H becomes y in yeäd, head.
K is often converted into t, as ast, to ask, mast, a mask, bleat, bleak.
T is conversely often replaced by k, as masking, acorn-gathering, from 'mast,' while sleet becomes sleek, and pant, pank.
S usually takes the sound of z, as zee, to see, zaa, a saw, zowl, soul, zaat or zate, soft, zider, cider, zound, to swoon.
Thr usually becomes dr, as dree, three, droo, through, draish, to thrash.
In afurst, athirst, and fust, thirst, we still retain a very ancient characteristic of Southern English.
T is always dropped in such words as kept and slept, which become kep' and slep'.
Liquids sometimes drop the next letter, as kill, kiln; but more usually take an excrescent t or d, as varmint, vermin, steart, a steer, gownd, gown.
W as an initial is generally dropped in N. Wilts in such cases as 'oont, a want or mole, 'ooman, woman, 'ood, wood.
Occasionally in S. Wilts it takes the aspirate, 'ood being then hood.
Final g is always dropped in the present participle, as singin', livin', living; also in nouns of more than one syllable which end in ing. It is, however, retained in monosyllabic nouns and verbs, such as ring and sing.
Pre becomes pur, as purtend, pretend, purserve, preserve.
Sometimes a monosyllabic word will be pronounced as a dissyllable, as we have already mentioned, ne-um, ve-ut, ve-us, and ke-up being used concurrently with naayme, vit or fit, veäce, and kip or keep.
The prefix a is always used with the present participle, as a-gwain', going, a-zettin' up, sitting up.
The article an is never used, a doing duty on all occasions, as 'Gie I a apple, veyther.'
Plurals will be found to be dealt with in the Glossary itself, under En and Plurals.
Pronouns will also be found grouped together under Pronouns.
As is used for who, which, and that.
Active verbs govern the nominative case.
Verbs do not agree with their nominative, either in number or person.
The periphrastic tenses are often used in S. Wilts, as 'I do mind un,' but in N. Wilts the rule is to employ the simple tenses instead, merely altering the person, as 'I minds un.' In S. Wilts you might also say 'It be a vine night,' whereas in N. Wilts ''Tes a vine night' would be more correct.
In conclusion we would mention that we hope in the course of the next year or two to be able to deal with the grammatical and phonological sides of our Dialect in a somewhat more adequate manner than it has been possible to do on the present occasion.
A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL ABBREVIATIONS USED.
[For full titles of works see Appendix.]
| (A.) | Words given for Wilts in | Akerman. | |
| (B.) | " | " | Britton. |
| (C.) | " | " | Cunnington MS. |
| (D.) | " | " | Davis. |
| (G.) | " | " | Grose. |
| (H.) | " | " | Halliwell. |
| (K.) | " | " | Kennett. |
| (M.) | " | " | Monthly Magazine. |
| (S.) | " | " | Slow. |
| (Wr.) | " | " | Wright. |
N. & S.W. North and South Wilts, the place-names following being those of localities where the word is reported as being in use.
* An asterisk denotes that the word against which it is placed has not as yet been met with by ourselves in this county, although given by some authority or other as used in Wilts.
WILTS GLOSSARY
A. He; she. See Pronouns.
A, pl. As or Ais. n. A harrow or drag (D.); probably from A.S. egethe, M.E. eythe, a harrow (Skeat).—S.W., obsolete. This term for a harrow was still occasionally to be heard some thirty years ago, in both Somerset and Wilts, but is now disused. Davis derives it from the triangular shape of the drag, resembling the letter A.
A-Drag. A large heavy kind of drag (Agric. of Wilts). Still used in South Wilts for harrowing turnips before the hoers go in.
Abear. To bear, to endure (S.). 'I can't abear to see the poor theng killed.'—N. & S.W.
Abide. To bear, to endure. 'I can't abide un nohow.'—N. & S.W.
About. (1) adv. Extremely. Used to emphasize a statement, as ''T'wer just about cold s'marnin'.'—N. & S.W. (2) At one's ordinary work again, after an illness. 'My missus were bad aal last wick wi' rheumatiz, but she be about agen now.'—N. & S.W.
Acksen. See Axen.
Adder's-tongue. Listera ovata, Br., Twayblade.—S.W.
Adderwort. Polygonum Bistorta, L., Bistort.—S.W. (Salisbury, &c.)
Afeard, Aveard. Afraid (A.B.S.).—N. & S.W.
*Agalds. Hawthorn berries. (English Plant Names.) Aggles in Devon.
Agg. (1) To hack or cut clumsily (A.B.H.S.Wr.); also Aggle and Haggle.—N. & S.W. (2) To irritate, to provoke.—N. & S.W.
Ahmoo. A cow; used by mothers to children, as 'Look at they pretty ahmoos a-comin'!'—S.W. (Som. bord.)
Ailes, Eyles, Iles, &c. The awns of barley (D.); cf. A.S. egle,