Lexical Variation of an East Midlands Mining Community - by Natalie Braber (Paperback)

About the Book

The first book to examine the language of coal miners in the East Midlands of England

Book Synopsis

Coal mining, a prominent industry once situated at the heart of communities across the East Midlands, has now completely ceased in the UK. Although there is some attempt to keep hold of the artefacts which tell us about mining, mining language remains neglected. Natalie Braber's research has shown there is a variety of 'pit talk' which is distinctive to the East Midlands. Lexical Variation of an East Midlands Mining Community explains the distinct language used by miners in their day-to-day lives. This book will appeal to academics interested in language variation and change, language and identity, community heritage, fragmented communities and post-industrial societies.

Review Quotes

Braber's monograph is one that should appeal to linguists, particularly those of dialectological or sociolinguistic persuasions, and to those interested in East Midlands heritage, or mining heritage more generally. In the volume, Braber frames words as artefacts which each serve to tell a specific part of the story of the lived experiences of the miners that Braber and her team interviewed. In doing so, by using vocabulary as a gateway, the volume serves to provide a rich history of mining to the uninitiated. Ultimately, Braber has highlighted the value of exploring occupational lects and has provided detailed methodological descriptions of how to engage in such work, particularly in relation to positionality. I am sure that this volume will be widely cited in years to come, but, more than this, it will serve as a key text, particularly to those working in the area of language as heritage.--Rhys J. Sandow, University of York "English Language and Linguistics"

If you want to know the difference between a 'snap tin' and a 'water dudley', Braber has opened a window on East Midlands 'Pit Talk' just in the nick of time. This is a landmark study of lexical variation which I am certain will become the clarion call for more research.--Prof. Karen P. Corrigan, University of Newcastle

Overall, this book provides an overview of the lexical variety and the cultural identity within mining communities in the East Midlands, paves the way for further pit talk studies in other regions, as well as enriches people's understanding of such spontaneous and informally delivered language inmining industries that would otherwise be forgotten. It is recommended to researchers and general readers who take interest in dialect lexical knowledge and preservation regarding industry-specific groups.--Jingdan Hu, Zhejiang University "Language in Society"

This timely and fascinating volume explores the rich linguistic heritage of mining communities in the East Midlands. Based on original research with former miners and richly illustrated, it provides a compelling case for the inclusion of language in heritage projects and is an exemplary case study in public engagement.--Prof. Joan C. Beal, University of Sheffield

About the Author

Natalie Braber is Professor of Linguistics at Nottingham Trent University