The Machine Gunners

Dialect
As you will have noticed there are many examples of dialect and foreign
language being used in the novel. There are words that we might not
understand right away because they are DIALECT words only used in
certain towns in the north of England, like Garmouth, the town where
Chas and the gang live. There are also examples of Scots dialect from
the mouth of Clogger and German words from Rudi Gerlath because he
is a member of the German Luftwaffe.

1. Study the table and see if you can match up each word with its STANDARD
ENGLISH equivalent.

2. In the first column, identify with initials which words are Geordie / Scots /
German in origin.

Origin Dialect word Translation

of word
Dumpkopf
Bairn
Och tripe
Sturmlampe
How do?
Child
Pistole Comrade
Gie Give
Bogie Go kart
Gun
Nicht Anfassen Have
Bobbies Honey
Polizei How are you?
Yie Idiot
Lamp
Kamerad Make
Hinny Maybe
Mein liebling My love
No
Mek
No entry
Nil carborandum No giving up hope
Lehrer Police
Tey Police
School
Nein
Strong drink
Mevve Teacher
Schnapps That’s rubbish
Aye To
Yes
Hae
You
Oberschule

© 2002 www.teachit.co.uk 1
The Machine Gunners
Origin of Dialect word Translation
word
Dumpkopf Idiot
Bairn Child
Och tripe That’s rubbish
Sturmlampe Lamp
How do? How are you?
Pistole Gun
Gie Give
Bogie Go kart
Nicht Anfassen No entry
Bobbies Police
Polizei Police
Yie You
Kamerad Comrade
Hinny Honey
Mein liebling My love
Mek Make
Nil carborandum No giving up hope
Lehrer Teacher
Tey To
Nein No
Mevve Maybe
Schnapps Strong drink
Aye Yes
Hae Have
Oberschule School

© 2002 www.teachit.co.uk 2