A former teacher’s classes in Yorkshire dialect have been proving so popular they’ve been “rammed” with students keen to learn – and he’s even had to set up a waiting list.
The Let’s Talk Tyke class was set-up by former German teacher and Chairman of the Yorkshire Dialect Society Rod Dimbleby, 80, in Keighley Library. The class, the first of its kind, has barely been going for longer than a month and Rod is having to squeeze students in to the six week course.
Rod and his class convene Wednesdays and Thursdays at the North Street venue. The society has chosen Keighley because it was the home of Yorkshire dialect poet and local historian Ian Dewhirst and a focal point for Yorkshire dialect studies.
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Speaking to The Daily Mail, Rod said: ‘It’s all been quite a shock. Quite a shock indeed!” I thought it might appeal to a few people. I was hoping to get a handful, maybe ten if I were lucky — a nice intimate group.
‘But, well, it’s rammed. And the media! We were on the TV last week… and on the Today programme. We’ve even had to start a waiting list! It turns out people feel very strongly about Yorkshire dialect.’
Rod went on to argue that the classes are an education in “real language”, and not just slang. He said: ‘Dialect is not slang or sloppy English. It’s real language,’ he says firmly. ‘It’s poetic and musical and part of our heritage. A lot of it could well date back in linguistic terms over 1,000 years to our Anglo-Norse ancestors.’
‘There aren’t a fantastic number of us, maybe 50,’ says Rod. ‘But it’s a whole weekend and it’s great fun.’ Sessions are £5 or free to those on benefits. There are more details on the course on the Yorkshire Society website.
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