[susan53]

I've just been listening to the early morning news programme on BBC Radio 4 where there was a 3-4 minute interview with the boxer Kell Brook, who's from Sheffield. I noticed him use four expressions which would be considered non-standard, but which are common in a range of British varieties of English :

• It don't make sense to me (instead of It doesn't...)
• It were terrible (instead of It was...)
• Them two... (instead of Those two...)
• Meself I just want to... (instead of Myself...)

[Nightedge]

Quote susan53

I've just been listening to the early morning news programme on BBC Radio 4 where there was a 3-4 minute interview with the boxer Kell Brook, who's from Sheffield. I noticed him use four expressions which would be considered non-standard, but which are common in a range of British varieties of English :

• It don't make sense to me (instead of It doesn't...)
• It were terrible (instead of It was...)
• Them two... (instead of Those two...)
• Meself I just want to... (instead of Myself...)

Thank you. But...um...do you mean in standard English we could say 'Myself I just want to...'? I thought we could only say 'I myself just want to...', the reflexive adverb being placed after the subject.

[susan53]

No, both are fine. By fronting "myself" in this way you emphasise it. I can't remember exactly what Kell said, but it involved a contrast with what his opponent said - so the fronting "alerts" the listener to the change of focus. It was something like :

Khan wants to delay the fight - but meself, I just want to get into the ring.

It has the same meaning/effect as starting the clause with "personally" :
Khan wants to delay the fight - but personally, I just want to get into the ring.

Here's an example that I found in a novel on Google Books :

"Yes, very impressive" he agreed drily. "But then, it is designed to be. However, myself I prefer the less - shall we say tourist-inhabited places of the city."