Words and phrases unique to Devonians.

John Downes has lived in Woolfardisworthy for 15 years. Although born in Devon, he admits he doesn't speak like a true Devonian. He has however taken the time to write the book 'A Guide to Devon Dialect'. This guide catalogues many Devonshire expressions and includes examples of historical dialect.

John explains that regional dialects like Devonian are beginning to fade, but as they are still spoken in some communities he wanted to capture them. The reporter heads to Holsworthy, where he tests some of the book's phrases on the locals. Unfortunately, most are unheard of.

The West Country accent can be traced to various West-Saxon dialects, which eventually developed into Old English in the Middle Ages. The Saxon influence is evident in even the most basic verbs, such as 'I be' instead of the standard 'I am'. 'I be' mirrors the first person 'Ich bin' in German. Because of the relative geographical isolation, the West Country and indeed Devonshire dialects have remained fairly similar and unchanged for many years when compared to counties closer to London.