Weardale, Tyneside, Geordie, Ashington, Northumberland or Pitmatic? Defining a dialect can be difficult, yet as Northumbrians, we can instinctively recognize and pinpoint the various dialects without knowing exactly why. As our world becomes increasingly homogenized our dialect has evolved and that which is spoken today is a long way from what was spoken 100 years ago.

The Northumbrian dialects are mainly rooted in the Anglo-Saxon languages and more specifically from the language of the Angles who were the predominant settlers in the region after the Romans left.

Whatever the story, dialect is a unique and an important part of our Northumbrian heritage and for this reason deserves to be preserved and studied for what it is; an historic language whose roots pre-date modern English.