I originally hail from Newcastle-under-Lyme, a small town inextricably linked to Stoke-on-Trent, or the 'potteries' as it is known. Situated almost in the middle of England, the local dialect is rather unusual. Whole new words replace those which are used in normal everyday life. An inhabitant of the area, called a "Potter", can pick out a Stoke accent any where in the world, even when others can't pin the accent down. I'm told (by Potters) that the accent and dialect are the closest to traditional olde English anywhere the country. Potters also say that if you have a Stoke accent it is with you forever and is never lost. In my experience, it can be tamed, but never forgotten!

Another way to spot a Potter is in a restaurant. They usually turn over crockery to see where it is made.

Here's some local dialect that was sent in an email to me from my Father. When I read this list, I was genuinely surprised to see that some local words were not Queens English!!

BOW - Ball CHAYSE - Cheese
FOW STAITH - False Teeth GOOSE LOW - Go slow
GRAIN – green GREY NICE - Greenhouse
KIND SLICE - Council house TOW CRATE - Talk Right
MALES – Meals NOW TELL SIN - Nothing else in
CLEMMED - hungary AY UP DUCK - Hello there
RIND ABITE – Roundabout SNAPPIN - Lunch
WAITE – White AFE TARM - the interval in a football match
LEE DITE - Laid out DINE THEER - down there
GOO ITE - go out TOW FATE - at the end of your legs
WOM – Home WOKE - Walk
SUMMAT – Something WOSS - Worse
CONNER- Can't FANGED OWT - Grabbed hold of something
WUNNER' - Won't GIZZIT - Hand it over!
DUNNER - Don't JED - Lifeless
MAR MATE - My mate OMMER - used for hitting Nails
OW AT' - How are you? OWE RATE - Alright
BAY CHUM SPIDERS - Beachams powders WUDST - would you?
WUSTNER – wont HAST - have you?
SNEEPED - offended/upset COST/COSS - can you?
DIDST - did you THEE - You/your
THAY/THEET – you DUST - do you?
DUSTNER – don’t BOST - burst
DINE – down FUNT ITE - found out
OWD MUCKER - old mate LARK - like
NESH - to feel the cold REET COWD - really cold
LOBBY - thick stew CHONNOCK - turnip
PERISHED – cold GANZIE - Jumper/Pullover
AV A LOOK - To look at. NECK END - LONGTON
BOSLEM – BURSLEM TARM - time
MAR LAIDI - The wife/girlfriend FRANKED - Got up late for work
TRASHERS - Old shoes worn in Pot Banks IN TEET - Isn't it?
CUN TEET - couldn't it? GOOIN DINE TINE - Going down to the town
STRAYT - Street (where people live) PEE DEE - Pay Day
AT - Are you?
THAY BOSS TEET - Broken