The Secret Garden

The Yorkshire dialect is a form of English spoken in the north of England. It is characterized by a down-to-earth tone that reflects the practicality of life on the moors. Martha explains to Mary that it is quicker to say, “Canna’ tha’ dress thysen!” (16) than “Don’t you know how to dress yourself?” The language is used by Dickon, Martha, and Ben, who are all associated with the earth and nature and relate to Mary as if she were a person for the first time in her life.

When Mary first hears Martha speak broad Yorkshire, the dialect sounds like a foreign language, but she develops a fascination for it and soon begins picking up words and phrases. To Mary, the language represents her entry into a new and magical world with people like Martha and Dickon. By using their colorful speech, she can make herself a part of their world and feel like she belongs with them.

Dialects provide a way for people to distinguish themselves from outsiders. By playing with the Yorkshire dialect, Mary and Colin explore language and identity and create a world of their own with a “secret” language. By creating that secret world, they are taking the first steps toward answering the question, “What makes me myself?”