Forum: Author Hangout

One Sunday our family arrived early for church and while my mother and sisters went inside, my father held me back outside to have a serious talk with me.

"Bruce, I know you fancy enlisting and joining the fight but think long and hard about it.Some will come back covered in glory and medals but some will not come back whole, or not at all. I..."

He choked up for a minute and, although I couldn't see any tears, rubbed the corner of his eye.

Resting a hand on my shoulder he then said " I would really hate to see your mother crying over you!"

It was the most emotional I'd ever seen him, and the closest he'd ever come to saying he cared about me. He was 'Bloody British' and a 'Man's Man', a 250-pound blacksmith at that.

"If you still want to go to war, I'll sign the papers for you on your birthday in two months time. Adventure and glory can be appealing, but there are other things to consider." He nodded toward Elaine, a busty brunette aged around 30.

"Her husband passed away three weeks ago and she needs a man to help run her farm. A lad who could win her heart would have a home, a sixty-acre farm, and forty acres of forest. Plus, the soldiers can't win a war with empty bellies. The government are paying well for any food they can package and ship overseas. Please think about it, for your mother's sake." The church bell rang and we walked inside.

*** Just a few little changes but more how we talk ***

There is no single British accent and there have been many changes in the last 70 years.
Some years ago it was reported that in an area near Birmingham you could tell which street someone lived in!

One sundee us family arrived early fe chch. me ma' and sistis went inside and me da' 'ad a serious rabbit wi' me. "bruce, ay kun yous fancy join'n de straightener. think long and 'ard. some might come back wi' medals but others won't come back at all. i…" 'e choked up a moment, dun rested a fork ed me shoulder and lewked at me intently. ay didn't see any tears, but 'e rubbed de corner o' 'is eye. "i would 'ate ter see yer ma' winge fe yous." it wuz de most emotional i'd ever seun 'im, and de closest 'e'd ever come ter say'n 'e cared about me. 'e wuz 'blewdy bright british' and a 'man's man', a 250-pound blacksmith at dat.

"If yous still wanna bowl ter war, i'll sign fe yous ed yer birthdee in two munths. advente and glory tinnie be appeal'n, but thuz ay uvver things ter consider." 'e nodded terward elaine, a busty brunette around 30. "her feller passed away tree weeks ago and she needs a feller ter ellp run 'er farm. a kidda oo could win 'er 'eart would 'uv a round os, a sixty-acre farm, and forty acres o' forest. plus, de soldiers can't win a war wi' empty bellies. de government ay pay'n bright fe any scran dee tinnie package and ship overseas. please think about it, fe yer mother's sake." de chch bell rang and we walked inside.

***

Yen sundee wor family arrived early fe chch. wor ma' an' sistis went inside an' wor da' 'ad a serious rabbit wi' wor. "bruce, a kun yous fancy join'n de straightenor. think lang an' 'ard. sum meet cum back wi' medals but others winnet cum back at aaal. i…" 'e choked up a ma, dun rested a fork ed wor shouldor an' lewked at wor intently. a divvint see any teors, but 'e rubbed de cornor o' 'is eee. "i wud 'ate tor see yor ma' winge fe yous." it wuz de most emotional i'd ivvor seun 'im, an' de closest 'e'd ivvor cum tor say'n 'e cared abyeut wor. 'e wuz 'blewdy breet british' an' a 'man's man', a 250-poond blacksmi' at dat.

"If yous still wanna bowl tor war, i'll sign fe yous ed yor birthdee in twa munths. advente an' glory tinnie be appeal'n, but thuz a uvvor things tor considor." 'e needded terward elaine, a busty brunette aroond 30. "hor fellor passed awa tree weeks ago an' she needs a fellor tor ellp run 'or farm. a kidda oo cud win 'or 'eart wud 'uv a roond os, a sixty-acre farm, an' forty acres o' forest. plus, de soldiers cannit win a war wi' empty bellies. de government a pay'n breet fe any scran dee tinnie package an' ship overseas. please think abyeut it, fe yor mother's syck." de chch bell rang an' wuh walked inside.

***

Yen sundee wor fowk arrived earlie fe chch. Wor ma' an' sistis gaed ben an' wor da' 'ad a serious rabbit wi' wor. "bruce, a kun yous fancy join'n de straightenor. Think lang an' 'ard. Sum catch up wi` spunk back wi' medals bit ithers winnet spunk back at aaal. I…" 'e choked up a ma, dun rested a fork ed wor shouldor an' lewked at wor intently. A divvint see ony teors, bit 'e rubbed de cornor o' 'is eee. "i wud 'ate tor see yor ma' winge fe yous." it wuz de maist emotional a'd ivvor seun 'im, an' de closest 'e'd ivvor spunk tor say'n 'e cared abyeut wor. 'e wuz 'blewdy breet british' an' a 'man's man', a 250-poond blacksmi' at dat. "if yous aye wanna bowl tor war, ah will sign fe yous ed yor birthdee in twa munths. Advente an' glory tinnie be appeal'n, bit thuz a uvvor hings tor considor." 'e needded terward elaine, a busty brunette aroond 30. "hor fellor passed awa tree weeks ago an' she needs a fellor tor ellp run 'or croft. A kidda oo cud win 'or 'eart wud 'uv a roond os, a sixty-acre croft, an' forty acres o' forest. Plus, de soldiers cannit win a war wi' hee haw bellies. De government a pay'n breet fe ony scran dee tinnie package an' ship overseas. Please think abyeut it, fe yor maw's syck." de chch bell rang an' wuh traivelt ben.

Just a few substitutions:

I know you fancy joining the fight.
I know you're keen on joining the fight.

but others won't come back at all.
but quite a few won't come back at all.

He choked up a moment
He hesitated a moment
--the meaning is different, but with the following 'emotional', a British equivalent would be repetitious (He got a bit emotional for a moment) and a bit clumsy so this works, and as AJ points out, 'choked up' is rather an Americanism.

Her husband passed away three weeks ago
Her husband popped his clogs three weeks ago
--Originally Northern slang, but I certainly met this in my youth in the Home Counties