Eric, You'll find "mum" probably in most parts of England except Co. Durham and Northumberland where the word usage is mam. Which can cause a stir if you tell a female in the area "Yes, Ma'am, or No Ma'am" (ma'am is short for madam), which might get you the reply "I am not your mother" and you don't know where that is coming from. I wonder if the American expression "Mums the word" means the same? Janis

Same for Yorkshire and Cumberland "Mam" or Mammy when we where very young Patricia Clews ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janis" <2zpool@charter.net> To: <ENG-DURHAM-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 11:51 PM Subject: [ENG-DUR] Mum's the word - non-gen > Eric, > > You'll find "mum" probably in most parts of England except Co. Durham and > Northumberland where the word usage is mam. > > Which can cause a stir if you tell a female in the area "Yes, Ma'am, or No > Ma'am" (ma'am is short for madam), which might get you the reply "I am not > your mother" and you don't know where that is coming from. > > I wonder if the American expression "Mums the word" means the same? > > Janis > > > ==== ENG-DURHAM Mailing List ==== > query board for Durham gen web > http://www.britishislesgenweb.org/cgi-bin/data/durham.cgi >