Roger
(apologies for the delayed reply)
> What I meant (as you well know <g>) is that a line written in standard
> English will be rhythmically different when read in Scots or other
regional
> accents.
I think this is sometimes, but not always, the case. Perhaps it turns on
whether or not the poem is drawing on some rhythmic common ground, or
depending on the rhythms of a specific area. I find Hardy (a poet I love)
difficult in this way, and have to *work* at any poem of his I'm not
familiar with. I couldn't "hear" Tom Paulin's poems before I heard him read
them aloud. And I still feel cut-off from William Carlos Williams. But
these (for me) are the exceptions rather than the rule.
> This can alter the flow and the form of a poem. I often find that I
> have to allow for this difference when reading American verse as well!
Again, I think sometimes but not always -- see above.
> But
> I'm not going to publish poetry that doesn't scan in standard English when
> my market is mainly *standard english readers*.
Ah, yes, this is crucial -- Tom Leonard certainly (effectively) narrowed his
audience when he chose a "strong" version of Glasgow to write in, in
contrast to Jim Kelman who uses a lighter version. (With the exception of
the short story, "Nice Tae Be Nice".)
Here's tae us.
Wha's like us?
Gey few,
An thir aw deid.
Robin
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