Stock Rant #4: Matriarchal Nomenclature
Hairy-arsed ignorant northern barbarians say ‘mam.’ Effete southern nonce-types say ‘mum.’ True and righteous Midlanders say ‘mom.’
Do not try and tell us we’re adopting the American useage. The American useage is coincidental – this is what we’ve always said.
~ Russ L
Chats With A Limited Man 
Ah, I was wondering why my friend from West Brom said ‘mom’.
It’s still American though, and ergo, wrong. It’s really moooom!
It’s not bloody American. That’s just a co-incidence. Midlanders have said ‘mom’ forever.
I am telling you this, for it is the case.
EDIT: Aha! I’ve found this: “It is said that when people from the West Midlands went to America many years ago they took the spelling with them, hence Americans use Mom and Mommy.”
See, we had it first. Taken from that noted seat of linguistic study, Woodlands Junior School. In, erm, Kent. Shut up.
Err, ‘Mom and Mommy are old-English words, words that are stilled used in Birmingham and most parts of the West Midlands.’
‘Stilled used’? And you’re using that as some kind of linguistic authority?
Saussure it ain’t.
As I pointed out, it’s from a school in Kent.
You can’t expect them to be able to speak the language they’re talking about. They use ‘mum’ down there, for crying out loud.
Anyway, it’s a junior school. I reckon that was a pretty good attempt for 7 to 11 year olds.
I’m a midlander and I say Mum.
You’re far too middle class for your opinion to be worth anything when it comes to linguistics.
I say mom too and I am a mom so I should know. by the way I was born in West Brom, brought up in what used to be Warley, worked in the black country, so I can speak in many dialects and it is MOM
love mom
Ar. It ay we oo dow spake proppa, iss yow lot.
I’m a late 30’s midlander,k’ford to be precise.I can still remember now my mom query the teacher about the new “mum”
spelling, as of course was’nt taught that way back then when she was at school so was odd to her. My dad still has a mom card which he bought for his late mother who would now be 97.
Mom is the original word. “Mum a more recent adopted form as is for e.g, Nanny for Grandma/Granny, but that having a much nicer meaning.than a “Mummy” which is “Really” an embalmed dead corpse.I’ts thanks to true midlanders who keep our correct word alive.LoL, proud midlander,Proud Mommy.
“I was born in West Brom, brought up in what used to be Warley, worked in the black country, so I can speak in many dialects and it is MOM”
Wow you’ve truly seen the big wide world…
“Wow you’ve truly seen the big wide world…”
There’s no better way to demonstrate how well-travelled you are than an ad-hominem insult.
Do you have anything else to add that’s actually appropriate to the topic, or was that the full extent of the wisdom you’re going to drop on us?
I say “mum”, so here’s my vote for Northampton being full of effete southern nonce-types. It’s probably no more than what you’ve always suspected.
I think in Nottingham there’s a decent chance they say “mam” – it’s quite northern here.
mum / mom
potato / potarto
let’s call the whole thing off.
ST
Yes, I’m another Midlander (Wolverhampton born) who was brought up to say “mom” (as were my parents, grandparents etc),and how annoying it is when people on internet forums tell me that “mom” is an Americanism and that I’ve only picked it up from American films and the internet. I’m a proud “Midlands Mom” .
I never knew the Yanks spelt it the proper way until now.
My parents, didnt have our 1st T.V until 1950 which was black
& white, very basic with only a few channels at certain times of the day. So that rules out the Americanism theory for starters. Lets get back to the good old fashioned ways of
spelling & pronunciation instead of all these flowery posh nonsence words.
I’m 14, Midlands born,who says “Mom”
Always have and always will. Dont know
anyone round here who doesnt.
Thats fine if people want to say “Mum”
as long as I dont have too.
people, will be saying “Dud” for Dad next!
but mines just a DUDE!!!
Ooh, I don’t like the word ‘dude’. I don’t like it at all.