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Brummie (sometimes spelt Brummy) refers to things connected with the city of Birmingham in England: particularly its people, known as Brummies, and their accent and dialect of the English language. The word is derived from Brummagem (commonly shortened to Brum) which is a local name for the city.
Accent
Brummie is a prominent example of a UK regional accent. It is perceived as a perfectly legitimate version of the spoken English language in the Midlands. The accent is regarded as "lifting and melodious" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3187433.stm) by overseas visitors, though it sometimes comes under attack from the British press due to many popular misconceptions and the obvious iniability of many non-brummie actors to grasp the unusual tones of the accent which some have described as similar to Scandanavian in sound.
Brummie should not be regarded as the only accent of the Midlands or West Midlands, although the term is often used by outsiders to refer to all accents of the region. For example, speakers from the Black Country (the conurbation to the north_west of Birmingham) have an accent and dialect which is very different from Brummie in many respects. The Birmingham and Coventry accents are quite distinct, even though the cities are not very far apart. To the untrained ear, however, the accents may sound very similar, in the same way that British speakers of English can find it hard to distinguish between the accents of USA.
There are many examples of realistic Brummie accents on the television and in music like for example, Julie Walters (who has acted in many films and comedy shows), Cat Deeley (who presents many prime time T.V. shows including CD UK), The Streets rapper Mike Skinner and Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath who has hosted The Osbournes which is one the most popular programmes on MTV which has been broadcast worldwide to much high acclaim.
Other well known Brummies include:
Dialect A large number of local words and phrases exist derived from an imalgamation of various cultures and dialects which have combined to produce an unusual but familiar voice. Some claim that 'old' Brummie is the most likely accent that William Shakespeare would have used, at that time Birmingham would have been in Warwickshire. Some words are simple variations of those used elsewhere, such as mom for instead of Standard English mum, while others are unique to Birmingham.
The older generation sometimes use words like bab when refering to a spouse or female.
A saying that is not often heard anymore is it's lookin a bit black over bills mothers, this refered to the prospect of rain.
keep away from the 'oss road was often said as a warning to children who were thinking of playing on the busy tracks frequented by horses, carts, trams and early cars.
Another old phrase that is sometimes used today is o'rite our kid or simply ows it goin kid which is another way of asking how you are.
you got a beak on ya ent ya was a term used against someone that was nosey without reason, or wallowing in others misfortune.
Nip was another word for younger brother.
You talkin to me or chewin a brick was a confrontational term when you thought someone was being aggressive verbally. It was usually followed up with, Cause' either way you're gonna get your teeth smashed in!'
he's ded yampee was a term for Scatty and lively, to the point of madness.
You ad your eyeful was used to deter someone staring in your direction for too long.
He talks like he's got a quid in is gob refered to someone who was thought to have an affected accent.
Got a face like a bosted arse was a way of saying someone looked in a bad mood.
Giz a rock meant 'can i have a sweet' a rock was often used as an alternative to sweet, before chocolate became more readily available sweets were usually anacide balls or sticks of rock.
Got a face as long as Livery Street that one was a way of saying that someone looked misserable.
Up the cut meant up the canal.
The term bostin was sometimes used as an alternative to brilliant.
Go 'n' play up your own end was a common phrase used when children from a different street or area were making a nuisance of themselves, a musical play by this name has recently been written and is performed which is based on inner city life.
More recent definitions are for instance:
'Alright' which in Birmingham can become O'rite
'Mate' which can become Man
'Excellent' can become Sound, Sweet or Mint'
'Off-licence' becomes Outdoor
'Roundabout' becomes an Island
'Lazing about' becomes Having a doss
'Well done' becomes Fair play
and:
'Leave it alone' can often be Def it out or if someone is ignored they can be Deffed out
'Go to the toilet' sometimes can be Go for a gipsy
'Sorry' is sometimes shortened to Soz
'To go' is occassionally chip off
External links - Website devoted to the study of Brummie, including a dictionary and audio recordings (http://www.ebrummie.co.uk/)
- Academic research highlighting prejudice against the Brummie accent (http://www.ebrummie.co.uk/brummie_papers.htm)
- Brummie and Black Country sayings (http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/slang_sayin.htm)
- BBC guide to Brummie (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3187433.stm)
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