarding luck and ill-luck, including beliefs about omens from weather, animals, and household events. She documents charms for health and love, divination practices, and customs surrounding birth, marriage, and death. A notable inclusion is the legend of Noah and the dog, explaining why a dog's nose and a woman's elbow are always cold. The text lists numerous plant and animal names used across various regions, often based on personal names like 'Betty' for the hedge-sparrow or 'Wat' for the hare. Wright also compiles lists of lucky and unlucky signs, remedies for diseases, and weather lore, drawing on a vast array of sources from glossaries to oral traditions. By documenting these enduring rural customs and beliefs, Wright highlights the rich, rule-governed, and imaginative world of the rustic speaker.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Folklore
• Dialects