| The Black Country Dialect | | | | Country "folk" and resist hints at any relationship to |
| The Black Country dialect is an important part of Black | | | | people living in Birmingham, calling Birmingham |
| Country life. Noone else in the world speaks like Black | | | | "Brum-a-jum" or Birminam. "Ar Bay A Brummie Arm |
| Country folk do. | | | | from The Black Country" is a common saying |
| The sound of the accent of a black country mon or | | | | amongst the locals. |
| ooman is that of early modern english and middle | | | | Brummies often refer to their Black Country |
| english, making people from outside the area very | | | | neighbours as "Yam Yams", because of their use of |
| confused by it. | | | | "Yow am" ( or yow'm) instead of "You are". In reply, |
| "Ow Bist?" meaning "How are you?" derives from the | | | | Black Country often say "I Yam What I Yam!" and |
| old saying "How beist thou?". "Owamya" is another | | | | accept the Yam Yam name. |
| very common greeting in the Black Country! | | | | Other examples of Black Country Dialect: |
| In reply "Bay too bad", meaning "I'm not too bad" and | | | | "Yow Cor Spake Propa" |
| "Om Alright Ta me mucker!" meaning "I'm alright thanks | | | | "Ow Bin Yow Doin Aah Kid" |
| my friend" | | | | "Arma Gud Un" |
| The Black Country dialect often substitutes the word | | | | "Yow'm Avin A Loff" |
| "ar" for "yes" and "I haven't seen her" becomes "I ay | | | | "Black Country Mon" |
| sid 'er". . | | | | "Bost" |
| Broad Black Country speakers say "agooin" instead of | | | | "I'm With Arf Baerked" |
| going. | | | | "Owbinya? |
| Black Country people are proud to be known as Black | | | | |