Whenever I write a book set in a region with a dialect (or even a language) all its own, I love to look up endearments and slang unique to them. I first looked up Cornish words when I wrote A Name Unknown, set near Land’s End in Cornwall. Well, I got to dust off that research again when I decided to write the Secrets of the Isles series, set in the Isles of Scilly, which is also part of Cornwall.
Two closely related words that I love using are dearover and dearovim (feminine and masculine, respectively). The words are just contractions of “dear of her” and “dear of him.” It’s thought that it was first a phrase used as an exclamation of affection when someone did something kind “Oh, isn’t that dear of her!” and eventually was elided together. “Isn’t that dearover!” And then eventually became a term for the person herself or himself. “Oh, dearover, come here for a cuddle!” 😉
It’s a term I’ve used in my books because that “dear” part makes it recognizable to our ears and eyes and doesn’t require much of an explanation.
Are there any terms of endearment unique to your region, or perhaps to your family?
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
I too love those words! Well, I love all words, really. But terms of endearment specific to a region? That’s just plain fun!
In our southern Illinois town, many people say, “Thank you, dear,” instead of plain “Thank you.” I love that.
Am thoroughly enjoying Nature of a Lady. Especially the characters, setting, dialogue, and plot. Oh, that’s everything!
Dear Roseanna, I an currently reading Nature of a Lady and loving…a little more than half way thru. I have a burning question: Libby is blonde and the lady on the cover has very dark hair? I know your attention to detail so this had made me wonder if the cover lady isn’t Libby? Help please!
Love your words of the week! Have you ever considered putting all of them in a book? With all your commentary on your research as well? It’s enjoyable to read all the parts. I think it would be great for word lovers, homeschoolers, etc.