To Kathleen re Doc Martin

by magnolia

Jan 5, 2015

Didn't want to interfere with Novel's post. I thought I'd use another handle if that is ok.

I was curious about the Cornish accent - Louisa's bothers me a bit. I assumed the character Martin would have supplanted his with a more posh accent when he went to London to study? The actor who plays Bert said in an interview that they deliberately don't imitate real Cornish accents because the audience wouldn't understand the actors, so they try to use a little of the Cornish accent with other accents. There is also a Cornish language, or there was -- almost forgotten now.

I watched some interviews and the thing all the actors kept saying was how nice Martin Clunes is and what a fine actor he is.

two cents, anonymous, etc.

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Kathleen On 1/05/15, magnolia wrote: > On 1/05/15, Kathleen wrote: > > >> >> That's interesting. I had no idea there was a Cornish > language >> (really, why would I, I guess. I wonder whether it has any >> relationship with Welsh language?) I will have to do some > more >> poking around on the 'net to learn more...See MoreOn 1/05/15, magnolia wrote: > On 1/05/15, Kathleen wrote: > > >> >> That's interesting. I had no idea there was a Cornish > language >> (really, why would I, I guess. I wonder whether it has any >> relationship with Welsh language?) I will have to do some > more >> poking around on the 'net to learn more. >> >> Novel might be able to fill us in with information about > the >> Cornish accent and language. Even though, as you revealed, > the >> accent used on the show isn't genuine, I find that I > sometimes >> have to replay a section of dialog because I had difficulty >> understanding it the first time due to the accent. >> >> When I visited Ireland in the early 1980's, there was still > a >> considerable population of seniors who spoke Gaelic, and a >> desire to preserve the language. In fact, I stayed with the >> elderly aunt of a friend and though she spoke English in >> addition to Gaelic, it was difficult for me to understand > her >> English. I don't know how successful Ireland has been in >> teaching young people to speak Gaelic. >> >> I hope the old languages and dialects are being preserved >> among some of the population. >> >> Off track a bit, I'm fascinated by the fact that regional >> accents persist in the US in spite of influences like > natural >> media and our transient population. Where the heck did the > New >> Yawk accent come from, and why is it different from the > Joisey >> accent. Then there's the midwest, and of course, the > various >> accents and dialects in the South. Sorry for going so far >> astray from your topic...LOL > > There both was and wasn't a relationship to Gaelic according > to Wiki...but I've forgotten it. Also said that Cornwall is > the or one of the poorest parts of England and they get gov't > grants. WOuld like to hear from Novel more info about the > people and history. One video was funny...it said that the > Cornish do drop their h's and trill their r's but not quite > as badly as the pirate and farmer accent depicted in movies > and tv: oh ahr, oh ahr... > > That part of England resisted the spread of English for so > long and their accent is what's left of the Cornish language. > > Not off topic too much for me...I LOVED the pbs series years > ago, "The Story of English" and still have the book. It's > fascinating how Appalachian English, for example, has many > vestiges ? of the English spoken in Scotland and Ireland. I > grew up hearing a few elderly people speak that way - hit for > it, over thar for there, dropping the final g sound...and we > still say "yonder". Charleston, SC has some unusual accents > and dialects because of former slaves who were isolated on > islands; and some Charlestonians sound like folks in Virginia > tidewater and parts of Canada - hoose for house (somewhat) - > because of English upper-class planters who settled there, > whereas upstate South Carolina was settled by poor Scots- > Irish farmers.

Possibly those languages (Cornish, Gaelic, Welsh) all evolved from a Celtic language?

It still amazes me that the accents and dialects persist. I suppose eventually they will die off.

I think I can view that documentary online, and I will, thanks for alerting me to it. There is also this one I stumbled upon when looking for "The Story of English." Ooops, I'm not logged so here's the url but not the hyperlink. topdocumentaryfilms.com/adventure-of-english/

I skimmed through a book related to the topic of original dialects and language/vocabulary, Articulate While Black. Very interesting, but I didn't read it thoroughly as I had to return it before I had time. So much to read/watch/learn, so little time!

Jan 5, 2015

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Novel Goodness, you wrote a challenging post.

There are people who talk like Mary, even now. If you get
the chance to watch "You Can't Get The Staff" you will
meet a very eccentric one. The accents all ring true to me
- I was born in Cockney London so can here that one
striking a note. Know a lot of people who speak like M...See More

Jan 17, 2015

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Kathleen On 1/17/15, Novel wrote: > Goodness, you wrote a challenging post. > > There are people who talk like Mary, even now. If you get > the chance to watch "You Can't Get The Staff" you will > meet a very eccentric one. The accents all ring true to me > - I was born in Cockney London so can here that one > striking a note....See MoreOn 1/17/15, Novel wrote: > Goodness, you wrote a challenging post. > > There are people who talk like Mary, even now. If you get > the chance to watch "You Can't Get The Staff" you will > meet a very eccentric one. The accents all ring true to me > - I was born in Cockney London so can here that one > striking a note. Know a lot of people who speak like Mary. > The housekeeper is a natural-born Scotswoman, so her > accent is her own. > > I have no idea whether an American lady would be allowed > to present her English niece at court, but imagine that > she would since she had married into a Debrett's family. > > I was annoyed by Cora's simpering for a while too, but she > has a few more interesting moments later in the series and > I can take her again now. > > There are many articles about the inaccuracy of the > costumes. They are all appropriate for the period, but, as > you said, the big house would have been too cold most of > the time. There would always have been rugs and shawls > draped across the chairs in the evenings. > > Did not even notice the "learning curse", but "free > speech" and "It's a free country" were perfectly > concurrent because of the political discussions going on > about the large gap between rich and poor. > > Do not know about the handshaking, although there was a > lot of that during the time of campaigning for women’s > suffrage. > > You asked if Branson was "headed for trouble with the > schoolteacher". Not going to answer that one because it > might spoil a future episode for you. > > As to the climate, we don't always have rain and fog, but > do look out for the PIGS SCENE. You'll know what I mean > when it happens ;-) > > The hand holding at the beach was very sweet and then > nothing happens for ages, and THEN...da, da, daaaaaaa!

Thanks magnolia and Novel, for the very interesting input! I have seen all the shows that have aired here so far. Have you seen more episodes than we have here in the US? I saw the pig yard incident, pretty funny, sort of Scarlett O'Hara meets Wonder Woman.

I don't know whether I've seen any da, da, daaaa yet between Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson. I guess it depends upon the definition of da, da, daaaa. :)

There has been some trouble already with Branson's school teacher friend, but maybe there's more coming.

"Learning curve" was used by Matthew and by Tom Branson. I did some research online and apparently the term was used in obscure academic settings at that time, but since Downton Abbey doesn't qualify, it seems that might have been pushing the limits of use.

I hope the show airs tomorrow night because I am ready for the next episode, but hoping it isn't bad news for Mr. Bates, and Mrs. Bates. Magnolia, I'm thinking there's a plot twist that had Mr. Bates elswhere, or at least, not involved in the death of the bad guy.

Positive Person, yep, I joined the club. Better late than never.

If I love Downton Abby, would I like Upstairs, Downstairs or is it stuffy compared to DA?

Jan 17, 2015

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magnolia On 1/17/15, Kathleen wrote: > > If I love Downton Abby, would I like Upstairs, Downstairs or > is it stuffy compared to DA?

Oh, Upstairs Downstairs it is JUST as ADDICTING! Unless you get a digitally enhanced version, you might have to get used to that 1970s video quality at first. It also does not have anything approaching the lu...See More

Jan 17, 2015

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magnolia with P.S. On 1/17/15, magnolia wrote:

> It is more realistic, as there is no hobnobbing between the > classes;

On second thought, the master's son did hobnob - at least once - with one of the maids because she got pregnant... or claimed to be.

Jan 17, 2015

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